My Old Man (Said Follow the Van)

My Old Man is a music hall song. It was written in 1919"The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations" by Elizabeth M. Knowle, 1999 by Fred W. Leigh and Charles Collins. Marie Lloyd made the song popular.  The songs lyrics relate to a man who is fleeing his house because he cannot afford the rent.

Chorus
The chorus is known the most (for several reasons):
   My old manThe singer's father or husband said "Follerfollow the van,
   And don't dilly dallyTo dilly dally means to linger on the way".
   Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it,
   I followed on wiv me old cock linnet.
   But I dillied and dallied, dallied and I dillied
   Lost me way and don't know where to roam.
   Well you can't trust a special like the old time coppers
   When you can't find your way 'ome.My Old Man lyrics, accessed 21 Jan 2007

 References and notes 

 Other websites  
 Full song lyrics

Category:1910s songs
Category:1919 works