{"id":18631,"date":"2023-02-01T16:10:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-01T16:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=18631"},"modified":"2023-02-01T16:10:02","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T16:10:02","slug":"im-rather-too-old-for-it-now","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/im-rather-too-old-for-it-now\/","title":{"rendered":"I’m rather too old for it now"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
First Published<\/td>1880<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Charles Coborn<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN23600<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Charles Coborn<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Scott, Harry; England: Bedfordshire; 1950 \u2013 69
<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Bless me, how the years roll away\nIt seems but a day or two past\nSince I revelled in youth's happy day\nAnd fancied it always would last\nBut old Time has been very busy with me\nAnd with wrinkles has furrowed my brow\nTho' round me life's battle and strife I can see\nI am rather too old for it now.\n\nWith a sigh my bright youth I recall\nBut to natures decree I must bow\nI was once as nimble and gay as them all\nBut I'm rather too old for it now.<\/em>\n\nAs a youngster I mostly was first\nAt cricket and games such as that\nBut now I should soon get the worst\nIf I e'er tried to handle a bat\nMy nerves were as strong as could be\nI would always delight in a row\nAt dear Oxford we'd many a boisterous spree\nBut I'm rather too old for it now.\n\nI was known as the gayest young spark\nAt courtship I never was beat\nI have flirted with fair girls and dark\nAnd Oh, the rash vows I'd repeat\nThe money I've squandered in dress\nWhen I shone as a dapper young beau\nNow I'm not so free with the cash I confess\nFor I'm rather too old for it now.\n\nOf five noble sons I can boast\nAnd such girls as the world never saw\nI am grand-dad to quite a small host\nI count them almost by the score\nTheir secrets to me they confide\nAnd each childish treasure will show\nAnd my heart warms with pride as they play at my side\nFor I'm not quite too old for that now.\n\n\n\n<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
A song written, composed and sung by comedian Charles Coburn<\/a> in 1880, who performed it dressed as a septuagenarian. As the following review shows, it would have been performed as one of a series of character songs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u00a0Apr. 11, 1880; \u00a0<\/strong>The Era\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The song seems to have remained popular well into the 1890s. In 1891 it was still being promoted as one of Chas. Sheard and Co’s<\/em> very latest comic and other songs for smoking concerts<\/em> and described as Charles Coburn’s favourite song<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was collected by David Shaw from the singing of Harry Scott the 1950s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n