{"id":22657,"date":"2023-12-13T11:40:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T11:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=22657"},"modified":"2024-10-27T06:36:11","modified_gmt":"2024-10-27T06:36:11","slug":"boys-best-friend-is-his-mother-a","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/boys-best-friend-is-his-mother-a\/","title":{"rendered":"Boy’s best friend is his mother, A"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1883<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Henry Miller \/ JP Skelly<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN1756<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Bohee Brothers, J Fuller, Harry Hunter, Will Raymond, Nellie Wallace<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Deacon, Gertrude; USA; 1893
T., J.; USA : New York : 1897
Jones, Leonard W.; USA : California : 1939
Weddle, Mrs. Susan; USA : N. Carolina : 1939
Woods, Mrs. Jessie USA : Arkansas : 1959
Scarce, Bob; England : Suffolk : 1964-5
Master, Mac; Canada : Newfoundland : 1969
Hancock, George; England : Yorkshire : 1970
McGrath, John; Canada : Newfoundland : 1972
Beeforth, Jack; England : Yorkshire : 1974
Bridger, Charlie; England : Kent : 1983
Huntington, Gale \/ Welcome Tilton; USA : Massachusetts : no date<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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From US Sheet Music\nA Boy's Best  Friend is his Mother<\/strong>\nWords by Harry Miller, Music by JP Skelly\n\n\nWhile plodding on our way, the toilsome road of life,\nHow few the friends that daily there we meet!\nNot many will stand by in trouble and in strife,\nWith counsel and affection ever sweet!\nBut there is one whose smile will ever on us beam,\nWhose love is dearer far than any other,\nAnd wherever we may turn,\nThis lesson we will learn:\nA boy's best friend is his mother.\n\nThen cherish her with care,\nAnd smooth her silv'ry hair.\nWhen gone, you will never get another;\nAnd wherever we may turn,\nThis lesson we shall learn:\nA boy's best friend is his mother.<\/em>\n\nTho' all the world may frown and ev'ry friend depart,\nShe never will forsake us in our need!\nOur refuge evermore is still within her heart.\nFor us her loving sympathy will plead!\nHer pure and gentle smile, forever cheers our way.\n'Tis sweeter and 'tis purer than all other!\nWhen she goes from earth away,\nWe'll find out while we stray,\nA boy's best friend is his mother.\n\nHer fond and gentle face not long may greet us here;\nThen cheer her with our kindness and our love!\nRemember at her knee in childhood bright and dear,\nWe heard her voice like angel's from above!\nTho' after years may bring their gladness or their woe,\nHer love is sweeter far than any other!\nAnd our longing heart will learn,\nWherever we may turn,\nA boy's best friend is his mother.\n<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
A sentimental American song from the early 1880s, first sung by black-face minstrels on both sides of the Atlantic, it later became part of the repertoire of the Music Hall comedian Nellie Wallace<\/a>. It has entered the repertoire of traditional singers in both America and the British Isles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I suspect there may be several similar sentimental songs which on occasion have got mixed up with this one. Nonetheless if you come across a song called A boys best friend is his mother<\/em> it’s likely to be this one. Joseph P Kelly – its composer, reputedly wrote hundreds of songs, but sold them for a pittance to fund a dissipated lifestyle. I have found out little about the lyricist Harry Miller, other than the fact that a black-face performer of that name appeared with a number of touring minstrel troupes and was still performing in 1914.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At least one other American song was published with the same or a similar name  in the 1880s – credited either to Frank Mills or Ben Williams, its first line was I\u2019ve been thinking, of late, of the time that\u2019s passed away<\/em> (RNV38845)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Another song from Nellie Wallace which has entered the repertoire of traditional singers is Half Past Nine<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
An American version from 1925:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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