R.P. [Robert Patrick] Weston (1878–1936)


Another of the great but virtually unknown songwriters of the Music Hall, R.P. Weston was responsible for such hits as The Beefeater (with Bert Lee); Billy Williams’s Tickle Me, Timothy (with Fred J. Barnes, 1907), his wonderful Little Willie’s Woodbines (with Fred J. Barnes, 1908), I Do Wish I Was A Ladies Man (with Fred J. Barnes, 1911); Daisy Dormer’s Ain’t It Ni-Ice (with Bert Lee, 1908); Ellaline Terriss’s I’ve Got Rings On My Fingers (Mumbo Jumbo Jijiboo J. O’Shea) (with Maurice Scott and Fred J. Barnes, 1909); Harry Champion’s immortal I’m Henry The Eighth, I Am (with Fred Murray, 1911); The End Of My Old Cigar (with Worton David); World War One’s tongue-twister Sister Susie’s Sewing Shirts For Soldiers (with Herman Darewski, Jr., 1914); Paddy McGinty’s Goat (with Bert Lee, 1917); Good-Bye-ee (with Bert Lee (1918); My Word, You Do Look Queer (with Bert Lee, 1922); Shall I Have It Bobbed Or Shingled? (with Bert Lee, 1924); Stop And Shop At The Co-Op Shop (with Bert Lee, 1930); and With ’Er ’Ead Tucked Underneath ’Er Arm (with Bert Lee, 1934).

Another great hit attributed to Weston and Barnes is Billy Williams’s When Father Papered The Parlour (1910). Williams is also occasionally added to the credits. Godfrey claimed to have written it (he was writing many songs for Williams by that time) but is never accorded credit.

Several Weston and Godfrey songs are known: Laughterland (A Fantastic Fable) (1907); There Are Nice Girls Everywhere (1909); Why Do You Think I Look So Gay? (with Billy Williams, 1910); Go Away, Mister Misery (1913); Hands Up! (Dare-Devil Baby Joe) (1913); Oh, Those Happy Kid Days (1913); Oh, You Italian Opera Man! (with Fred J. Barnes, 1913); If Your Heart Says Be A Sailor (date unknown); and Miles O’Smiles (date unknown).