{"id":29918,"date":"2026-05-04T09:22:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T09:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=29918"},"modified":"2026-05-27T10:23:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T10:23:33","slug":"shilling-or-two-a-music-hall-version-1869","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/shilling-or-two-a-music-hall-version-1869\/","title":{"rendered":"Shilling or Two, A (Music Hall version, 1869)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1869<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Harry Lynn \/ HW Fitchett<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RNnone<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Victor Liston<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>none<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A SHILLING OR TWO<\/strong> (1869)
Words by Harry Lynn. Music by HW Fitchett.
Sung by Victor Liston with the greatest success.

This is trash I'm writing 
And yet still it is true 
That each mortal is fighting 
For a shilling or two 
And pray what crime is so great 
That is known unto you 
As this - to be rather short
Of a shilling or two 

A shilling or two, a shilling or two,
Tis fearful to want a shilling or two,
This wicked world you can never get thro'
Lest you're possessed of a shilling or two.<\/em>

Now if your friends would try 
There's but 1 thing to do 
Just ask them to lend you 
But a shilling or two
And you will find your sworn friends
Turn their backs upon you 
For it is dreadful to want 
Just a shilling or two.

A shilling or two, a shilling or two, 
Friends can be bought for a shilling or two,
Yes, yes it is true you'll find it is true, 
Friends can be sold for a shilling or two.<\/em>

Now pray to girls wed for love, 
Well perhaps some of them do
But they more often do wed
Just a shilling or two.
Mind most men are the same, 
But their folly they rue;
Because real joy is not bought, 
For a a shilling or two.

A shilling or two, a shilling or two,
It oft proves a curse, a shilling or two.
Young maidens are bought and young men sold too
And all for what, just a shilling or two<\/em>

Perhaps you may think it's strange 
Yet still it is true
But I'm singing these few lines
For a shilling or two
And I've not been back biting 
But search the whole wide world through
And all men you'll see fighting
For a shilling or two

A shilling or two, a shilling or two
Wonderful charms has a shilling or two
It buys things on Earth that's all it can do 
But heaven's not bought for a shilling or two <\/em><\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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One of many songs describing the benefits of having “A Shilling or Two”<\/em> or in America “A Dollar or Two”<\/em>. Songs and poems on this theme go back to 1840 or earlier and their history is outlined on the song TIMELINE<\/a> This particular variant was written for British Music Hall comic Victor Liston, as far as I can tell it has not entered the repertoire of traditional singers or significantly influenced the versions they sing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Victor Liston (1838-1913) <\/strong>was most famous for singing Shabby Genteel<\/a><\/em> and you can find his brief biography under that song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harry Lynn (1843-1918)<\/strong> began his profesional career in the late 1860s as a duettist, singing and performing sketches with a variety of female partners (eg Lizzie Clifton and Jula Weston). He appeared regularly at Sam Collins’ and claimed that he had appeared at every Hall in London.. Not to be confused with Harry Linn<\/a>, the Scottish singer-songwriter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HW Fitchett senior (?-1877)<\/strong> played piano at various London Music Halls, his earliest appearance seems to have been in 1854 at the Rodney’s Head Tavern. From 1863 to 1877 he was musical director at Sam Collins’ Music Hall, where his son HW Fitchett junior (1836- 77)<\/strong> also played piano. Father and son both died in 1877. The elder and younger Fitchett both composed song music. and as yet I have not identified which wrote the music for this song.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Illustrated London News – 25 Dec 1869<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Daily Telegraph & Courier (London) – 23 Dec 1869<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Reports in newspapers suggest that Victor Liston appeared regulrly in Scottish Music Halls from the mid-1860s through to the 1880s. He was a regular performer in the Halls of Dundee Greenoch and Glasgow. In the early 1880s he toured Scotland in a concert party with Arthur Lloyd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n