{"id":22597,"date":"2023-11-19T10:46:49","date_gmt":"2023-11-19T10:46:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=22597"},"modified":"2023-12-19T07:12:58","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T07:12:58","slug":"m-o-n-e-y-or-tis-money-makes-the-mare-to-go","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/m-o-n-e-y-or-tis-money-makes-the-mare-to-go\/","title":{"rendered":"M.O.N.E.Y or Tis money makes the mare to go"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>L.S.D.
Money
M-O-N-E-Y<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1886<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>CA Page<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN2426<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Sam Torr<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Hewitt, Arthur; England : Suffolk : 1953
Syrett, Gordon; England : Suffolk : 1982<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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From The Empire and Alhambra Songster<\/em> (at the VWML)<\/a> \n\nMoney that makes the mare to go is a saying old but true.\nAnd when you've got the ready cash your friends will stick like glue.\nBut when your purse is empty, those friends you thought sincere.\nWill proudly turn upon their heels and quickly disappear.\nIt is then you murmer to yourself, \"I must have been a fool.\nTo let those artful fellows make me their ready tool.\nBut if fortune smiles on me again, I'll bet  you will rely.\nThe only one that I will trust is my M.O.N.E.Y.\"\n\nM.O.N.E.Y<\/em>. that is the stuff to bring you joy.\nWhen you've got the L.S.D. everybody seems so free.\nFolk you've never seen before, flock around you by the score.\nGirls to win your love will try, for your M.O.N.E.Y..<\/em>\n\nThe parson preaches in the church, but does not do it free,\nThe Lawyer gives advice but then, he always wants his fee,\nThe butcher soon will smell a rat if funds are getting low\nIf you want your meat on credit he will quickly answer \"No!\"\nThe landlord too is so polite if you your rent can pay,\nBut miss a quarter and you'll find the bailiffs in next day.\nAnd wives seem cold and distant if to stint them you should try,\nAnd won't be civil till they get their M.O.N.E.Y.\n\nHow oft' a girl of eighteen weds a man that's old and grey.\nAnd vows upon the alter to love, honour and obey,\nShe spends his money lavishly on jewellery and clothes.\nAnd when his back is turned will put her finger to her nose;\nShe doesn't care a pin for him, but when he's by her side,\nShe'll smile and pat his wrinkled cheeks, and think it's time he died,\nAnd oft' she'll meet a former beau at night upon the sly,\nAnd on him she will spend the old man's M.O.N.E.Y.<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Several late  19th century songs feature the proverb money makes the mare to go<\/em> – a saying which probably goes back to the 16th century. However, only one of these seems to have passed into the repertoire of traditional singers – a song published in 1886 under the  title  M.O.N.E.Y<\/strong><\/em>,  with words and music by CA Page, performed by Sam Torr<\/a> – a brief reference was made to the song in this rather snooty review:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Deacon’s The Era – Saturday 30 October 1886<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Not to be confused with the later song L.S.D.  or Money makes the mare to go<\/em> (1903) by  Edgar Bateman sung by Fanny Leslie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can hear Gordon Syrett<\/a> sing it as M-O-N-E-Y on John Howson’s excellent survey of traditional music making in Mid-Suffolk, Many a Good Horseman, <\/em>available from Veteran CDs<\/a>. It was also sung under the title L.S.D.  – Landlord’s Special Ditty<\/em> by Arthur Hewitt, landlord of the Blaxhall Ship in east Suffolk in 1953.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n