Knees Up Mother Brown

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Knees Up Mother Brown is a 1938 song composed by Harris Weston and Bert Lee. It is particularly associated with cockney culture.

[edit] Lyrics

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

Refrain:
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

Refrain.

Oh, prancing up and down
Prancing up and down
Prancing, prancing, never dancing
Prancing up and down

Refrain.

And whirling round and round
Whirling round and round
Whirling, whirling, never twirling
Whirling round and round

Refrain.
Refrain.

[edit] Modern Alternative Lyrics

Whereas the lyrics above are indeed those first written, the following lyrics are much more commonplace nowadays, both in and around the pubs of London's East End and also throughout the rest of the UK.

Knees up Mother Brown!

Knees up Mother Brown!

Under the table you must go

Ee-i-ee-i-ee-i-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!

Oh My! What a rotten song!

What a rotten song!

Oh, What a rotten song!

Oh My! What a rotten song!

What a rotten singer too!

Knees up Mother Brown!

Knees up Mother Brown!

Under the table you must go

Ee-i-ee-i-ee-i-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!

Ow's yer farver? All right!

[edit] Trivia

• Based on this popular pub song, the expression "knees up" means having a party or a dance.

Source: [1]