"Daddy Wouldn’t Buy Me a Bow Wow" is a song written in 1892 by prolific English songwriter

Joseph Tabrar Joseph Tabrar (5 November 1857 – 22 August 1931) was a prolific English writer of popular music hall songs. His song "Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Wow" (1892) became Vesta Victoria's first major popular success.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 ...

at the

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, holding a kitten. The same year it was recorded by Silas Leachman for the North American Phonograph Co. of Chicago (Talking Machine Company of Chicago/Chicago Talking Machine). In 1895 Toulouse-Lautrec painted

May Belfort May Belfort (c.1872–1929) was an Irish singer, actress and comedian who was famous across Europe and America. Biography Born May Egan in Ireland in about 1872, she was a comedian and singer on the London music halls and then in Paris where she ...

singing it. The comedian Arthur Roberts also had success in the 1890s with the song.Kelly, Linda
"Pantomime Dame and Music Hall Caricature Postcards"
About Postcards, accessed 9 August 2010 The song featured in the 1934 musical movie ''

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'', sung by

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, and was also revived after

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. The chorus was sung by

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and Peter Sellers in the 1980 movie ''

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''. It is also the tune

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whistles when she leaves the Doctor at the end of the ''

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'' episode "The Hand of Fear". It is sung by the ''

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'' cast, led by

Anna Wing Anna Eva Lydia Catherine Wing (30 October 1914 – 7 July 2013) was an English actress who had a long career in television and theatre, known for portraying the role of Beale family matriarch Lou Beale in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. Ea ...

( Lou Beale, as part of the ''1985 EastEnders Sing Along''. In the first episode of the 1983

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series '' Reilly, Ace of Spies'', one of Sidney Reilly's mistresses performs a

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to a

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recording of the song.

On CD

*A version of Vesta Victoria singing the song can be found on the CD ''60 Old-Time Variety Songs'' *It also appears on the ''Ultimate Pub Sing-A-Long Album''

Lyrics

I love my little cat, I do
With soft black silky hair
It comes with me each day to school
And sits upon the chair
When teacher says "why do you bring
That little pet of yours?"
I tell her that I bring my cat
Along with me because Daddy wouldn't buy me a bow-wow! bow wow!
Daddy wouldn't buy me a bow-wow! bow wow!
I've got a little cat
And I'm very fond of that
But I'd rather have a bow-wow
Wow, wow, wow, wow We used to have two tiny dogs
Such pretty little dears
But daddy sold 'em 'cause they used
To bite each other's ears
I cried all day, at eight each night
Papa sent me to bed
When Ma came home and wiped my eyes
I cried again and said Daddy wouldn't buy me a bow-wow! bow wow!
Daddy wouldn't buy me a bow-wow! bow wow!
I've got a little cat
And I'm very fond of that
But I'd rather have a bow-wow
Wow, wow, wow, wow I'll be so glad when I get old
To do just as I "likes"
I'll keep a parrot and at least
A half a dozen tykes
And when I've got a tiny pet
I'll kiss the little thing
Then put it in its little cot
And on to it I'll sing Daddy wouldn't buy me a bow-wow! bow wow!
Daddy wouldn't buy me a bow-wow! bow wow!
I've got a little cat
And I'm very fond of that
But I'd rather have a bow-wow
Wow, wow, wow, wow

References

{{authority control Songs about fathers Songs about dogs Songs about cats 1892 songs British songs