The Comet of the West or Stand Aside
Sheet Music
ca. 1880 (printed and published)
ca. 1880 (printed and published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
George Leybourne (1842-1884) started off singing in the East End under his real name, Joe Saunders. His big break came in 1866 when he was engaged at the Canterbury Music Hall at £30 a week. Such was his success that by the following year he was earning £120 a week. Known as a 'Lion Comique' of the music hall, his trademark look included his drooping 'Dunreary Whiskers' or 'Piccadilly Weepers' seen in this cover illustration by the prolific music sheet illustrator Alfred Cocanen (1835-1886). Their name came from the whiskers sported by the character Lord Dunreadry in Tom Taylor's 1858 play Our American Cousin.
The song began with the lyrics:
I'm the comet of the West, in the shade I put the rest
All others are my satellites you see
But mooning's not my game, I've won my way to fame
And they all have to stand aside for me
The music sheet is printed the words of the words of the chorus below the image:
Shout boys, shout and let's be jolly
Stand aside and let this swell go past
I like to do the grand with a short cane in my hand
For by jove, you see the comet's come at last.
The song began with the lyrics:
I'm the comet of the West, in the shade I put the rest
All others are my satellites you see
But mooning's not my game, I've won my way to fame
And they all have to stand aside for me
The music sheet is printed the words of the words of the chorus below the image:
Shout boys, shout and let's be jolly
Stand aside and let this swell go past
I like to do the grand with a short cane in my hand
For by jove, you see the comet's come at last.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Comet of the West or Stand Aside (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Lithograph |
| Brief description | Music sheet cover for 'The Comet of the West or Stand Aside', composed by James Bachelder and lyrics by F.W. Green, sung by George Leybourne (1842-1884). Image by Alfred Concanen (1835-1886), lithograph by Siebe & Burnett, published by Charles Sheard, ca.1880 |
| Physical description | Illustrated cover of the music sheet "The Comet of the West" which features George Leybourne in the centre |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Gabrielle Enthoven Collection |
| Subject depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | George Leybourne (1842-1884) started off singing in the East End under his real name, Joe Saunders. His big break came in 1866 when he was engaged at the Canterbury Music Hall at £30 a week. Such was his success that by the following year he was earning £120 a week. Known as a 'Lion Comique' of the music hall, his trademark look included his drooping 'Dunreary Whiskers' or 'Piccadilly Weepers' seen in this cover illustration by the prolific music sheet illustrator Alfred Cocanen (1835-1886). Their name came from the whiskers sported by the character Lord Dunreadry in Tom Taylor's 1858 play Our American Cousin. The song began with the lyrics: I'm the comet of the West, in the shade I put the rest All others are my satellites you see But mooning's not my game, I've won my way to fame And they all have to stand aside for me The music sheet is printed the words of the words of the chorus below the image: Shout boys, shout and let's be jolly Stand aside and let this swell go past I like to do the grand with a short cane in my hand For by jove, you see the comet's come at last. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.802-2012 |
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| Record created | September 13, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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