Charlie Chaplin in Oldham .......... playground chants and songs for long journeys no 2

Now I first heard this collection on an LP by the Oldham Tinkers.

"About 40 years ago the Oldham Tinkers strung together all the songs they could remember being sung about Charlie Chaplin and punctuated them with a chorus which in its present form has its roots buried in the trenches of the Great War."*

All of which makes it perfect for the series playground chants and songs for long journeys.

"The moon shines bright on Charlie Chaplin
His boots are crackin’ for want of blackin‘
And his owd fusty coat is wanting mending
Until they send him to the Dardenelles

Charlie Chaplin had no sense.
He bought a fiddle for eighteen pence.
The only tune that he could play
Was tarara boomdiay.

Charlie Chaplin meek and mild,
Swiped a sausage from a child.
When the child began to cry
Charlie socked him in the eye.

Charlie Chaplin went to France
To teach the ladies how to dance;
'First you heel, then you toe;
Lift up your skirts and round you go'.

Charlie Charlie Chuck Chuck Chuck
Went to bed with three white ducks.
One died. Charlie cried.
Charlie Charlie Chuck Chuck Chuck.

One, two three, a lera,
I saw my auntie Sarah
Standing at the door, a lera
Kissing Charlie Chaplin.

The moon shines bright on Charlie Chaplin    
His boots are crackin’ for want of blackin‘
And his owd fusty coat is wanting mending
Until they send him to the Dardenelles"

Location; the early 20th century

Picture; soldiers on Oldham, date unknown from the collection of David Harrop

*Charlie Chaplin, the Oldham Tinkers, http://www.oldhamtinkers.com/charlie-chaplin.html