"Knees Up Mother Brown" is a pub song, believed to date back as early as the 1800s, but first published in 1938, and with origins in the East End of London.
With its origins in public houses of East London, it was associated with Cockney culture. At the end of the First World War, it is documented to have been sung widely in London on 11 November 1918 (Armistice Night).James Hilton (1941) Random Harvest The 1938 version was attributed to Bert Lee, Harris Weston and I. Taylor.Michael Kilgariff (1998) Sing Us One of the Old Songs: A Guide to Popular Song 1860-1920 During the Second World War it was performed frequently by Elsie and Doris Waters. It was also later performed on television by Noel Harrison and Petula Clark.
The expression "knees-up" means a "noisy party usually with dancing" - often accompanied by drinking.
Lyrics The most familiar version of the song is:International Lyrics Playground: "Knees Up Mother Brown," Traditional Party Song
Knees up Mother Brown Knees up Mother Brown Under the table you must go Ee-aye, Ee-aye, Ee-aye-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
Other less common variations include: 'Ee-aye Ee-aye, don't get a bree-aye' In place of the more common: 'Knees up, knees up don't get the breeze up'
A final, partly self-deprecating refrain is usually added as a chorus, particularly during a merry session at a pub or party:
Oh my, what a rotten song What a rotten song What a rotten song Oh my, what a rotten song And what a rotten singer too-oo-oo!
There is also a version of the song for children, with accompanying dance. The lyrics are:
There came a girl from France Who didn't know how to dance The only thing that she could do was Knees up Mother Brown
Oh, knees up Mother Brown Knees up Mother Brown Knees up, knees up, never let the breeze up Knees up Mother Brown
Oh, hopping on one foot Hopping on one foot Hopping, hopping, never stopping Hopping on one foot
Oh, knees up Mother Brown Knees up Mother Brown Knees up, knees up, never let the breeze up Knees up Mother Brown
Oh, hopping on the other Hopping on the other Hopping, hopping, never stopping Hopping on the other
And whirling round and round Whirling round and round Whirling, whirling, never twirling Whirling round and round
In popular culture The song is associated with West Ham United Football Club, with fans singing the song at the Boleyn Ground from at least the 1950s. It is also the name of an internet forum related to the club.
In the 1964 Disney film Mary Poppins, the song "Step in Time" written by the Sherman Brothers, was based on "Knees Up Mother Brown". According to Richard Sherman, the "Knees Up Mother Brown" dance was taught to Walt Disney, Tony Walton, and others by Peter Ellenshaw (the Disney Studio's head of special effects) and the Sherman Brothers witnessed them doing the dance and got the idea for "Step in Time".Musical Reunion with Dick van Dyke and Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins 45th Anniversary Special Edition, Disney DVD
Monty Python's 1971 album Another Monty Python Record features a track where The Spanish Inquisition bursts into the room and begins to quickly sing the song before the track fades out.
In the 2024 film The Rule of Jenny Pen, the character Dave Crealy (John Lithgow) terrorises residents of a care home with a hand puppet called Jenny Pen, including dancing to "Knees Up Mother Brown".
References
External links Elsie & Doris Waters - Knees Up Mother Brown (1940) at YouTube