Old Brown's Daughter (Roud 1426) was an English music hall song, sung by Alfred Vance, and became a Newfoundland folk song. It was written by G. W. Hunt (c.1837 - 1904), circa 1878, although it is often wrongly credited to Johnny Burke (1851 - 1930). It was in the repertoire of English folk singer Walter Pardon on his 1975 album, A Proper Sort.[1] Peter Bellamy also sang a version of Old Brown's Daughter[2] on his 1975 self-titled album.[3] In 1991, Damien Barber recorded the song for Fellside Records and it was released on the compilation Voices in 1992. The melody was rewritten by Newfoundland singer/songwriter Ron Hynes and Hynes' version was covered by Great Big Sea on their 1999 album, Turn.
There is an ancient party at the other end of town,
He keeps a little grocery store and the ancient's name is Brown;
He has a lovely daughter, such a treat I never saw,
Oh, I only hope someday to be the old man's son-in-law.
Old Brown sells from off the shelf most anything you please,
He's got Jew's harps for the little boys, lollipops, and cheese;
His daughter minds the store, and it's a treat to see her serve,
I'd like to run away with her, but I don't have the nerve.
And it's Old Brown's daughter is a proper sort of girl,
Old Brown's daughter is as fair as any pearl;
I wish I was a Lord Mayor, Marquis, or an Earl,
And blow me if I wouldn't marry Old Brown's girl.
Well Poor Old Brown now has trouble with the gout,
He grumbles in his little parlour when he can't get out;
And when I make a purchase and she hands me the change,
That girl she makes me pulverised, I feel so very strange.
And it's Old Brown's daughter is a proper sort of girl,
Old Brown's daughter is as fair as any pearl;
I wish I was a Lord Mayor, Marquis, or an Earl,
And blow me if I wouldn't marry Old Brown's girl.
Miss Brown she smiles so sweetly when I say a tender word,
But Old Brown says that she must wed a Marquis or a Lord;
Well, I don't suppose it's ever one of those things I will be,
But, by jingo, next election I will run for Trinity.
And it's Old Brown's daughter is a proper sort of girl,
Old Brown's daughter is as fair as any pearl;
I wish I was a Lord Mayor, Marquis or an Earl,
And blow me if I wouldn't marry Old Brown's girl.
Blow me if I wouldn't marry Old Brown's girl.
The Roud Folk Song Index records that this song was issued as a broadside by a number of publishers.[4] A copy published by Pearson of Manchester is in the Bodleian Ballad Collection.[5]
Being a well-documented song publicised by English Folk Dance and Song Society,[6] and Mainly Norfolk,[7] the song was recorded by Jon Boden and Oli Steadman for inclusion in their respective lists of daily folk songs "A Folk Song A Day"[8] and "365 Days Of Folk".[9]
