Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road (Wot cher!)

An old folk song

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kent
• britain
• England
• fun
• piano
• singing
• rhythm
• temple

[Kojow7]

Where did you get this version of the song from? Do you know who is singing here?

[kaz1928]

Hello, thanks for watching. This is my grandson singing when he was younger.

[mattjreid]

Grandfather, surely? : /

[MKIVWWI]

Thanks for posting -- great audio clip! Most folks know the Shirley Temple version, but song can also be heard briefly in MGM's "Zeigfeld Follies of 1946" at the beginning of the "Limehouse Blues" segment which starred Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer. As Astaire walks the streets of Limehouse, a bunch of Pearlys (as I believe London street performers were called) sang and danced it.

[njplr]

I absolutely love both this song, and THIS rendition of it. It has an appropriately haunting, old-time quality that almost makes it sound like it was recorded in 1910. I wish he'd done ALL the stanzas, it's not easy to find them anywhere. Kudos to you for posting.

[6musky]

@orwell501

Educated, affluent people are getting the hell out of London. Those that do still live there may soon find their happiness a bit curtailed, when the crash really comes and the third world parasites start getting...restless again.

[6musky]

@jazzandmint

Do you sound like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins?

[6musky]

@orwell501

Richer influences than before what? What is enriching about millions of Somalis and Pakistanis and Africans living on benefits and pushing out babies like sweets? Jesus wept. It may never have been 'pure', but nowadays you can walk for hours without hearing one single British voice.

[rustydobro]

Just to clarify: at the time this song was written, a working-class tradesman in London would be very likely to say 'Yes, mum!' to a lady customer. In slightly more genteel circles: 'Yes, ma'am!', and posher still, 'Yes, madam!'. Nothing to do with 'mum', used to address one's mother.

[dirkbogarde44]

With the last generations of the first part of the 20th century dying, these songs, my culture, my heritage will be lost. Makes me feel sad.

[orwell501]

Sebastian! You're a racist bigot too! Who'd have guessed? If London is the 'Third World shithole' you describe then millions of educated, affluent people would not live happily in it. Debating with you is like shooting fish in a barrel so I'll leave you with one thought: Afro-Caribbean and Asian people are not the reason you don't have enough money, status, sex or creative fulfillment. That's your fault. An education would help you start a new, richer life. Good luck! 

[Littlemonsterr12]

@jasonsmumusa No no im english and from london and mum means mom and ma'am is right its like miss. for example i could say yes ma'am instead of yes miss. Do you understand now? im rubbish at explaining things :)