William Herbert Lee (11 June 1880 – 23 January 1946) was an English songwriter. He wrote for music hall and the musical stage, often in partnership with

R. P. Weston Robert Patrick Weston ( Harris; 7 March 1878 – 6 November 1936) was an English songwriter. He was responsible for many successful songs and comic monologues between the 1900s and 1930s, mostly written in collaboration with other writers, notab ...

Life and career

Lee was born in

Ravensthorpe Ravensthorpe may refer to any of the following places. England *Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury in West Yorkshire **Ravensthorpe railway station, Dewsbury *Ravensthorpe, Northamptonshire *Ravensthorpe, Peterborough in Cambridgeshire *Ravensthorpe, an histor ...

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

.Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , pp.145–146 He played organ in his local chapel as a child, and initially worked as a

piano tuner Piano tuning is the act of adjusting the tension of the strings of an acoustic piano so that the musical intervals between strings are in tune. The meaning of the term 'in tune', in the context of piano tuning, is not simply a particular fixed ...

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

, before joining a travelling concert party as a pianist.Roy Hudd, "R. P. Weston and Bert Lee, 'A Song a Day'", ''Theatrephile'', vol. 2 no.6, 1985, pp.55–58 His first successful song as a writer was "Joshu-ah!", co-written with

George Arthurs George Arthurs (13 April 1875 – 14 March 1944) was an English songwriter, playwright, composer, author and screenwriter who contributed lyrics to several successful musical comedies such as ''The Belle of Mayfair'' (1906), ''Havana'' (190 ...

and performed by

Clarice Mayne Clarice Mayne (6 February 1886 – 16 January 1966) was a music hall and variety theatre singer and performer. Life and career Clarice Mabel Dulley, whose stage name was Clarice Mayne, was born in London in 1886. She is best known for the s ...

in 1910. He found further success in 1913 with " Hello! Hello! Who's Your Lady Friend?", written with

Worton David Ernest Worton David (17 October 1872 – 15 November 1940) was an English songwriter and music publisher. Biography Worton David was born in Rawmarsh, near Rotherham in the West Riding of Yorkshire; Worton was his mother's maiden name. At fi ...

and the song's performer,

Harry Fragson Harry Fragson (2 July 1869 – 31 December 1913), born Léon Philippe Pot, was a British music hall singer, songwriter and comedian. Born in London of French parentage, he moved to Paris, where he developed an act imitating French music hall pe ...

. In 1915, music publisher David Day, of Francis, Day and Hunter, introduced Lee to

, the collaborator with whom Lee had the most lasting relationship. They immediately found success together with "

Lloyd George's Beer Song Lloyd George's Beer Song is a World War I era song written and composed by R. P. Weston and Bert Lee. The song is a response, or rather a good-natured complaint, against then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister David Lloyd Georg ...

" (1915), "

Good-bye-ee! "Good-bye-ee!" is a popular song which was written and composed by R. P. Weston and Bert Lee. Performed by music hall stars Florrie Forde, Daisy Wood, and Charles Whittle, it was a hit in 1917. Weston and Lee got the idea for the song when they ...

" (1917, made popular by Florrie Forde), and " Paddy McGinty's Goat", revived by

Val Doonican Michael Valentine Doonican (3 February 1927 – 1 July 2015) was an Irish singer of traditional pop, easy listening, and novelty songs, who was noted for his warm and relaxed style. A crooner, he found popular success, especially in the ...

in 1964. They worked together over the next twenty years on some 3000 songs and monologues, 75 stage shows and musicals, and 17 films, as well as for

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking ...

s and radio shows. As well as songs for revues, notably those produced by

Lupino Lane Henry William George Lupino (16 June 1892 – 10 November 1959) professionally Lupino Lane, was an English actor and theatre manager, and a member of the famous Lupino family, which eventually included his cousin, the screenwriter/director/actr ...

, they wrote sketches for such stars as Fred Karno,

Robb Wilton Robert Wilton Smith (28 August 1881 – 1 May 1957), better known as Robb Wilton, was an English comedian and actor. He was best known for his filmed monologues during the 1930s and 1940s, in which he played incompetent authority figures. His tr ...

and

Wee Georgie Wood George Wood Bamlett OBE (17 December 1895 – 19 February 1979), known professionally as Wee Georgie Wood, was a British comic entertainer and actor who appeared in films, plays and music hall revues. He had a lengthy career of over fifty year ...

. Their collaborations were conducted in Weston's house in

Twickenham Twickenham is a suburban district in London, England. It is situated on the River Thames southwest of Charing Cross. Historically part of Middlesex, it has formed part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames since 1965, and the boroug ...

