The comedian and actor WILL FYFFE became a favourite with audiences in New York and Chicago as well as in Glasgow and London. GORDON IRVING reveals a few little-known stories about the man and his work.

Will Fyffe, the character comedian, was passing through Glasgow's Central Station when a wee Glasgow man who had over-imbibed attracted his attention at the ticket barrier.

"Where do you come from?" Will asked him. The happy drunk beamed all over, emitted a couple of happy hiccups, and replied: "At this very moment, sir... at this verry moment I belong tae Glasgow."

Slight pause, then: "Aye, an' know something, sir. Glasgow belongs tae me.!" The words echoed in Fyffe's head. That night, in his theatrical digs, he worked on the song and added suitable patter.

The resultant song" I Belong to Glasgow" had immense appeal to the working-class populace of the West of Scotland at that time. The rich folk, Fyffe pointed out, were driving past in posh cars so fast "that naebody knows whether they're drunk or sober.."

And the patter? "There's nothin' in being teetotal, and savin' a shilling or two." Again: "And when ye're teetotal... teetotal.... when ye're teetotal, ye've got a rotten feeling that everybody's your boss!"

Will learned his character acting in the hard boyhood days of touring with his father. He has started with his mother and father in touring fit-ups, travelling the length and breadth of Scotland. His father was a joiner who turned actor.

Even as a boy Will was acting, playing parts like Little Willie in "East Lynne" and Little Eva in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Then he moved on from melodrama to comedy.

He was a favourite with his "Daft Sandy" and amusing as the guard on the Highland railway, quoting an American tourist: "Say, guard, could I get out to pick a few flowers on the embankment while your train is in motion ?"

"Sailing Up The Clyde" was another winner for the man born in Dundee, on Scotland's East coast, in February 1885. This emotive song shows his pride in the birth of a child - "Oh, Ye Can Come an' See the Baby, Any Day You Care to Call, He's Lyin' by his Mammy in a Wee White Shawl."

He was a regular traveller to the United States, and many felt he might have registered there as strongly as his friend, Sir Harry Lauder, had showbiz luck been with him. His realistic drunk impressed audiences beyond Scotland. James Agate, the critic, said: "Mr Fyffe was not so much a sober man trying to appear drunk as a drunk man trying to appear sober."

When he made it to the London Palladium, some of the audience swore that Fyffe was drunk on stage, and that it was not just a characterization.

Offstage, Fyffe, a family man, made his home in Edinburgh and latterly at St. Andrews, Fife, where he died in 1947 after a fall caused by a spell of dizziness.

His "national anthem" for Glasgow, "I Belong Tae Glasgow," has been called, next to "Nellie Dean," the world's favourite party song.

Come any social occasion, from a wedding to a New Year Eve party, someone is sure to strike up the tune. The moment Fyffe put it into his music-hall act at the Glasgow Pavilion, a star song was born.

Like so many of the best Scots entertainers, he made his mark outside Scotland, and was hailed in America by some as even better than his friend, Sir Harry Lauder. Glasgow, alas, does not honour Will Fyffe in any way apart from singing his song. One day, I hope, there will be a statue in his memory. And something more than a headstone in the old cemetery at Maryhill, Glasgow.

It is sad, I think, that so few know that he lies there today while the world goes on singing the now legendary song about his adopted city.

Click here to meet Author Gordon Irving

Links:

Scottish Theatre Archives

Harry Lauder

Walter Bodie