Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Dont Dilly Dally(My Old Man)

Don't Dilly Dally (My Old Man)

Don't Dilly Dally (My Old Man)
(Charles Collins and Fred W. Leigh)

We had to move away, 'cos the rent we couldn't pay,
The moving van came round just after dark;
There was me and my old man, shoving things inside the van,
Which we'd often done before let me remark.
We packed all that could be packed in the van and that's a fact;
And we got inside all we could get inside,
Then we packed all we could pack on the tailboard at the back,
Till there wasn't any room for me to ride.

cho: My old man said, "Follow the van, don't dilly dally on the way!"
     Off went the cart with the home packed in it,
     I walked behind with me old cock linnet.
     But I dillied and dallied, dallied and dillied,
     Lost the van and don't know where to roam.
Variation: I stopped on the way to have the old half-quartern,
And I can't find my way home.

I gave a helping hand with the marble wash-handstand,
And straight, we wasn't getting on so bad;
All at once the carman bloke had an accident and broke,
Well, the nicest bit of china that we had.
You'll understand of course, I was cross about the loss,
Same as any other human woman would;
But I soon got over that, what with 'two-out' and a chat,
'Cos it's little things like that what does you good.

Chorus:
Variation: Now who's going to put up the old iron bedstead
If I can't find my way home?

Oh! I'm in such a mess - I don't know the new address -
Don't even know the blessed neighbourhood,
And I feel as if I might have to stay out all the night,
And that ain't going to do me any good.
I don't make no complaint, but I'm coming over faint,
What I want now is a good substantial feed,
And I sort o' kind o' feel, if I don't soon have a meal,
I shall have to rob the linnet of his seed.

Chorus:
Variation: You can't trust the specials like the old-time coppers
When you can't find your way home.

XX
Apr98