Knees Up Mother Brown

"Knees Up Mother Brown" is a pub song, believed to date back as early as the 1800s, but first published in 1938, and with origins in the East End of London. ^[1]

With its origins in public houses of East London, it was associated with Cockney culture. At the end of the First World War, it is documented to have been sung widely in London on 11 November 1918 (Armistice Night). ^[2] The 1938 version was attributed to Bert Lee, Harris Weston and I. Taylor. ^[3] During the Second World War it was performed frequently by Elsie and Doris Waters.^{[ citation needed ]} It was also later performed on television by Noel Harrison and Petula Clark.^{[ citation needed ]}

The expression "knees-up" means a "noisy party usually with dancing" ^[4] - often accompanied by drinking.

Lyrics

The most familiar version of the song is: ^[5]

Knees up Mother Brown

Knees up Mother Brown

Under the table you must go

Ee-aye, Ee-aye, Ee-aye-oh

If I catch you bending

I'll saw your legs right off

Knees up, knees up

don't get the breeze up

Knees up Mother Brown

Other less common variations include:

'Ee-aye Ee-aye,

don't get a bree-aye'

In place of the more common:

'Knees up, knees up

don't get the breeze up

A final, partly self-deprecating refrain is usually added as a chorus, particularly during a merry session at a pub or party:^{[ citation needed ]}

Oh my, what a rotten song

What a rotten song

What a rotten song

Oh my, what a rotten song

And what a rotten singer too-oo-oo!

There is also a version of the song for children, with accompanying dance.^{[ citation needed ]} The lyrics are :

There came a girl from France

Who didn't know how to dance

The only thing that she could do was

Knees up Mother Brown

Oh, knees up Mother Brown

Knees up Mother Brown

Knees up, knees up, never let the breeze up

Knees up Mother Brown

Oh, hopping on one foot

Hopping on one foot

Hopping, hopping, never stopping

Hopping on one foot

Oh, knees up Mother Brown

Knees up Mother Brown

Knees up, knees up, never let the breeze up

Knees up Mother Brown

Oh, hopping on the other

Hopping on the other

Hopping, hopping, never stopping

Hopping on the other

And whirling round and round

Whirling round and round

Whirling, whirling, never twirling

Whirling round and round

In popular culture

The song is associated with West Ham United Football Club, with fans singing the song at the Boleyn Ground from at least the 1950s. ^[1] It is also the name of an internet forum related to the club. ^[6]

In the 1964 Disney film Mary Poppins the song "Step in Time" written by the Sherman Brothers was based on Knees Up Mother Brown.^{[ citation needed ]} According to Richard Sherman, the Knees Up Mother Brown dance was taught to Walt Disney, Tony Walton, and others by Peter Ellenshaw (the Disney Studio's head of special effects) and the Sherman Brothers witnessed them doing the dance and got the idea for "Step in Time". ^[7]

References

1. "The real history of 'Knees up Mother Brown'". Roman Road London. 25 August 2020.
2. James Hilton (1941) Random Harvest
3. Michael Kilgariff (1998) Sing Us One of the Old Songs: A Guide to Popular Song 1860-1920
4. "Merriam-Webster Dictionary". Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
5. International Lyrics Playground: "Knees Up Mother Brown," Traditional Party Song
6. "Knees up Mother Brown - West Ham United FC Online: FAQ". Kumb.com.
7. Musical Reunion with Dick van Dyke and Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins 45th Anniversary Special Edition, Disney DVD

External links

• Elsie & Doris Waters - Knees Up Mother Brown (1940) at YouTube