{"id":24718,"date":"2024-07-16T13:42:51","date_gmt":"2024-07-16T13:42:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=24718"},"modified":"2025-12-23T08:19:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T08:19:11","slug":"playing-the-game-in-the-west","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/playing-the-game-in-the-west\/","title":{"rendered":"Playing the game in the west"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1910<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Alec Kendall and George Formby<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN25485<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>George Formby (Senior)<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Kane, Alice ; N. Ireland : Belfast ; nd <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Sheet Music printed in Empire News & The Umpire 4 Dec 1910<\/strong>

Since I've been in London, it's easy to see
There's no other Johnny looks smarter than me
I'm going the pace, that means playing the game
I'm one of those gay dogs that's got a bad name
I'm what folks would call a daredevil, you know
No sooner an argument than it's a blow
I've seen better days, still I don't care a sou
I've gone to the dogs and you know what, it's through

Playing the game in the west
Playing the game in the city
Leading the life that tells
Flirting with Maude and Kitty
Strolling along The Strand
Knocking policemen about
And I'm not going home till a quarter to ten
'Cause it's my night out! <\/em>

The boys in the west seem quite jealous of me
Because I am dressed rather tricky, you see
When I smoke \"El de Stinko\", as everyone knows
It's easy to make the cigar come down me nose
For a day's shooting I went yesterday
When I'd broken four bottles I heard the man say
\"Cigar, sir, or nuts, you're a marvellous shot!
Are you in the army?\" heh, I said, \"Yes sir, I'm not!\"

I'm playing the game in the west
Leading the life that's thrilling
Out of a two bob piece
All I've got left is a shilling
Treating the girls to cham'
Throwing my money about
And it wouldn't take me long to stop out all night
'Cause it's my night out!<\/em>

I met an old college chum, he calls me \"strife\", 
He said George you're leading a terrible life 
Society life cannot always suit you 
The collar you wear may someday slip through 
Why don't you give up this life that so fast 
This lemon and dash-es and women won't last 
I said \"It's me now, I don't give a jot
I've got ninepence left and I'll finish the lot.\"

\"I'm playing the game in the west,
That's what I love to be doing.
Quaffing the sparkling wine,
I'm on my road to ruin,
Been out since seven o'clock,
Flashing and dashing about,
And it wouldn't take me long to stop out all night 
'Cause it is my night out.\"<\/em>
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\"\"<\/figure>
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 A song  recalled by Alice Kane in her Songs and Sayings of an Ulster Childhood <\/em>(1993).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was originally sung by by George Formby Snr <\/a>\u2013 father of the now more famous George Formby Jnr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A recording or download of this song can be purchased from Windyridge CD<\/a>s.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
George Formby Snr sings it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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