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My Old Man is a music hall song written in 1919〔() "The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations" by Elizabeth M. Knowle, 1999〕 by Fred W. Leigh and Charles Collins, made popular by Marie Lloyd. The song, although humorous, also reflects some of the hardships of working class life in London at the beginning of the 20th century. It joined a music hall tradition of dealing with life in a determinedly upbeat fashion. In the song a couple are obliged to move house, after dark, because they cannot pay their rent. At the time the song was written, most London houses were rented, so moving in a hurry – a moonlight flit – was common when the husband lost his job or there was insufficient money to pay the rent. The couple rush to fill up the van, and its tailboard, with their possessions, in case the landlord appears. When the van is packed up, however, there is no room left for the wife. The husband therefore instructs her to follow the van, which she does, carrying the pet bird. Unfortunately, en route, the wife loses her way after stopping at a pub for a drink. Thereafter, she reflects that it would be ill-advised to approach one of the volunteer policemen (a "special"), as they are less trustworthy than a regular police constable (a "copper") and might take advantage of her inebriation. Alternatively (according to the physical gestures accompanying the song) they may simply be less qualified to give dependable street directions. ==Chorus== The chorus of the song is well-known. : My old man〔The singer's father or husband〕 said "Foller〔follow〕 the van, : And don't dilly dally〔To dilly dally is to linger〕 on the way". : Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it, : I followed on wiv me old cock linnet.〔Caged song birds were very popular in Victorian and Edwardian England, and the male, or cock, linnet was common. Cock linnet is also Cockney rhyming slang for ''minute''〕 : 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 special like the old time coppers.〔During World War I "Special Constabulary" were recruited on a part-time basis to replace or augment the regular "old-time coppers" of peacetime. The purported untrustworthiness of the "specials" may simply reflect their inability to provide reliable street directions〕 : When you can't find your way 'ome.〔(''My Old Man'', lyrics ) accessed 21 Jan 2007〕 There are a number of alternatives to the last two lines: : Who'll put you up when you've lost your bedstead, : And you can't find your way 'ome?" : I stopped on the way to have me old half quarten,〔"Half quarten" was a slang expression for a measure of spirits (usually gin) and was equal to 2½ Imperial ounces.〕 : now I can't find my way home. : Well you can't trust a man when your life's in a van : an' you can't find your way 'ome. : I had to stop to have a drop of tiddly in the pub : Now I can't find my way home. : Stopped off to have one at the old Red Tavern : And I can't find my way home. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「My Old Man (Said Follow the Van)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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