{"id":27340,"date":"2025-06-05T15:55:08","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T15:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=27340"},"modified":"2025-06-05T15:55:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T15:55:12","slug":"they-wont-know-oi-coom-from-the-coontry-thats-what-makes-oi-larf","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/they-wont-know-oi-coom-from-the-coontry-thats-what-makes-oi-larf\/","title":{"rendered":"They won’t know Oi coom from the Coontry (That’s what makes Oi larf)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>
<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1909<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Fred W Leigh<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN10715<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>George Bastow<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Smith, Tom ; England : Suffolk : no date<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Oi've lived in the coontry all my days,
And Oi ain't got chick nor woife.
Oi be go-ing oop to London town next week
For the first toime in my life.
Oi've read all about they rogues and thieves
That you meet in London town!
If they once know a chap's from the coontry, whoy, 
They oops and takes him down.

But they won't know Oi coom from the country - no!
Their little game Oi'll spoil.
Oi've bought these clothes and the tailor says
They're the latest London stoyle.
Oi've learned to talk like a Cockney
Oi can say \"Wot ho! not 'arf!\"
So they won't know Oi comes from the coontry, no.<\/em>
(He! He!) that's what makes Oi larf<\/em>

As soon as Oi get to London town
Oi shall walk to Lay-ster Squeer
For Oi\u2019ve heard a lot about those ballet girls
That you always foind around theer
Oi\u2019ve seen them in pictures scores of toimes
And Oi thinks they're foine, don't you?
If Oi meet some of them, Oi'll say \"Pip-pip!\"
Loike the Cockney chaps all do


And they won't know Oi come from the country - no!
Oi\u2019ll tell a rare old tale.
We\u2019ll go to the Hotel Metropole
And Oi\u2019ll buy them pots o\u2019 yale
And if they gals want to kiss me, whoy,
Oi\u2019ll  say \"Wot ho! not 'arf!\"
So they won't know Oi comes from the coontry, no.
(He! He!) that's what makes Oi larf
<\/em>
Oi'll go the tow\u2019r of London that's
Wheer the King lives, they do say.
And o\u2019 course Oi'll  have a walk thro\u2019 the Haymarket:
Oi'm a main good judge o\u2019 hay.
Oi'll see Piccadilly Circus too
For a circus show's all roight
And Oi've heerd o\u2019 the splendid performances
They  give theer ev'ry noight.

They won't know Oi come from the country - no!
Oop in the gay West End
Oi\u2019ll  live like a lord, if it cost two bob
For Oi don\u2019t care what Oi spend
If folks say \u201cWheer do hee coom from?\"
Oi\u2019ll say \"Wot ho! not 'arf!\"
They won't know Oi comes from the coontry, no.
(He! He!) that's what makes Oi larf<\/em>

Oi won't go to bed till half-past ten,
For they keep late hours oop there;
And a collar and a tie Oi'll weer each day,
And some hair-oil on my hair.
Oi've heerd the Savoy's a smart hotel,
But if that full-oop should be,
Whoy, they tell Oi theer's one called Rowton House 
That's just the place for me.

They won't know Oi coom from the coontry_ no! 
When for a stroll Oi go,
Oi'll weer my hat on the soide, like this, 
And Oi'll swing my stick, like so.
If p'licemen say, \"Move along, theer!\" whoy, 
Oi\u2019ll say \"Wot ho! not 'arf!\"
They won't know Oi comes from the coontry, no.
(He! He!) that's what makes Oi larf<\/em>


<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
A hit in the Halls of early 1909, sung by  \u00a0\u00a0George Bastow<\/a>, with words and music by Fred W Leigh<\/a>. AT the time such songs were described as “yokel” songs – Bastow had a number of them in his repertoire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was later collected from the singing of Tom Smith by John Howson in the 1970s or 80s,\u00a0his version appeared on the Veteran Recording Many a good horseman<\/em>, which is available by following the links at  https:\/\/veteran.co.uk\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n