Lily The Pink ~ Trad

Formed in Liverpool, England in the 1960s by comic John Gorman, poet Roger McGough and Mike McGear, The Scaffold specialized in comic songs, such as this one, which was their only UK number one, with more experimental, lyrical and avant-garde work on their albums.

Lily The Pink was a fairly bawdy Folk song that had migrated from Ireland which, in turn was based on a bawdy Folk song "The Ballad of Lydia Pinkham," probably from Canada though based on an American subject.

Canadian Version: (19th Century)

Let us sing (let us sing) of Lydia Pinkham
The benefactress of the human race.
She invented a vegetable compound,
And now all papers print her face,

O, Mrs. Brown could do no housework,
O, Mrs. Brown could do no housework,
She took three bottles of Lydia's conpound,
And now there's nothing she will shirk,
she will shirk,

Mrs. Jones she had no children,
And she loved them very dear.
So she took three bottles of Pinkham's
Now she has twins every year.

Lottie Smyth ne'er had a lover,
Blotchy pimples caused her plight;
But she took nine bottles of Pinkham's--
Sweethearts swarm about her each night.

Oh Mrs. Murphy (Oh Mrs. Murphy)
Was perturbed because she couldn't seem to pee
Till she took some of Lydia's compound
And now they run a pipeline to the sea!

And Peter Whelan (Peter Whelan)
He was sad because he only had one nut
Till he took some of Lydia's compound
And now they grow in clusters 'round his butt.

Just after the turn of the 20th century, the song crossed the Atlantic and was spread around by the troops fighting the First World War in Europe. A, more than, bawdy version or versions) emerged out of that migration, but the songs popularity carried it home to Ireland (in one form) as a humorous pub song and to England (in another) as a rugby song - that most disgusting, funny and quintessentially English branch of Folk music.

The other interesting metamorphosis that the song underwent in the battlefields of Europe was the air to which it was sung. The allied soldiers (unlike the folks back home) took a liking to many things German that they encountered including some of the music they heard. At some point, Lydia Pinkham acquired a German tune called Winke Winke - You can hear that song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZVEYFRGVKo I dont intend to post those lyrics here, but if you are interested, I have the Gerrman original lyrics and an English translation - just PM me if youd like a copy. The other change (on the Irish/English side of the Atlantic) was one of Folk Etymology. The name Lydia Pinkham meant nothing outside North America and the Name Lydia was almost unheard of in Ireland outside gentrified circles. It was probably for this reason that the song developed into Lily The Pink - it simply sounded more native and rolled off the European-English speaking tongue much more easily..

It is from this Irish/English version that the Scaffold moulded their much cleaner version, but I cant include it here to show its similarities and differences because of space again, I can pm it to anyone who wants it.


I have been reliably informed that the verse about Jennifer Eccles who had terrible freckles in the Scaffolds version was included as Graham Nash of the Hollies was there at the recording at Abbey Road Studios contributing backing vocals and it was a reference to his song, Jennifer Eccles. Apparently, other musicians on the original recording include Tim Rice, Reg Dwight (later to become Elton John), Jack Bruce and Paul McCartney (Mike McGears brother)

There is a French version of this song, "Le Sirop Typhon" by Richard Anthony.

The Canadian version shown here was the unofficial regimental song of the Royal Tank Corps during the Second World War.

The real Lydia Pinkham was a 19th century seller of a commercially successful herbal "women's tonic," which was intended to relieve menstrual and menopausal pains. She used the slogan "A Baby in Every Bottle" to advertise her product. A pioneering businesswoman in a man's world, in the late 19th century Lydia Pinkham was a household name thanks to her a pioneering and innovative approach to marketing her herbal remedies to women.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lily
• The
• Pink
• Trad

[Kyrewood]

Really good. Where's the other voice coming from?

[casetone2514]

@Kyrewood - It's me overdubbing, post production...

[2walsall]

top man well done



[casetone2514]

@2walsall

Thanks

[gerdenshed]

Absolutely first class my friend ;0)

Mark......

[casetone2514]

@gerdenshed

Thanks Mark

[thomassneade]

Nice cover, Tony...Wish I had found your version for the proper uke chords before I uploaded my attempt...have a listen if you find time...

[spotty691]

This video makes me + my best friend laugh :L We drink a drink a drink to lily the pink the pink the pink (8)

[fabienmillion]

good job ! :D

[rhyzparson]

Wonderful rendition! Any chance you could publish the chords you use in this somewhere? I've been trying to work it out on my uke for ages.

[bsam20uk]

Nice job! You sing and play this very well, and your history of the song is fascinating.

[directionnnn]

she's my great great great great aunt d: i live in lynn also so i like seeing her old factory all the time. it's right by my high school :3

[LilMuppet1997]

Me again, i just listened to the original, so prefer this one, the other is terrible, at least someone can sing the song. =)

[LilMuppet1997]

I know i commented already, but i cant get enough of this, its freakin awesome, ur dam good on that instrument of yours. =D