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by R P Weston and Bert Lee (1940)
The song-monologue Brahn Boots separates itself from the other Northern monologues in this series, in that it is decidedly Cockney; even though none of the distinctive Cockney rhyming slang is used.
Cockney was originally the dialect of the working class of the East End of London. Perhaps because it is from the more affluent south of England, some Northerners feel the Cockney dialect sounds rather posh.
Like the working class of the East End of London, the working class of the Northern counties such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, have had an equally restricted level of education. As a result, the Northern dialect has retained many Middle Ages English terms such as "thee" and "thou" in everyday speech. To some Southerners, this gives an air of Shakespearean sophistication.
These two viewpoints go some way in explaining the lingering mutual suspicion between Northerners and Southerners.
Credit then to performers such as Stanley Holloway, who shows that Northern or Southern, their feelings and values have much in common.
Anyway, let's get on with the funeral.
(Isn't it ironic that the first three letters of 'funeral' spell 'fun'.)
Our Aunt Hannah's passed away, The 'earse was luv'ly all plate glass, Why Brahn boots! I ask yer- brahn boots | |
But yer can't see people orf when they die in brahn boots! Rolls up to make it all a farce I'll own he didn't seem so gay, In the graveyard we left Jim, 'Ed given 'is black boots to Jim Small, But brahn boots! I ask yer - brahn boots! |
It's wonderful you were able to take it with you. But now what are you going to do with it! |
"Why 'e looks more like a Bookmaker's clerk - in brahn boots!" He'd give 'is other boots away. But some day up at Heaven's gate |