. They kept office hours, met every day and aimed to write at least one song each day. Both Lee and Weston wrote both words and music, but according to Lee: "Bob

eston Eston is a Village in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland, North Yorkshire, England. The ward covering the area (as well as Lackenby, Lazenby and Wilton) had a population of 7,005 at the 2011 census. It is part of Greater Eston, which includ ...

has the brains. I put the laughs in." "Weston and Lee", ''Folk Song and Music Hall''
Retrieved 15 January 2021 In the 1920s, Weston and Lee wrote for many theatre productions, and adapted many American productions for the British stage. In 1926, they started working with theatre producers Jack Waller and Joe Tunbridge, and wrote several musical comedies together, mostly featuring the comedian

Bobby Howes Bobby Howes (4 August 1895 – 27 April 1972) was a British entertainer who was a leading musical comedy performer in London's West End theatres in the 1930s and 1940s. Biography Born in Battersea, Surrey, his parents were Robert William H ...

. They also worked with Gracie Fields and the Crazy Gang. They wrote the popular monologue "

My Word, You Do Look Queer "My Word, You Do Look Queer" is a comic monologue written by Bert Lee and R. P. Weston. It was first performed and recorded in 1922 by English entertainer Ernest Hastings,

", first recorded by

Ernest Hastings Ernest Walter Hastings (15 June 1879 – 2 September 1940) was an English singer, pianist, composer and performer of comic monologues. He was popular from the 1900s to the 1930s, when he was described as "England's Greatest Entertainer at the ...

in 1922 and later popularised by

Stanley Holloway Stanley Augustus Holloway (1 October 1890 – 30 January 1982) was an English actor, comedian, singer and monologist. He was famous for his comic and character roles on stage and screen, especially that of Alfred P. Doolittle in ''My F ...

. Weston and Lee wrote several of Holloway's monologues in the 1930s. Together with Weston's son Harris Weston (born Robert Edgar Harris, 1901–1978), they wrote Holloway's 1934 monologue "

With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm" is a darkly humorous song, written in 1934 with lyrics by R. P. Weston and Bert Lee and music by Harris Weston. It was originally performed by Stanley Holloway. It tells of how the ghost of Anne Boleyn h ...

", about the ghost of

Anne Boleyn Anne Boleyn (; 1501 or 1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536, as the second wife of King Henry VIII. The circumstances of her marriage and of her execution by beheading for treason and other charges made her a key ...

haunting the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is sep ...

, seeking revenge on Henry VIII for having her beheaded. The duo also wrote music for film, including the book and lyrics for ''O-kay for Sound'', a 1937 film. Much of their music was written specifically for actors Sydney Howard and Stanley Holloway, both noted comedians of the 1920s and 1930s. These included "Splinters in the Air" for Howard and "Squibs" for Holloway.Halliwell, Leslie. ''Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies'', 15th edition, HarperCollins, 2003. Among Lee's most enduring tunes is "

Knees Up Mother Brown "Knees Up Mother Brown" is a pub song, believed to date back as early as the 1800s, but first published in 1938, and with origins in the East End of London. With its origins in public houses of East London, it was associated with Cockney culture. ...

", which is traditionally associated with

Cockney Cockney is an accent and dialect of English, mainly spoken in London and its environs, particularly by working-class and lower middle-class Londoners. The term "Cockney" has traditionally been used to describe a person from the East End, or ...

culture. This was written in 1938 in collaboration with R. P. Weston's son, Harris Weston. In 1938, Lee and Harris Weston co-wrote the hit

stage revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...

These Foolish Things "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" is a standard with lyrics by Eric Maschwitz, writing under the pseudonym Holt Marvell, and music by Jack Strachey, both Englishmen. Harry Link, an American, sometimes appears as a co-writer; his input ...

'' which starred The Crazy Gang and the

Sherman Fisher Girls The Sherman Fisher Girls were a British dance troupe active in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Active in variety shows on the Music Hall circuit, they also featured at the Royal Variety Show. In 1938 and 1939 they were part of the hit revue ''These Fo ...

. The same year Lee contributed to the musical ''

The Fleet's Lit Up ''The Fleet's Lit Up'' is a musical comedy first staged in London in 1938 with music and lyrics by Vivian Ellis and a book by Guy Bolton, Fred Thompson and Bert Lee. It ran for 191 performances at the London Hippodrome from August 1938 to Febr ...

''. In 1939, Lee and his wife went on holiday to Llandudno in

north Wales North Wales ( cy, Gogledd Cymru) is a region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders Mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdonia N ...

, and at the outbreak of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

decided to settle in the town. He died there in January 1946, aged 65.

Select filmography (as writer)

* ''

Yes, Madam? ''Yes, Madam?'' is a 1938 British musical comedy film directed by Norman Lee and starring Bobby Howes, Diana Churchill and Wylie Watson. Background The film was adapted from a play by K.R.G. Browne, itself based on a novel by the same author.E ...

