One of many period tearjerkers, but find the meaning puzzling, as in 'Just Across The Bridge Of Gold' Can only think of the Edwardian equivalent of an escort agency, as it hints her rich lifestyle is only a veneer for a disgrace that prevents a return to normal life. Is she 'owned' by this mansion? Found a version with verse 2 & printed lyrics: ua-cam.com/video/OfJ9bf4Oi5E/v-deo.htmlsi=YXOh34iqI4JUbhXM but this gives no further clues. Guess its all about things polite society didn't talk about back then. Wikipedia mentions a 1925 silent film in which the mansion is a home for unmarried pregnant women, but think that stretches the meaning of the song.
To quote a dear friend "The song uses the mansion as a metaphor for a place filled with memories of lost love and unfulfilled desires, emphasizing emotional richness rather than material wealth. It speaks more to the human condition and the emotional 'costs' associated with personal experiences and relationships gone awry, rather than a literal interpretation of gaining wealth through unsavory means."
@@misterphonograph1893 Now that IS an interesting slant & perhaps the best explanation. Many of these tearjerkers resolve, as in 'Give Me A Ticket To Heaven' which has multiple verses, but no room on a conventional record to fit them all in. Keeping an air of mystique could well be the lyricists intention. The writers of more recent pop songs like 'Angie Baby' sometimes remain tight lipped, as to the meaning/inspiration behind their creations.
@@tiga4180 It definitely is unfortunate that they didn't have room to record all the verses. In Charles K. Harris's autobiography he mentions how much it frustrated him when people skipped the third verse when singing After The Ball because it was crucial to the narrative. I only know of one recording of After The Ball, that being by George Gaskin and unsurprisingly there's no third verse to be seen. It's kind of surprising to me that the song wasn't recorded more, it was such a big hit.
@@misterphonograph1893 Some of the most iconic music hall songs are rare on record, most puzzling. Even more frustrating is singing the chorus only, which occurred in so called nostalgia evenings in the 1960's & 1970's. Sometimes they only sang choruses on 'The Good Old Days, a long running music hall series on TV. That said, here's the full version of 'Give Me A Ticket To Heaven' from The Good Old Days: ua-cam.com/video/vx7YW6m48rE/v-deo.htmlsi=PPHmO4krLk8chKUm I posted this a while back. Beautifully sung by Herbert Payne, but only one verse & repeated chorus.
I have record. I play it when I am in a depressed mood.
You have this one? VERY nice! I don't see many copies of this around and those I do are in very poor condition.
One of many period tearjerkers, but find the meaning puzzling, as in 'Just Across The Bridge Of Gold' Can only think of the Edwardian equivalent of an escort agency, as it hints her rich lifestyle is only a veneer for a disgrace that prevents a return to normal life. Is she 'owned' by this mansion? Found a version with verse 2 & printed lyrics: ua-cam.com/video/OfJ9bf4Oi5E/v-deo.htmlsi=YXOh34iqI4JUbhXM but this gives no further clues. Guess its all about things polite society didn't talk about back then. Wikipedia mentions a 1925 silent film in which the mansion is a home for unmarried pregnant women, but think that stretches the meaning of the song.
To quote a dear friend
"The song uses the mansion as a metaphor for a place filled with memories of lost love and unfulfilled desires, emphasizing emotional richness rather than material wealth. It speaks more to the human condition and the emotional 'costs' associated with personal experiences and relationships gone awry, rather than a literal interpretation of gaining wealth through unsavory means."
@@misterphonograph1893 Now that IS an interesting slant & perhaps the best explanation. Many of these tearjerkers resolve, as in 'Give Me A Ticket To Heaven' which has multiple verses, but no room on a conventional record to fit them all in. Keeping an air of mystique could well be the lyricists intention. The writers of more recent pop songs like 'Angie Baby' sometimes remain tight lipped, as to the meaning/inspiration behind their creations.
@@tiga4180 It definitely is unfortunate that they didn't have room to record all the verses. In Charles K. Harris's autobiography he mentions how much it frustrated him when people skipped the third verse when singing After The Ball because it was crucial to the narrative.
I only know of one recording of After The Ball, that being by George Gaskin and unsurprisingly there's no third verse to be seen. It's kind of surprising to me that the song wasn't recorded more, it was such a big hit.
@@misterphonograph1893 Some of the most iconic music hall songs are rare on record, most puzzling. Even more frustrating is singing the chorus only, which occurred in so called nostalgia evenings in the 1960's & 1970's. Sometimes they only sang choruses on 'The Good Old Days, a long running music hall series on TV. That said, here's the full version of 'Give Me A Ticket To Heaven' from The Good Old Days: ua-cam.com/video/vx7YW6m48rE/v-deo.htmlsi=PPHmO4krLk8chKUm I posted this a while back. Beautifully sung by Herbert Payne, but only one verse & repeated chorus.