> The Copper Family > Songs > Corduroy

Corduroy

[ Roud 1219 ; Bodleian Roud 1219 ; Mudcat 32261 ; trad.]

Corduroy was a popular song of the mid-19th century; presumably it had its origins in the Music Halls.

Bob, Ron and John Copper sang Corduroy in 1971 on their Leader Records box set A Song for Every Season. Bob Copper also printed this song in 1976 in his book Early to Rise: A Sussex Boyhood.

Charlie Wills of Bridport, Dorset, sang Corduroy in January 1971 to Bill Leader. This recording was included a year later on his posthumous Leader album Charlie Wills.

Jon Boden learned Corduroy from the Copper Family’s album and sang it as the 9 March 2011 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day.

Andy Turner learned Corduroy from the Copper Family too and sang it as the 15 January 2016 entry of his project A Folk Song a Week.

The Hungarian group Simply English sang Suit of Corduroy on their 2017 CD Long Grey Beard and a Head That’s Bald.

Lyrics

The Copper Family sing Corduroy

My father was fond of lush and he emptied many a butt
And for to get a suit of togs we had to stinge our guts.
Ofttimes my mother and I dined off a saveloy
To save up the browns to buy me a suit of corduroy.

Chorus (after each verse):
Right tiddy fol lol, fol lol, fol lol
Right tiddy fol lol, fol lay
Right tiddy fol lol, fol lol, fol lol
Right tiddy fol lol, fol lay

When father came home at night and drunk we used him rob
And after the course of a week or two we saved up seven bob.
One day my mother did say, come along with me my boy
We will go to Moses and Sons for a suit of corduroy.

We soon picked out a suit the best that we could find
They fitted me very well in front but rather loose behind,
That’s no fault said the man for he’s a growing boy
And I’ll warrant that his behind it will grow to the corduroy.

We quickly fitted them on and my mother she paid the blunt
There was two pockets at the side and a little hole in the front.
As we were walking along all the people they did cry
How very nice he looks in his suit of corduroy.

My mother she used to scold because I had so many faults
And feeling rather queer one day she gave me a dose of salts.
Soon after I was taken short and the buttons did so annoy
And before I could get my trouser down I [raspberry] my corduroy.

When I was out at play one day my pal says to me Jim
Let’s go to Battersea park and there we’ll have a swim.
As we were swimming about me and this other boy
Some covey hooked it off with my suit of corduroy.

Now as naked as I was born I was taken home in a cart
And when my mother heard the news it nearly broke her heart
She said, you’ve cooked my goose, you very naughty boy,
I shall never forget the day when you lost your corduroy.

Charlie Wills sings Corduroy

Most folks when they grow up at times they do presume
In things that have gone by it please them to amuse;
How I remember well, I never felt such joy
Ever since the day when I got birched in my suit of corduroy

Chorus (after each verse):
Then around me, young and old, around
If ever you wish to join me
If ever you wish to buy a suit
You buy the corduroy.

When father come home at night if drunk we used to rob
And in the course of a week or so we had up seven bob
My mother said unto me, Jack, come with me my boy;
Let’s go to Groves’s shop and buy a suit of corduroy

We soon picked out the suit the best that we could find;
It fitted very well in front but hellish slack behind.
Ah, never mind, the shopman said, he is a growing boy
I warrant his little arse will soon fill out the corduroy

I felt quite proud my mother she paid the brunt
It had two pockets by the side and a little hole in front.
As I went marching down the street the people they did say,
How very well he looks in his suit of corduroy!

One day I was taken sick I told my mother my fault
She said: My boy, you must be ill and give me a dose of salts
And when the salts begin to work the buttons begin to fly,
Before I had my trousers down I [raspberry] my corduroy

As I was walking down the street some feller shouted, Jim!
Let’s go to the canal and there we’ll have a swim!
And while we were swimming about, me and this other boy,
Some feller runned away with my suit of corduroy

As naked as I was born I was drove home in a cab
And when my mother heard of this it nearly drove her mad.
She said, You silly little goose, you’re a very naughty boy!
But I shall never forget the day when I [raspberry] my corduroy.