At the Music Hall: The Lambeth Walk

Original Sheet Music
from
The Vauxhall Kennington
Web Site

Lambeth you've never seen,
The skies ain't blue, the grass ain't green.
It hasn't got the Mayfair touch,
But that don't matter very much.
We play the Lambeth way,
Not like you but a bit more gay
And when we have a bit of fun
Oh, Boy.

Named for a London street known for its “working class” culture and open markets, The Lambeth Walk heralds from the 1937 musical Me and My Girl with book and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose and music by Noel Gay. In the context of the musical, The Lambeth walk is a show-stopping Cockney dance number. The song became such a success that it started a dance craze which was popularized by actor/entertainer, Lupino Lane. In 1937, everyone in Britain was doing “The Lambeth Walk” including King George and his consort, Elizabeth, who both shouted, “Oi!” with the crowd during the chorus. By 1938, the song had swept the United States. Duke Ellington even performed his own version in the U.S. At its heart, The Lambeth Walk is a song about being happy with who and where you are. While Lambeth may not have been as posh as Mayfair, it had a beauty all its own.

I hope enjoy this 1938 recording of The Lambeth Walk by Gracie Fields. It really sums up the spirit of the song.