Jon introduces this sleeve tugging melodrama as “A tragic temperance ballad, which apparently became quite a popular drinking song…”
Oh the irony of it. I can see how it works, however, as it has that fateful, wretched air to it that falls into the ‘morose’ stage of drinking. For more enlightenment on that and the other stages see this Mudcat thread. I’ll also note that the discussion starts from an anti-alcohol perspective and quickly moves on to discussions about topping up… Not that I’m offering any judgement. I will, however, offer that I have been abstinent for four weeks, with a few more in prospect. I won’t bore you with the details, but as I write this, it will mean I’m at the imminent AFSAD gig devoid of Dutch courage and without any lubrication of the pipes to help squeeze a tune out. Still should I be persuaded to join in, I’m sure a safe area of exclusion can be quickly set up.
Bonus track: Don’t Go Out Tonight Dear Father (Live at Bridgwater Arts Centre, 12th Feb 2011)
You can buy the February digital album now from all good download stores.
For more details on the AFSAD Tour and the after-show singing sessions, visit the AFSAD Live page.
Oh this brings back memories of my kids clinging to me bellpads and imploring me not to go morris dancing….don’t think I ever hit the little bleeders though!
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Whilst I could never claim to be a singer I had a great time singing along with Jon and the Remnant Kings in the bar at the Bridgwater Arts Center. Thank you for a superb evenings entertainment
@ Muzza: Well, it was Morris dancing and you know how some people react to that from a very young age!
This song adds a whole new meaning to ‘The Bells, the Bells!’ Jon, I think you need a tadge more pathos… HAHAHAHAHA! Just needed the family dog to shuffle off his mortal coil and you would have had tragedy worthy of George Cruickshank’s ‘The Bottle.’
http://www.cruikshankart.com/
and
http://www.cruikshankart.com/georgecruikshank/index.html
He also illustrated the Loving Ballad of Lord Bateman.
Abso-bloomin’-lutely loved the Bonus track….so sad….now where’s that hankie!
The live version is GREAT, wonderful back-up harmonies.
JohnB
Didn’t have time to listen to the live track earlier, but how marvellous! The demise of the family dog is not now needed, as the extra pathos is added by the barber shop quartet style harmonies! Well done, all concerned! No doubt all weeping into your ale!
A heart-rending song sung with such pathos. A really pitiful ballad – not a dry eye in the house at its inception I think.
Reynard I do like your new picture of LP on MN I now have two of them (both different) on my mobile – these built in cameras are great – just a pity the pics are so small.
Despite my penchant for Muzzannuendo, I like this song even better than the last. Jon, you sang this beautifully… but in my current circs, I am still not going on the wagon… hahahahaha!
@ Jane: I am surprised that you have not drowned your sorrows in drink. Hope you have taken advice of your friends and asked around. Looks like you have cheered up a bit now. Fancy coming out with almost an innuendo – you know what a response that will bring forth.
a great little song………….I have just realised that I misheARD THE WORDS THE FIRST TIME……….Jon sings “the little Pleader”…….I thought the language a bit strong…see my comment up above!
Well girls…..we seem to have silenced all other contributors with our foreplay…I shall remain silent for a few days so that sobriety can return to the site.
Muzza, Ye cannot go silent on Val’s Day! Who needs sobriety? I’m permanently on the drink! Or is it the brink? Think I need the one for being on the edge of the other!
Agree with Jane.
Such a sad little ditty.
This song, or a version of it, was sung by Elsa Lanchester of Charles Laughton/Bride of Frankenstein fame. According to Wiki, “She revived old Victorian songs and ballads, many of which she retained for her performances in another revue entitled Riverside Nights. She became sufficiently famous for Columbia to invite her into the recording studio to make 78 rpm discs of four of the numbers she sang in these revues: “Please Sell No More Drink to My Father” and “He Didn’t Oughter” were on one disc (recorded in 1926) and “Don’t Tell My Mother I’m Living in Sin” and “The Ladies Bar” was on the other (recorded 1930).
More of her at the full Wiki-link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsa_Lanchester
which contains such biographical nuggets as ‘in 1928 (she) appeared in three ‘silent shorts’ written for her by H.G. Wells’ and that she sang a duet with Elvis Presley in ‘Easy Come, Easy Go’ in 1967.
Here’s the lady herself, singing ‘Please Sell No More Drink To My Father’ which, as one commentator remarks, is enough to drive you to the drink rather than away from it!
For those who would like to hear Elsa singing a bit less in Cockney character, but more music hall bawdily, hear here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DerARIX5pZI
where ‘The Husband’s Clock’ has a ‘German Musicianer’ feel, if you’ll pardon the phraseology,
and here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqOvEGUkQ0g
where ‘Fiji Fanny’ is reminiscent of ‘Fanlight Fanny’ and ‘Queenie’ from a few days ago.
Jane R.’s links from 2014 no longer work, but I think these will
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFg1MPc70P4