"Burlington Bertie" is a music hall song composed by Harry B. Norris in 1900 and notably sung by Vesta Tilley. It concerns an aristocratic young idler who pursues a life of leisure in the West End of London. Burlington is an upmarket London shopping arcade associated with luxury goods. This song was parodied in the now-much-better-known "Burlington Bertie from Bow" credited to William Hargreaves and sung by his wife, Ella Shields, who performed the song whilst dressed in male attire as the sort of character known as a "broken down swell". Unlike the original song, Bertie's pretensions to gentility are belied by his residence in Bow, in the poverty-stricken East End of London, though his status as an idler ironically links him to the leisured aristocratic class, who reside in the West End.
Later renditions
in the part of vaudevillian Myrtle McKinley Burt performed the song in the musical filmMother Wore Tights. Julie Andrews, also dressed in male attire, gave another rendition of the song in the film Star!. It was sung on episode 201 of The Muppet Show by a custom Bertie Muppet performed by Jerry Nelson. It was referenced in the song "My Town" by the Canadian band Glass Tiger. At the Royal Variety Performance in 1981, it was performed in the customary male evening dress by Anita Harris, who brought the house down with the line "I've just had a banana with Lady Diana" in the Buckingham Palace verse of the song. Although the Diana in the original version was probably Lady Diana Cooper, Prince Charles had married Lady Diana Spencer earlier in the year. The two songs about Burlington Bertie are both predecessors of Irving Berlin's song "A Couple of Swells". In all three songs, a woman dressed in a ragged form of male finery brags about how well connected in society "he" is, while clearly demonstrating an actual state of poverty.
Gambling terminology
In gambling terminology, or Tic-tac, "Burlington Bertie" is rhyming slang for the fractional odds of 10/3, which is normally referred to as "one hundred to thirty". In bingo calling "Burlington Bertie" is the call for 30.
Recordings
A CD transfer recording of "Burlington Bertie from Bow" performed by Ella Shields is available from Windyridge. A recording of "Burlington Bertie from Bow" was also made by Clinton Ford and appears on the collection Run to the Door.
Lyrics of "Burlington Bertie"
Burlington Bertie's the latest young jay He rents a swell flat somewhere Kensington way He spends the good oof that his pater has made Along with the Brandy and Soda Brigade. A girl wants a brooch or a new diamond ring And thinks a seal jacket is just now the thing Or sees a new bonnet she likes oh! So much Her simple remark is, 'Now who can I touch?' Chorus: What price Burlington Bertie, the boy with the Hyde Park drawl, What price Burlington Bertie, the boy with the Bond Street crawl? A nice little supper at the Savoy, Oh! What a duck of a boy, 'So free' says she, 'with L.s.d., Burlington Bertie's the boy for me.' When pretty young dancers are out of a shop; When sweet little barmaids have just had to hop; When singers cannot with their agents agree; When trim little widows want someone for tea, Who is it that turns up, the lonely girl's friend? Who is it that nightly his club must attend? Who is it drinks brandy and smokes strong cheroots? Who is it that gets into bed with his boots? Chorus: What price Burlington Bertie, the boy with the Hyde Park drawl, What price Burlington Bertie, the boy with the Bond Street crawl? He drives from his club; what a lovely sight; The cabby says ''Eres a wet night - But free' says he 'With L.s.d., Burlington Bertie's the boy for me.' When there are symptoms of warlike alarm And Burlington Bertie sees his brothers in arms, Altho' absent minded he does not forget That Englishmen always must pay off a debt. He drops all his pleasures, the polo, the hunt And just like the rest he is off to the front; Altho' he's a johnny, he'll fight in the ruck, He's wealthy and foolish, but if you want pluck – Chorus: What price Burlington Bertie, the boy with the Hyde Park drawl, What price Burlington Bertie, the boy with the Bond Street crawl? He'll fight and he'll die like an Englishman. Forgive all his folly we can; Says old John Bull 'I plainly see These Burlington boys are the boys for me!'