'' (1939) * '' Hold My Hand'' (1938) * ''

Splinters in the Air ''Splinters in the Air'' (aka, ''Splinters In The Air Force'') is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Alfred J. Goulding and starring Sydney Howard and Richard Hearne. It is a loose sequel to the films '' Splinters'' (1929) and '' Splinters ...

'' (1937) * '' Fame'' (1936) * '' Squibs'' (1935) * '' Where's George?'' (1935) * ''

Girls, Please! ''Girls, Please!'' is a 1934 British comedy film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Sydney Howard, Jane Baxter, Meriel Forbes and Peter Gawthorne. It was made at British and Dominion's Elstree Studios.Wood p.82 In the film, a physical educat ...

'' (1934) * '' It's a Cop'' (1934) * '' This Is the Life'' (1933) * '' Up for the Derby'' (1933) * ''

It's a King ''It's a King'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Sydney Howard, Joan Maude and Cecil Humphreys. It was made at Elstree Studios by the producer Herbert Wilcox's British and Dominions company.Wood p.75 Plot Fa ...

'' (1933) * ''

Trouble Trouble may refer to: Film and television * ''Trouble'' (1922 film), an American silent comedy-drama film directed by Albert Austin * ''Trouble'' (1933 film), a British comedy film * ''Trouble'' (1977 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Trouble'' ...

'' (1933) * ''

The Mayor's Nest ''The Mayor's Nest'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Sydney Howard, Claude Hulbert and Al Bowlly. It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood p.75 A trombonist becomes mayor of a small town, but he struggles to co ...

'' (1932) *'' Up for the Cup'' (1931) * '' Splinters in the Navy'' (1931) * ''

No Lady ''No Lady'' is a 1931 British comedy film directed by Lupino Lane and starring Lane, Renee Clama and Sari Maritza. It was made at Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd's Bush by Gaumont British Picture Corporation, Gaumont British, a company linked to ...

'' (1931)

Selected stage works

* '' He Wanted Adventure'' (1933) * ''

'' (1938)

Songs (partial list)

* 1910 "Joshua" w.m

& Bert Lee * 1912 " Hello, Hello, Who's Your Lady Friend?" w.m.

& Bert Lee * 1915 "

" with

* 1916 "At Finnigan's Ball" w.m. Bert Lee * 1916 "Blighty, the Soldier's Home Sweet Home" w.m. R.P. Weston & Bert Lee * 1917 " Paddy McGinty's Goat" w.m. R.P. Weston, Bert Lee &

The Two Bobs The Two Bobs were an American vaudeville duo who performed successfully in British music halls, and recorded, in the early twentieth century. They were Robert Lee Alden (1876–1932) and Robert Joseph Adams (1874–1948). Biography Bob ...

* 1917 "

" w.m.

& Bert Lee * 1919 "It's Hard to Settle Down to Civilian Life Once More" w.m. R.P Weston & Bert Lee * 1920 "The Gipsy Warned Me" w.m. R. P. Weston & Bert Lee * 1921 "You're Well Dressed If You're Wearing a Smile" w.m. R. P. Weston & Bert Lee * 1922 " My Word You Do Look Queer" w.m. R. P. Weston & Bert Lee * 1926 "The Tears Shed in London Tonight" w.m. R. P. Weston & Bert Lee * 1926 " What I Want is a Proper Cup of Coffee" w.m. R. P. Weston & Bert Lee * 1928 "All Mine" Douglas Furber, R. P. Weston, Bert Lee m. Jack Waller & Joseph Tunbridge from the Musical ''

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

'' * 1932 "Sing, Brothers" w. Bert Lee & R. P. Weston m. Jack Waller & Joseph Tunbridge from the Musical ''

Tell Her the Truth Tell may refer to: *Tell (archaeology), a type of archaeological site *Tell (name), a name used as a given name and a surname *Tell (poker), a subconscious behavior that can betray information to an observant opponent Arts, entertainment, and m ...

'' * 1932 "Horrortorio" w. Bert Lee & R. P. Weston m. Jack Waller & Joseph Tunbridge from the Musical ''Tell Her the Truth'' * 1934 "

" w.m.

& Bert Lee * 1936 "And The Great Big Saw Came Nearer And Nearer" w.m. Robert E. Harris, Dwight B. Latham, Bert Lee & R. P. Weston * 1938 "

" w.m. Harris Weston & Bert Lee * 1940 "Brahn Boots" w.m. R. P. Weston & Bert Lee

References

External links

*
Works by Bert Lee on Great War Theatre
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Bert 1880 births 1946 deaths English songwriters