My Old Man (Said Follow the Van)
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"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 Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...
song written in 1919 by
Fred W. Leigh William Frederick Bridgen (1871 – 21 August 1924), known professionally as Fred W. Leigh, was an English lyricist who co-wrote several popular music hall songs of the early twentieth century, Biography Born in London, he worked when young i ...
and Charles Collins, made popular by Marie Lloyd. The song, although humorous, also reflects some of the hardships of working class life in London at the beginning of the 20th century. It joined a music hall tradition of dealing with life in a determinedly upbeat fashion. In the song a couple are obliged to move house, after dark, because they cannot pay their
rent Rent may refer to: Economics *Renting, an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property *Economic rent, any payment in excess of the cost of production *Rent-seeking, attempting to increase one's share of e ...
. At the time the song was written, most London houses were rented, so moving in a hurry – a moonlight flit – was common when the husband lost his job or there was insufficient money to pay the rent. The couple rush to fill up the van, and its tailboard, with their possessions, in case the landlord appears. When the van is packed up, however, there is no room left for the wife. The husband therefore instructs her to follow the van, which she does, carrying the pet bird. Unfortunately, en route, the wife loses her way after stopping at a pub for a drink. Thereafter, she reflects that it would be ill-advised to approach one of the volunteer policemen (a "special"), as they are less trustworthy than a regular police constable (a "copper") and might take advantage of her inebriation. Alternatively (according to the physical gestures accompanying the song) they may simply be less qualified to give dependable street directions.


Chorus

The chorus of the song is well known. : My old man said "Foller the van, : And don't dilly dally on the way". : Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it, : I walked behind wiv me old cock linnet. : But I dillied and dallied, dallied and I dillied : Lost me way and don't know where to roam. : Well you can't trust a special like the old time coppers. : When you can't find your way 'ome. There are a number of alternatives to the last two lines: : Who'll put you up when you've lost your bedstead, : And you can't find your way 'ome?" : I stopped on the way to have me old half quarten, : now I can't find my way home. : Well you can't trust a man when your life's in a van : an' you can't find your way 'ome. : I had to stop to have a drop of tiddly in the pub : Now I can't find my way home. : Stopped off to have one at the old Red Tavern : And I can't find my way home.


Performances

Various lineups of the Clancy Brothers (with Tommy Makem, Louis Killen, and Robbie O'Connell at different times) have performed the refrain as part of a medley, immediately following " They're moving Father's grave to build a sewer", which also deals with the travails of working class Londoners. These two songs appeared together on the group's 1965 album, ''
Recorded Live in Ireland ''Recorded Live in Ireland'' is a 1965 album of Irish folk songs performed by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. It was the first live album to be recorded in stereo in Ireland. It was their sixth LP for Columbia Records and, unusually for ...
''.
Danny La Rue Danny La Rue, (born Daniel Patrick Carroll, 26 July 1927 – 31 May 2009) was an Irish singer and entertainer, best known for his on-stage drag queen, drag persona. He performed in drag and also as himself in theatrical productions, television ...
also often sang it in performances.


Football chant

The song forms the basis of a football chant in the UK at clubs such as
Aston Villa Aston Villa Football Club is a professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, England. The club competes in the , the top tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1874, they have played at their home ground, Villa Park ...
,
Manchester United 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 City of Salford, Salford to ...
and
Glentoran F.C. Glentoran Football Club is a professional football club that plays in the NIFL Premiership. The club was founded in 1882. History Early history In 1914, Glentoran won the Vienna Cup, becoming the first United Kingdom team to win a European t ...
In the chant, the narrator's old man suggests being a fan of a rival club. The narrator responds aggressively and reveals a negative opinion of all fans of that club, using obscene language.


