Bert Lee
Encyclopedia
Bert Lee was an English songwriter. He wrote for music hall
and the musical stage, often in partnership with R. P. Weston
.
Lee was born 11 June 1880 in Ravensthorpe
, Yorkshire
, England
.
He and Weston became partners in 1915. They were prolific songwriters thanks to their workman-like attitudes. They reportedly wrote a song a day. Ultimately, they wrote more than 2000 songs including 75 skits, pantomimes, and sketches. They worked together in Weston's house in Twickenham
, Middlesex.
The duo also wrote music for film, including the book and lyrics for O-kay for Sound, a 1937 film. Much of their music was written specifically for actors Sydney Howard
and Stanley Holloway
both noted comedians of the 20's and 30's. These included Splinters in the Air for Howard
and Squibs for Holloway
. Among Lee's most endearing tunes is Knees Up Mother Brown
!, which is traditionally associated with Cockney
culture. This was written in 1938 in collaboration Robert Weston's son, Harris, after Robert's death in 1936.
Lee died 23 January 1946 in Llandudno
, Wales
. He is interred at Ormes Head
, Llandudno.
Hold My Hand, 1938
Splinters in the Air, 1937
Fame, 1936
Squibs , 1935
Girls Please! , 1934
It's a Cop, 1934
Trouble, 1933
Up for the Derby, 1933
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
and the musical stage, often in partnership with R. P. Weston
R. P. Weston
Robert Patrick Weston was an English songwriter. He was born and died in London. Among other songs, he co-authored , "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm", a macabre little ditty about the ghost of Anne Boleyn haunting the Tower of London, seeking revenge on Henry VIII for having her...
.
Lee was born 11 June 1880 in Ravensthorpe
Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury
Ravensthorpe is an area of Dewsbury, in West Yorkshire, England. Ravensthorpe is on the western outskirts of Dewsbury and is part of the "Dewsbury West" ward in the district of Kirklees. The area has always been heavily industrial and was once bustling with textile mills. There is now a toxic...
, Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
He and Weston became partners in 1915. They were prolific songwriters thanks to their workman-like attitudes. They reportedly wrote a song a day. Ultimately, they wrote more than 2000 songs including 75 skits, pantomimes, and sketches. They worked together in Weston's house in Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
, Middlesex.
The duo also wrote music for film, including the book and lyrics for O-kay for Sound, a 1937 film. Much of their music was written specifically for actors Sydney Howard
Sydney Howard
Sydney Howard was an English stage comedian and motion-picture actor born in Leeds, Yorkshire.Already a major stage star, Howard made his feature film début in 1929's Jack Raymond's Splinters, and went on appearing in unique roles in films such as French Leave, Up for the Cup and Mayor's Nest...
and Stanley Holloway
Stanley Holloway
Stanley Augustus Holloway, OBE was an English stage and film actor, comedian, singer, poet and monologist. He was famous for his comic and character roles on stage and screen, especially that of Alfred P. Doolittle in My Fair Lady...
both noted comedians of the 20's and 30's. These included Splinters in the Air for Howard
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Squibs for Holloway
Stanley
Stanley may refer to:- Australia :* Stanley, Tasmania* Stanley, Victoria* County of Stanley, Queensland- Canada :* Stanley, British Columbia* Stanley, New Brunswick* Port Stanley, Ontario- Falkland Islands :...
. Among Lee's most endearing tunes is Knees Up Mother Brown
Knees Up Mother Brown
"Knees Up Mother Brown" is a song, published in 1938, by when it had already been known for some years. It dates to at least 1918 and appears to have been sung widely in London on 11 November of that year, Armistice Night, at the end of the First World War...
!, which is traditionally associated with Cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
culture. This was written in 1938 in collaboration Robert Weston's son, Harris, after Robert's death in 1936.
Lee died 23 January 1946 in Llandudno
Llandudno
Llandudno is a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In the 2001 UK census it had a population of 20,090 including that of Penrhyn Bay and Penrhynside, which are within the Llandudno Community...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. He is interred at Ormes Head
Great Orme
The Great Orme is a prominent limestone headland on the north coast of Wales situated in Llandudno. It is referred to as Cyngreawdr Fynydd in a poem by the 12th century poet Gwalchmai ap Meilyr...
, Llandudno.
Select Filmography (As Writer)
Yes, Madam?, 1939Hold My Hand, 1938
Splinters in the Air, 1937
Fame, 1936
Squibs , 1935
Girls Please! , 1934
It's a Cop, 1934
Trouble, 1933
Up for the Derby, 1933
- Up for the Cup (1931)
Songs (partial list)
- 1910 "Joshua" w.m George Arthurs & Bert Lee
- 1912 "Hello, Hello, Who's Your Lady Friend?" w.m. Harry FragsonHarry FragsonHarry Fragson was a British music hall singer and comedian, born in Soho, London. While living in Paris, he developed an act involving impressions of French music hall performers, which gradually became popular, allowing him to introduce his own material. He came back to London in 1905 and became...
, Worton David & Bert Lee - 1916 "At Finnigan's Ball" w.m. Bert Lee
- 1917 "Paddy McGinty's Goat" w.m. R.P. Weston, Bert Lee & The Two Bobs
- 1917 "Good-bye-ee" w.m. R. P. WestonR. P. WestonRobert Patrick Weston was an English songwriter. He was born and died in London. Among other songs, he co-authored , "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm", a macabre little ditty about the ghost of Anne Boleyn haunting the Tower of London, seeking revenge on Henry VIII for having her...
& Bert Lee - 1920 "The Gipsy Warned Me" w.m. R. P. Weston & Bert Lee
- 1922 "My Word You Do look Queer" w.m. R. P. Weston & Bert Lee
- 1926 "The Tears Shed In London Tonight" w.m. R. P. Weston & Bert Lee
- 1926 "What I Want is a Proper Cup of Coffee" w.m. R. P. Weston & Bert Lee
- 1928 "All Mine" w.m. Douglas Furber, R. P. Weston, Bert Lee, Jack Wallace and Joe Tunbridge from the Musical Virginia
- 1932 "Sing, Brothers" w.m. Bert Lee, Joseph Tunbridge, Jack Waller & R. P. Weston from the Musical Tell Her the Truth
- 1932 "Horrortorio" w. Bert Lee & R. P. Weston m. Joseph Tunbridge & Jack Waller from the Musical Tell Her the Truth
- 1934 With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her ArmWith Her Head Tucked Underneath Her ArmWith Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm is a darkly humorous song, written in 1934 by R. P. Weston and Bert Lee, originally performed by Stanley Holloway...
w.m. R. P. WestonR. P. WestonRobert Patrick Weston was an English songwriter. He was born and died in London. Among other songs, he co-authored , "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm", a macabre little ditty about the ghost of Anne Boleyn haunting the Tower of London, seeking revenge on Henry VIII for having her...
& Bert Lee - 1936 "And The Great Big Saw Came Nearer And Nearer" w.m. Robert E. Harris, Dwight B. Latham, Bert Lee & R. P. Weston
- 1938 "Knees Up Mother Brown!" w.m. Harris Weston & Bert Lee
- 1940 "Brahn Boots" w.m. R. P. Weston & Bert Lee
External links
- Works by Bert Lee