{"id":18883,"date":"2023-02-20T10:53:48","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T10:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=18883"},"modified":"2025-12-13T07:18:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T07:18:08","slug":"half-past-nine","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/half-past-nine\/","title":{"rendered":"Half past nine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>I’ll be there at half past nine<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1893<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Wal Pink \/ George Le Brunn<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN25303<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Vesta Tilley; Charles Godfrey<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Patching, Alf; England : Sussex; 1960<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Sweet are vacations, they bring variations\nSo thought John Tomkins, a clerk\nAs off like a rocket went he- cash in his pocket\nReleased from his dull office work\nHe went not to seaside, nor to the Dee-side\nBut to a village less famed\nWhere he, although married, a love affair carried\nOn with a girl who exclaimed,\n\n'I'll be there, love, at half-past nine\nI'll be there, be it wet or fine\nI'm your true love, and you are mine\nSo meet me down the lane to-night at half-past nine.'<\/em>\n\nStill they must be pitied, for they both omitted\nTo mention which end of the lane\nSo whilst he, 'mid showers, stood at one end for hours\nShe waited the other in vain\nShe waited till ten, then said, 'He's like all men, then\nI'll meet him tomorrow instead.'\nWith heart down to zero, she wrote to our hero\nAnd this was the way the note read,\n\n'I'll be there, love, at half-past nine\nI'll be there, be it wet or fine\nI'm your true love, and you are mine\nSo meet me down the lane to-night at half-past nine.'<\/em>\n\nNow, somehow John's missis quite pined for his kisses\nSo thought she'd run down her John\nArrived unexpected - the note intercepted\nRead it, and guessed what was on\nThought she , 'Half-past nine, love, 'll see such a shine, love\nFor as the clock strikes I'll strike too.'\nWith horse-whip she waited - met him as stated\nThen walloped poor John black and blue.\n\n'I've got here, love, by half-past nine\nI've got here - don't you think it fine?\nI'm your true love, but you're not mine\nI'll give you meeting tarts, you wretch, at half-past nine.'<\/em>\n\n\n<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
This song, with lyrics by Wal Pink<\/a> and music by George Le Brunn<\/a>, featured in the repertoires of both  the great male impersonator Vesta Tilley<\/a> and of Charles Godfrey<\/a>. Its popularity was such that it was later republished as a march.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A recording or download of this song can be purchased from Windyridge CDs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1960 it was collected from the singing of Alf Patching by Brian Matthews. This recording has been copied from the Vaughn Williams site:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alf Patching sings it in 1960<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n