So Was I

[ Roud 18910 ; Arthur Lennard]

Charlie Giddings of Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, sang So Was I to Sam Steele in ca. 1959. This recording was included in 2005 on the Veteran CD of traditional folk songs, music hall songs and tunes collected by Sam Steele in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex 1959-1962, Heel & Toe. John Howson noted:

Composed and sung by music hall performer Arthur Lennard (1867-1954) and published in B. Mocatta & Co’s Second Comic Annual (late 19^th century).

So Was I is printed in Roy Palmer’s 2000 book A Taste of Ale. Andy Turner sang it in 2000 on Magpie Lane’s Beautiful Jo album A Taste of Ale that accompanied the book. He also sang it as the 28 August 2015 entry of his project A Folk Song a Week.

Lyrics

Charlie Giddings sings So Was I

Now a dear old pal of mine named Brown, last Monday called on me,
And he asked me if I’d go with him and have jolly spree.
Now my missus didn’t like it but I quickly made a bunk:
We called at nearly every pub and soon old Brown was drunk.
So was I, so was I, for I was just the same, I won’t deny.
We both get on alright ’til we both got beastly tight.
Then Brown was soon paralytic—so was I.

Now they wouldn’t serve us at a pub, they quickly slung us out.
We didn’t care we rolled along and then began to shout.
When a man in blue came up and said, “Just stop that dreadful din”.
Old Brown said, “I will punch your head”, then Brown was soon run in.
So was I, so was I, for I was just the same, I won’t deny.
They pitched us in a cell, on our heads we gently fell,
And Brown was soon snoring—so was I.

Now next morning we felt shaky, we were in such a state.
They quickly took us both before the magistrate.
When he eyed us both so sternly we both held back a sob,
Because poor old Brown was sentenced to a month or forty bob.
So was I, so was I, for I was just the same, I won’t deny.
We paid the fine, you bet, then we went and had a wet,
For poor old Brown was thirsty—so was I.