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Tell Your Father, Tell Your Mother (That I'm Good Enough For You)

from On The Roof Of Your House, All Alone by Russ Chandler

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about

One of two songs in this collection from the master of silliness Leslie Sarony. I found this tune on a 78 record dating from 1932. Leslie sings on the disc but didn't actually write this tune.

The velvet, twinkly vocals are courtesy of the velvet, twinkly Matt Crampton and Andi did a great job with the percussion. 

lyrics

Said Bertie to his girl last night "Your people don't like me,
They'd raise their hats and kiss me if they knew my pedigree.
My Pa was a railway porter, he fought at Waterloo,
My Ma was a fisherman's daughter,
That is why I'm fishing for you

I've been a baker and an undertaker
And a cocktail shaker in Peru.
Tell Your Father, Tell your Mother
That I'm good enough for you.

I’ve been a waiter and I used to cater
To an alligator in the zoo.
Tell Your Father, Tell your Mother
that I'm good enough for you.

I've been an M. A. and a B. A.
They say I'm M. U. G,
I can trace my pedigree to
Nineteen thirty-three,
As the cook house slavey in the old Swiss Navy
I have served the gravy to the crew,
Tell Your Father, Tell your Mother
That I'm good enough for you.

Said Bertie “All my family have laboured very hard”,
“You’ll find their portraits all around the walls of Scotland Yard”
The job I’ve got now is tidy,
I work for Jones & Sons,
I only go in on Good Friday,
Putting crosses on hot cross buns.

I’ve been a doorman and I’ve been a Mormon,
And a very warm ‘un if you knew,
Tell Your Father, Tell your Mother,
That I'm good enough for you.

I’ve been a ringer and I’ve a Highland flinger,
And a tenor singer with the flu,
Tell Your Father, Tell your Mother,
That I'm good enough for you.

I’ve been a horse thief and a fish thief,
Why once I pinched a whale,
Half my life I’ve been on bail,
The other half in jail.
Oh I’ve fixed a girder, been a dead sheep herder,
And I’ve done a murder one or two,
Tell Your Father, Tell your Mother,
That I'm good enough for you.

I’ve been respected by the well-connected,
I’ve been disinfected by them too,
Tell Your Father, Tell your Mother,
That I'm good enough for you.

I’ve been a flier and an occupier,
Of the black Maria with a crew,
Tell Your Father, Tell your Mother,
That I'm good enough for you.

I’ve been to Oxford and Cambridge,
I’ve been to borstal too,
I’ve roamed the world all over,
From Wigan down to Crew.
Oh I’ve been a thatcher and a trouser patcher,
And an earwig catcher up at Kew,
Tell Your Father, Tell your Mother,
That I'm good enough for you.

credits

from On The Roof Of Your House, All Alone, released May 8, 2018
Written by Leo Towers, Harry Leon & Horatio Nicholls
Featuring Matthew Crampton, Steve White & Andi Bridges.

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Russ Chandler image

Russ Chandler London, UK

Russ Chandler is a forceful singer and banjo player who sings songs he feels have something to say to the world we live in.

He plays traditional, political and modern songs.

He is a fine banjo player and as well as giving concerts can teach and give presentations on the history and culture of the instrument.

His first album Last Night In Babylon was described by fRoots magazine as “Masterly” ... more

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