{"id":20041,"date":"2023-04-29T10:09:15","date_gmt":"2023-04-29T10:09:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=20041"},"modified":"2024-08-19T14:09:54","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T14:09:54","slug":"theyre-all-very-fine-and-large","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/theyre-all-very-fine-and-large\/","title":{"rendered":"They’re all very fine and large"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>They’re all fine and large<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1886<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Frederick Bowyer<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN32450<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Herbert Campbell<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Keeping family, England : London; 1930s<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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To be too modest nowadays\nIs not a thing that pays.\nIt's best to shout what you've to sell\nIn these advertising days\nI say this song is somewhat great\nTo ventilate our wrongs\nBut as for that, you all well know\nThat nearly all my songs.\n\nThey're all very fine and large\nThey're sound and fat and prime\nIf you think you can beat 'em\nIt will take you all your time\nThey're the widest in creation\nAnd I make no extra charge\nWho'll have a chance for a dozen or two?\nThey're all very fine and large.<\/em>\n\nTo the ladies I must dedicate\nAt least one special verse\nWe court, we love, we marry them\nDon't laugh, you might do worse\nAnd oh, those tasty, dressy ones\nWho pass you with a wink\nAnd always know your Christian name\nDo I like 'em? Well, I think,\n\nOur policemen are a credit to\nThe land that gave 'em birth\nThey're the pluckiest set of fellows\nYou'll find upon the earth\nAt the Crystal Palace, once a year\nOn revelry they meet\nWho'll take a dozen tickets now?\nTo see the policemen's fete?\n\nI once rode in an omnibus\nAnd was so upset to find\nMy fare it came to fourpence\nAnd I'd left my purse behind\nThe conductor said, 'Look here, young chap\nThis game won't do for me\nI'm going to take it out in kicks'\nAnd he only gave me three. But,\n\nI thought I'd go to Margate once\nFor rest and change of air\nBut oh, I lost some pounds of flesh\nThe few days I was there\nI couldn't get a wink of sleep\nI shan't forget that bed\nThe Landlady said 'Do you like the rooms?'\nI paid my bill and said,<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A big hit in 1886, still sung at Keeping family get togethers in the 1930s.The song was originally sung by  Herbert Campbell<\/a> written for him by Fred Bowyer, whose brief biography appears below. Contemporary sources suggest  that for a short period it was one of irritating songs\/sayings you could not escape from.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Oxford English Dictionary the colloquial phrase “all very fine and large” meaning “acceptable as far as it goes<\/em> [but] implying that it may be unsatisfactory in other ways<\/em>” originated with this song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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South London Palace, The Era<\/em>, 04 December 1886<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Frederick Bowyer<\/strong> (1849-1936) wrote dramatic sketches and songs for the Halls but is perhaps best remembered as a playwright – his classic Christmas play The Windmill Man<\/em> once rivalled Peter Pan <\/em>as festive family theatre entertainment.He started his working life at sea – he was originally expected to become a doctor, but writing for the Halls soon took over. His songs were sung by Herbert Campbell, Jenny Hill, GH MacDermott Dan Leno and others. Other hits included Up I came with my little lot <\/em>and  A little bit of sugar for the Bird<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n