In popular culture

*In '' The Catherine Tate Show'', during the "Life at Ma's" sketch (a spoof of '' Life on Mars''), the last four lines are sung by Catherine Tate and a variety of other characters. *The song also appeared in the '' Only Fools And Horses'' episode "Home Sick", being sung by Del Boy and Grandad. *The first verse and the chorus were featured in Episode 211 of '' The Muppet Show'', performed by Miss Piggy. In the Muppet fan community the song is better known as "Don't Dilly Dally On the Way". *It is sung in the 1943 black and white romantic comedy film '' The Gentle Sex''. *It is sung in the 1958 war film '' Ice Cold in Alex''. *It is sung in the 1958 movie '' Innocent Sinners'' by the main character 'Lovejoy'. *In 1970,
Cardinal Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
Fang ( Terry Gilliam) briefly began to recite the tune under his breath after citing charges of heresy against the Holy Church, but was subsequently cut off by Cardinal Ximénez ( Michael Palin) before completing the first line. This was part of the famous Spanish Inquisition Sketch from the
Monty Python Monty Python (also collectively known as the Pythons) were a British comedy troupe who created the sketch comedy television show '' Monty Python's Flying Circus'', which first aired on the BBC in 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four ...
comedy troupe. Palin,
Jones Jones may refer to: People *Jones (surname), a common Welsh and English surname *List of people with surname Jones * Jones (singer), a British singer-songwriter Arts and entertainment * Jones (''Animal Farm''), a human character in George Orwell ...
, and Gilliam would burst into the room whenever someone uttered a form of the trigger phrase, ''"I didn't expect a Spanish Inquisition."'' *It is sung in the opening of the 1974 TV play "Regan", written by Ian Kennedy Martin and starring John Thaw as the titular character, which served as the pilot episode of ''
The Sweeney ''The Sweeney'' is a 1970s British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London. It stars John Thaw as Detective Ins ...
''. *It opens
Steven Berkoff Steven Berkoff (born Leslie Steven Berks; 3 August 1937) is an English actor, author, playwright, theatre practitioner and theatre director. As a theatre maker he is recognised for staging work with a heightened performance style eponymously k ...
's 1975 play '' East''. *In the ''1985
EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the Ea ...
Sing-Along'', it is sung by the cast with Gillian Taylforth singing the intro. *The first verse and chorus is sung in
Upstairs, Downstairs Upstairs Downstairs may refer to: Television *Upstairs, Downstairs (1971 TV series), ''Upstairs, Downstairs'' (1971 TV series), a British TV series broadcast on ITV from 1971 to 1975 *Upstairs Downstairs (2010 TV series), ''Upstairs Downstairs'' ...
by the servants as part of their New Year's celebrations in Series 4, Episode 9, "Another Year." The group seems to mix up the line about the "special" and the old-time copper, but it may be because the butler, Mr. Hudson, serves as a "special." (See Series 4, Episode 3, "The Beastly Hun.") *In an episode of '' The Archers'' broadcast on Monday 28 September 2015, the chorus is sung by Ruth Archer and her mother immediately before the latter's collapse from a ''
stroke A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...
'' and subsequent death. An alternative third line is used - "Off went the van with me old man in it". *In a commercial for
American Express American Express Company (Amex) is an American multinational corporation specialized in payment card services headquartered at 200 Vesey Street in the Battery Park City neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. The company was found ...
,
Jerry Seinfeld Jerome Allen Seinfeld ( ; born April 29, 1954) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He is best known for playing a Jerry Seinfeld (character), semi-fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom ''Seinfeld'', which he ...
is shown singing the song with others in an English pub, part of a montage showing the comedian's adjusting to British culture. *It is sung by Mr. Bean in the 22nd episode of season 4 in animated series. * Tessie O'Shea, Kay Kendall and the Pearly Kings and Queens, sang an excerpt of the song in the film '' London Town.'' *In the comedy film
Confessions from a Holiday Camp ''Confessions from a Holiday Camp'' is a 1977 British comedy film. It is the last film in the series which began with ''Confessions of a Window Cleaner''. The film was released in North America in 1978 under the title ''Confessions of a Summer C ...
, the Lea family sing the song enroute to the holiday camp, drunkenly unaware that they've stumbled into a funeral car instead of a taxi.


Notes and references


External links


Full song lyrics
* http://monologues.co.uk/musichall/Songs-D/Dont-Dilly-Dally.htm {{DEFAULTSORT:Don't Dilly Dally on the Way Comedy songs Music hall songs The Muppets songs 1919 songs Lonnie Donegan songs Songs with lyrics by Fred W. Leigh Songs with music by Charles Collins (songwriter) Songs about transport