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Quiz about Songs My Grandmother Used to Sing

Songs My Grandmother Used to Sing Quiz

From my earliest memories, Nanny used to sing as she did her housework, and such a variety of songs used to come forth. Here are just ten of those beloved tunes - do you know them?

A multiple-choice quiz by ArleneRimmer. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
ArleneRimmer

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
169,369

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
935

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who used to wear 'cor-blimey trousers' and lived in a council flat? Hint

my old lady

my big bruvver

the man next-door

my old man

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Question 2 of 10

2. This gem was known as a four-line ditty for years, and then suddenly three verses appeared, telling the tale of each of the characters and how they came to be in the predicament which befell them. Each of the 'Three Old Ladies Who Were Locked In A Lavatory' from 'Monday to Saturday' were given identical first names. What was it? Hint

Elizabeth

Abigail

Margaret

Susan

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Question 3 of 10

3. Obadiah Binks sent his bride a note while she was 'waiting at the church' to give the reason why he was unable to make it that day. What was the reason he gave for leaving her at the altar? Hint

'I have to work today'

'An accident on the way and I am in traction'

'I've been called up and am going in the Army'

'My wife won't let me'

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Question 4 of 10

4. This one is the one I remember the best - I think it was Nanny's favourite.

My old man said, "Follow the van, and don't dilly-dally on the way!"
Off went the van with me 'ome packed in it,
I followed on with my old cock linnet.
I dillied and dallied, dallied and I dillied,
Lost the way and don't know where to roam,
Oh, you can't trust a special like an old time copper when you can't find your way 'ome.

But what is a 'special'? Hint

a Girl Guide

an early traffic warden

a part time policeman

a Boy Scout

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Question 5 of 10

5. The song 'Daisy, Daisy' is well-known, but only by the chorus. It speaks of marriage, and how Daisy and her love will go off after the ceremony on a 'bicycle made for two'. Two of the three verses have references to bicycles in them, but do you know how many references there are? Hint

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which old-time song admits that it is a rotten song in the chorus - not once, but four times, and then calls the singer of the song a rotten singer?

Answer: (four words, the last word is a colour (and a surname))

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which British sitcom took its theme tune from the old song which started with the words:

On the farm, every Friday,
on the farm, it's rabbit pie day.
So, every Friday that ever comes along,
I get up early and sing this little song . . .
? Hint

Only Fools and Horses

Dad's Army

Steptoe and Son

Sykes

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Question 8 of 10

8. It was inevitable that I would hear my Cockney grandmother singing about her own home town as I grew up. Which song would that have been? Hint

Maybe It's Because I'm a Londoner

New York New York

I Belong to Glasgow

The Old Woman from Wexford

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Question 9 of 10

9. Where was 'Mother Kelly's Doorstep'? Hint

Railway Cuttings

Corporation Alley

Riverside Wharf

Paradise Row

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Question 10 of 10

10. 'Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye' was always sung by my grandmother when we left her home at the end of a holiday, and when she left us to go home. Which war is usually associated with this song? Hint

the Korean War

WWI

WWII

the Crimean War

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who used to wear 'cor-blimey trousers' and lived in a council flat?

Answer: my old man

This song was a hit for Lonnie Donegan in 1960. He adapted an old army tune and his skiffle group took the country by storm with a natty song about a bull-headed dustman. My favourite part has got to be:
He found a tiger's head one day, nailed to a piece of wood.
The tiger looked quite miserable but I suppose it should.
Just then from out a window, a voice began to wail,
He said (Oi! Where's me tiger's head?)
Four foot from its tail!
(The words in brackets were said by someone else during the song).

Answer: Elizabeth

Elizabeth Porter 'went in to be rid of some overdue water', Elizabeth Pomphrey 'went in and made herself comfy, then she said: "Girls, I can't get my bum free." The third was Elizabeth Carter, and FunTrivia rules say I cannot type what the song lists as her problem!

3. Obadiah Binks sent his bride a note while she was 'waiting at the church' to give the reason why he was unable to make it that day. What was the reason he gave for leaving her at the altar?

Answer: 'My wife won't let me'

It was so sad. There she was

. . . waiting at the church, waiting at the church, waiting at the church;
When I found he'd left me in the lurch.
Lor, how it did upset me!
All at once, he sent me round a note,
here's the very note, and this is what he wrote:
"Can't get away to marry you today, My wife won't let me!"

Men!

4. This one is the one I remember the best - I think it was Nanny's favourite. My old man said, "Follow the van, and don't dilly-dally on the way!" Off went the van with me 'ome packed in it, I followed on with my old cock linnet. I dillied and dallied, dallied and I dillied, Lost the way and don't know where to roam, Oh, you can't trust a special like an old time copper when you can't find your way 'ome. But what is a 'special'?

Answer: a part time policeman

A cock linnet is a male bird - I have images of a woman wandering hopelessly around London with a bird cage grasped tightly in one hand while she searched for her house!

Answer: 6

They are: 'We will go TANDEM as man and wife', 'PED'LING away down the road of life', 'When the road's dark we can despise
P'liceman and LAMPS as well', 'I will stand by you in WHEEL or woe', 'You'll be the BELL(E) which I'll ring, you know!' and 'Then if I don't do well; I will permit you to use the BRAKE'.

6. Which old-time song admits that it is a rotten song in the chorus - not once, but four times, and then calls the singer of the song a rotten singer?

Answer: Knees Up Mother Brown

Knees up Mother Brown!
Knees up Mother Brown!
Under the table you must go,
Ee-i-ee-i-ee-i-oh!
If I catch you bending,
I'll saw your legs right off.
Knees up! Knees Up!
Don't get the breeze up.
Knees up Mother Brown!

Oh My! What a rotten song!
What a rotten song!
What a rotten song!
Oh My! What a rotten song!
What a rotten singer too!

7. Which British sitcom took its theme tune from the old song which started with the words: On the farm, every Friday, on the farm, it's rabbit pie day. So, every Friday that ever comes along, I get up early and sing this little song . . . ?

Answer: Dad's Army

Who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler,
If you think we're on the run?
We are the boys who will stop your little game,
We are the boys who will make you think again.
So who do you think you are kidding, Mr Hitler
If you think old England's done.

was written for the sitcom, based on the tune of 'Run Rabbit'. Many people believe that the 'Mr Hitler' song came from the Second World War, but it was actually written in the 1960s especially for 'Dad's Army'.

8. It was inevitable that I would hear my Cockney grandmother singing about her own home town as I grew up. Which song would that have been?

Answer: Maybe It's Because I'm a Londoner

It is inevitable that most people have a special place in their heart for the place they grew up in - I certainly have, but there is no song about the small town where I lived as a youngster. It must be nice to have a song like 'Maybe It's Because I'm a Londoner' to warble when when fancy takes you! (A Cockney is a person born within the sound of Bow Bells, a church in London; generally speaking a real Eastender!)

9. Where was 'Mother Kelly's Doorstep'?

Answer: Paradise Row

In spite of the name of the street, I doubt it was in an expensive part of the town because -

On Mother Kelly's doorstep, down Paradise Row,
I sit alonga Nellie, she sits alonga Joe.
She's got a little hole in her frock, hole in her shoe,
Hole in her sock where her toe peeps through,
But Nellie was the smartest down our alley.

Answer: WWII

Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye.
Cheerio - here I go - on my way.
Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye.
Not a tear - but a cheer - make it gay.
Give me a smile I can keep for a while in my heart while I'm away.
'Till we meet once again - you and I
Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye.

Source: Author ArleneRimmer

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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