It's the Same the Whole World Over
Channel: Stephen Griffith
Date: 2020-07-19

Day 125 of the American Songbag Stay-at-Home Series

Sandburg writes: "This tale of love's ironic pathways, as sometimes sung by soldiers, sailors, and travelling men, carries its main character through farther episodes in other cities. It was a favorite in The Black  Watch and among Canadian and Anzac contingents during the World War.

"The melody comes  here from Paul Boston, John Lock and Bert Massee of Chicago. The text was fortified in part by  H. L. Mencken and a contributor to The American Mercury."

The Traditional Ballad Index (RBW) quotes collectors Waites & Hunter saying, "This is probably one of the most successful anonymous songs in the world. The tune repeats throughout the verses and the chorus, and is therefore exceptionally easy to pick up."

"Jon Roche points out to me that Maurice Disher wrote that he first heard an "unprintable" version with the "She was poor but she was honest" line before any of the collections cited here. "My memories of it belong to the Grey Brigade of London volunteers after the South African War.""