Don't Dilly Dally on the Way
Encyclopedia
My Old Man is a music hall
song written by Fred W. Leigh and Charles Collins
, made popular by Marie Lloyd
.
It is a humorous song, but it also reflects some of the hard aspects of working class
life in London
at the beginning of the 20th century. The couple, in the song, are obliged to move house quickly in the middle of the night, because they cannot pay rent
. They fill up the van with their possessions. But there is not room for the wife, so the husband instructs her to follow the van, which she does, carrying the pet bird.
The chorus of the song is well-known.
An alternative to the last two lines is:
Another alternative to the last two lines is
Another alternative is
Another alternative is
I had to stop to have a drop of tiddly in the pub
Now I can't find my way home.
often sang it in performances.
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
song written by Fred W. Leigh and Charles Collins
Charles Collins
Charles Collins may refer to:*Charles E. Collins, independent candidate for the president of the United States in 1996 and 2000*Charles Collins , American actor*Charles Collins c.1680–1744, Irish painter...
, made popular by Marie Lloyd
Marie Lloyd
Matilda Alice Victoria Wood was an English music hall singer, best known as Marie Lloyd. Her ability to add lewdness to the most innocent of lyrics led to frequent clashes with the guardians of morality...
.
It is a humorous song, but it also reflects some of the hard aspects of working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
life in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the beginning of the 20th century. The couple, in the song, are obliged to move house quickly in the middle of the night, because they cannot pay rent
Renting
Renting is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property owned by another. A gross lease is when the tenant pays a flat rental amount and the landlord pays for all property charges regularly incurred by the ownership from landowners...
. They fill up the van with their possessions. But there is not room for the wife, so the husband instructs her to follow the van, which she does, carrying the pet bird.
The chorus of the song is well-known.
- My old man said "Follow the van,
- And don't dilly dally on the way".
- Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it,
- I followed on wiv me old cock linnetLinnetThe Linnet is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.The Linnet derives its scientific name from its fondness for hemp and its English name from its liking for seeds of flax, from which linen is made.- Description :...
. - 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 specialSpecial constableA Special Constable is a law enforcement officer who is not a regular member of a police force. Some like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police carry the same law enforcement powers as regular members, but are employed in specific roles, such as explosive disposal technicians, court security, campus...
like the old time coppersPolice officerA police officer is a warranted employee of a police force... - When you can't find your way 'ome
An alternative to the last two lines is:
- Who'll put you up when you've lost your bedstead,
- And you can't find your way 'ome?"
Another alternative to the last two lines is
- I stopped on the way to have me old half quarten, now I can't find my way home
Another alternative is
- "Well you can't trust a man when your life's in a van an' you can't find your way 'ome."
Another alternative is
I had to stop to have a drop of tiddly in the pub
Now I can't find my way home.
Performances
Various lineups of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem 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. Danny La RueDanny La Rue
Danny La Rue, OBE was an Irish-born British entertainer known for his singing and drag impersonations.-Early life:...
often sang it in performances.
In popular culture
- The song was sung near the conclusion of Ice-Cold in AlexIce-Cold in AlexIce-Cold in Alex is a British film based on the novel of the same name by British author Christopher Landon. Directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring John Mills, the film was a prizewinner at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival...
by the three British officers. - The song also appeared in the Sega Master SystemSega Master SystemThe is a third-generation video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1985 in Japan , 1986 in North America and 1987 in Europe....
version of LemmingsLemmings (video game)Lemmings is a puzzle computer game developed by DMA Design and published by Psygnosis in . Originally developed for PC and Commodore Amiga, Lemmings was one of the most popular computer games of its time, and several gaming magazines gave it some of their highest review scores at the time...
, making its first appearance in the 17th level rated "Fun". - In The Catherine Tate ShowThe Catherine Tate ShowThe Catherine Tate Show is a British television sketch comedy written by Catherine Tate and Aschlin Ditta. Tate also stars in all but one of the show's sketches, which feature a wide range of characters. The Catherine Tate Show airs on BBC Two and is shown worldwide through the BBC...
, during the Life at Ma's sketch (a spoof of Life on MarsLife on MarsScientists have long speculated about the possibility of life on Mars owing to the planet's proximity and similarity to Earth. Fictional Martians have been a recurring feature of popular entertainment of the 20th and 21st centuries, but it remains an open question whether life currently exists on...
), the last four lines are sung by Catherine TateCatherine TateCatherine Tate is an English actress, writer, and comedian. She has won numerous awards for her work on the sketch comedy series The Catherine Tate Show as well as being nominated for an International Emmy Award and four BAFTA Awards...
and a variety of other characters. - The song also appeared in the episode Home Sick in Only Fools And HorsesOnly Fools and HorsesOnly Fools and Horses is a British sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003...
, being sung by Del BoyDel BoyDerek Edward Trotter, better known as "Del Boy", is the fictional lead character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses and one of the main characters of its prequel, Rock & Chips...
and Granddad, as well as the very start of The Sweeney pilot, Regan. - The first verse and the chorus were featured in episode 211 of The Muppet ShowThe Muppet ShowThe Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
, performed by Miss PiggyMiss PiggyMiss Piggy is a Muppet character who was primarily played by Frank Oz on The Muppet Show. In 2001, Eric Jacobson began performing the role, although Oz did not officially retire until 2002....
. In the Muppet fan community the song is better known as "Don't Dilly Dally On the Way". - Jerry Seinfeld was shown singing this song in stereotypical English Pub sing-a-long for an American Express commercial.
- It opens Steven Berkoff's 1975 play, East.