Motto for Every Man, A

DESCRIPTION: The singer warns about "Some people you've met in your life, Who never look happy or gay." But he has an answer: "'Put your shoulder to the wheel' is a motto for every man." "The weak must go to the wall," but hard work and a good home life bring success
AUTHOR: Words: Harry Clifton / Music: Charles Coote
EARLIEST DATE: before 1872 (in which year Clifton died)
KEYWORDS: work nonballad
FOUND IN: US(MW) Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Peters-FolkSongsOutOfWisconsin, pp. 58-59, "A Motto for Every Man" (1 text, 1 tune)
ADDITIONAL: Peter Davison, _Songs of the British Music Hall_, Oak Publications, 1971, pp. 26-29, "A Motto for Every Man" (1 text, 1 tune, loosely based on the version sung by Harry Clifton)
Roud #9079
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "You Never Miss the Water till the Well Runs Dry" (theme of hard work and frugality)
NOTES [29 words]: For background on author Harry Clifton, see the notes to "The Good Ship Kangaroo."
According to Davison, the melody of the chorus is derived from "The Corn Flower Waltz." - RBW
Last updated in version 6.8
File: Pet058

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