My Old Dutch

Composed in 1892 by Maurice Chevalier (words) and his brother Auguste AKA Charles Ingle (music).  “Dutch” is Cockney slang for “wife” (dutch plate, “plate” rhymes with “mate).  Adapted here from the original score by Keith Murphy and Peter Amidon, who learned the song from Tony Barrand.  The recording is Keith performing the song at the June 2022 funeral of Tony Barrand and his wife Margaret Dale Barrand.  Note that the written score is a little different from Keith’s recorded performance. This is a great song for an anniversary, and a poignant song for a funeral.

Here is a performance of the song by Tony Barrand’s friend and colleague

My Old Dutch
Maurice Chevalier

I’ve got a pal, she’s a regular out an’ outer,
She’s a dear good old gal, and I’ll tell you all about her.
It’s many years since first we met, her hair was then as black as jet,
It’s whiter now, but she don’t fret, not my old gal

We’ve been together now for 40 years,
And it don’t seem a day too much,
There ain’t a lady living in the land
As I’d swap for my dear old Dutch.

I calls her Sal, but her proper name is Sara,
And you may find a gal as you’d consider fairer.
She ain’t a angel — she can start a-jawin’ till it makes you smart,
But she’s a woman, bless her ‘eart, is my old gal!

Sweet fine old gal, for worlds I wouldn’t lose ‘er,
She’s a dear good old gal, an’ that’s what made me choose ‘er.
She’s stuck to me through thick and thin,
When luck was out, when luck was in,
Ah, what a wife to me she’s been, and what a pal!

I sees you Sal — your pretty ribbons sportin’
Many years now, old gal, since them young days of courtin’.
I ain’t a coward, still I trust when we’ve to part, as part we must,
That Death may come and take me first
To wait my pal!