Charles William Collins (18 December 1874 – 15 February 1923) was an English songwriter, who composed the music for several famous music hall songs of the early twentieth century. He was born in

Walworth Walworth () is a district of south London, England, within the London Borough of Southwark. It adjoins Camberwell to the south and Elephant and Castle to the north, and is south-east of Charing Cross. Major streets in Walworth include the Old ...

, London. His successful songs included " I Wouldn’t Leave My Little Wooden Hut For You" (1905), written with Tom Mellor and performed by Daisy Dormer; " Now I Have To Call Him Father" (1908), written with

Fred Godfrey Fred Godfrey (17 September 1880 – 22 February 1953) was the pen name of Llewellyn Williams, a World War I songwriter. He is best known for the songs " Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty" (1916) and " Bless 'Em All" (1917), a 1940s hit reco ...

and performed by

Vesta Victoria Vesta Victoria (born Victoria Lawrence, 26 November 1873 – 7 April 1951) was an English music hall singer and comedian. She was famous for her performances of songs such as " Waiting at the Church" and "Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Wow", both ...

; " Boiled Beef and Carrots" (1910), written with Fred Murray and performed by

Harry Champion William Henry Crump (17 April 1865 – 14 January 1942), better known by the stage name Harry Champion, was an English music hall composer, singer and comedian, whose onstage persona appealed chiefly to the working class communities of Ea ...

; " Any Old Iron" (1911), written with Fred E. Terry and performed by Harry Champion; "Why Am I Always the Bridesmaid?" (1917) written with Fred W. Leigh and sung by

Lily Morris Lily Morris (born Lilles Mary Crosby; 30 September 1882 – 3 October 1952)Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , pp.252-253 was an English music hall performer, who specialised in singing comed ...

; and "

Don't Dilly Dally on the Way "Don't Dilly Dally on the Way", subtitled "The Cock Linnet Song" and often credited as "My Old Man (Said Follow the Van)", is a music hall song written in 1919 by Fred W. Leigh and Charles Collins, made popular by Marie Lloyd. The song, althou ...

" (1919), also written with Leigh and sung by

Marie Lloyd Matilda Alice Victoria Wood (12 February 1870 – 7 October 1922), professionally known as Marie Lloyd (), was an English music hall singer, comedian and musical theatre actress. She was best known for her performances of songs such as " T ...

. Barry Norris, "Charles Collins (1874-1923)", ''Fred Godfrey Songs''
Retrieved 13 July 2020 Collins died in London in 1923, aged 48.

References

1874 births 1923 deaths English songwriters {{England-musician-stub