My Old Man (Said Follow The Van) (aka Don't Dilly Dally On The Way)
Composer(s): Charles Collins - Fred W. Leigh
Performer(s): Mary Lloyd



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 that 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
My old man said: "Foller the van
And don't dilly-dally on the way"
Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it
I walked be'ind wiv me old cock linnet
But I dillied and dallied
Dallied and dillied
Lost me way and don't know where to roam
And you can't trust a "Special"
Like the old-time copper
When you can't find your way home
I gave a helping hand
With the marble wash hand-stand
And straight, we wasn't getting on so bad
All at once, the car-man 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
My old man said: "Foller the van
And don't dilly-dally on the way"
Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it
I walked be'ind wiv me old cock linnet
But I dillied and dallied
Dallied and dillied
Lost me way and don't know where to roam
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 here all night
And that ain't a goin' to do me any good
I don't make no complaint
But I'm coming over faint
What I want now's 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 its seed!
My old man said: "Foller the van
And don't dilly-dally on the way"
Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it
I walked be'ind wiv me old cock linnet
But I dillied and dallied
Dallied and dillied
Lost me way and don't know where to roam