ARE WE TO PART LIKE THIS?
(Harry Castling / Charles Collins - 1903)

Kate Carney - 1932
Florrie Forde - 1932
Emmie Joyce - 1932

Also recorded by: Ian Whitcomb; Chas & Dave; Charlie Kunz.



Three weeks ago, no longer
I was as gay as a bird on the wing,
But since me and Bill have been parted, you know,
Life is a blank, and it's changed everything;
I saw him out with another that night,
None can guess how I felt at the sight,
With tears in my eyes, that I tried to keep back,
I crept to his side and said:

Are we to part like this, Bill,
Are we to part this way?
Who's it to be, 'er or me,
Don't be afraid to say;
If ev'rything's over between us,
Don't never pass me by,
'Cos you and me still friends can be,
For the sake of the days gone by.

We went to school together,
Lived side by side, me and Bill, in the mews,
And when he lay ill, too, I stay'd up for nights,
Nursed him to do it I'd never refuse;
'E used to tell me his wife I should be
I never thought he would turn against me
When I'm sleeping or waking, at work or at home,
I find myself murmuring this:

Are we to part like this, Bill,
Are we to part this way?
Who's it to be, 'er or me,
Don't be afraid to say;
If ev'rything's over between us,
Don't never pass me by,
'Cos you and me still friends can be,
For the sake of the days gone by.

Down in a little laundry,
Me and 'er work side by side ev'ry day;
She was my pal, and I looked to 'er well,
Trusted and helped 'er in every way;
Still, if my Bill cares for 'er more than me,
I wish 'em no harm but prosperetee;
I try to forget him, but each day I find
These words running through my mind.

Are we to part like this, Bill,
Are we to part this way?
Who's it to be, 'er or me,
Don't be afraid to say;
If ev'rything's over between us,
Don't never pass me by,
'Cos you and me still friends can be,
For the sake of the days gone by.


(Contributed by Peter Akers - January 2016)