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Imagine a raucous pub in Victorian London, filled with singing and laughter; what song can you hear? "Knees up Mother Brown"

Chris Caton-Greasley
Jan 1613 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

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Introduction

Imagine a raucous pub in Victorian London, filled with singing and laughter; what song can you hear? For me it has to be Knees Up Mother Brown. 


In this blog I present a mix of sources from historical articles and videos to a personal story. We trace this tune from the origins in Victorian London to its appearance in war, football and pop culture.  This song reflects the community of its time, adapting to different situations and crossing cultural boundaries, taking on new hues but retaining its core identity. The working classes of the late 19th century used this tune to enjoy a good dance, and quick ‘cheeky’ dig at the royal family, without being too explicit, a community song bringing people together in a difficult time period. This morphed into an inspiring memory to potentially allow the soldiers of World War One to warm themselves with the memory of a good 'knees up', and used for comedic effect on the radio in the Second World War. It had an idealised whimsical nature in Mary Poppins and much more down to earth memories in The Muppet Show. Finally the children of this generation are being introduced to a true British classic.


The origins of the song are unknown, shrouded in a fog as deep as the pea-soup fog of old London town, but it was a popular song in the pubs and bars of England's capital.  The catchy melody and repetitive lyrics were easy to remember, it invited participation and promoted excuberance and joy, possibly after a hard day's work. The lyrics have many versions but the most popular at the moment are 


Knees up Mother Brown! Knees up Mother Brown!

Under the table you must go Ee-i-ee-i-ee-i-oh!

If I catch you bending, I'll saw your legs right off,

Knees up! Knees Up! Don't get the breeze up,

Knees up Mother Brown


These words manage to poke fun and awaken memories of home. They have been used to cheer on a football team, stir the memories of a generation and hint towards whatever scandal your mind wants to assume, even the tune alone will set a jingle in your mind that can last for hours.

But what is it that makes this song so catchy? Let’s look into the history of this song to answer this question. 


Cultural Impact of Knees Up Mother Brown

The song resonates through history, connecting generations with its simple, infectious melody. Each time it reappears, its meaning subtly shifts, reflecting the changing times. In Victorian England, 'Knees Up Mother Brown' provided a boisterous soundtrack to pub life, perhaps offering a lighthearted escape from the era's social constraints. Later, in the trenches of the First World War, the same tune offered solace to soldiers, reminding them of the warmth and camaraderie of home. Its upbeat rhythm and simple lyrics provided a much-needed respite from the horrors of war, fostering a sense of unity and hope.


By the 1950s, 'Knees Up Mother Brown' had found a new home on the football terraces, becoming a rousing anthem for fans. Its association with working-class culture and communal singing made it a perfect fit for the passionate atmosphere of football matches. The song's journey continued, finding its way into a globally popular film and even a Muppet sketch, demonstrating its enduring appeal across different media and age groups.


British Royalty

Queen Victoria was devoted to her husband, Prince Albert, but after his untimely death John Brown became a more significant courtier after saving her from a carriage accident in 1863. In 1866 the Queen’s return to London, from Balmoral, was delayed due to a ministerial crisis. Some historians suggest that many assumed that Mr Brown was part of the reason, this was followed by a series of issues in the press which are detailed on the official website for BBC History Magazine. This speculation fueled intrigue and scandal, leading to many theories. One theory concluded that "Mother Brown" referred to Queen Victoria, who was known as the mother of the nation, and her speculative relationship with her aide John Brown. It is believed that the lyrics are rumoured to apply to the secretive nature of their relationship and how it had to stay secret for Queen Victoria to keep the throne safe. Whilst the common man found a little scandal a bit of harmless fun, it could not have been the same for Queen Victoria who had lost her husband who she loved dearly and had found a friend with whom she felt an element of comfort in a very difficult time in anyone's life. The harmless speculation must have hurt a lot, in a time when she was already suffering a great personal loss. (Strunck, 2024, Van der Kiste, 2022)


I would like to reiterate that this is historic speculation and does not have an established fact. It is included as an historic moment in time.


Pearly Kings and Queens

An article on this classic cockney song is not complete without mentioning the Pearly Kings and Queens of  the East End. Pearly royalty were known for wearing jet black suits, decorated with mother-of-pearl buttons. There is a Pearly King and Queen for every London borough. This follows the tradition of Henry Croft, from 1870, who transformed himself into the first Pearly King with 60,000 mother-of-pearl buttons.


While 'Knees Up Mother Brown' may have had connections to the highest echelons of British society, it belonged to working-class communities of London. The Pearly King and Queen often incorporated "Knees Up Mother Brown" into their lively sing-alongs and performances at community events and charitable gatherings, using its infectious energy to bring people together and raise spirits. The commitment to a traditional Music Hall style repertoire and an historic form of attire has helped keep the rich and colourful memories of this time period alive for the generations that followed. Songs heard alongside this classic included Pack Up Your Troubles, Maybe it’s Because I’m a Londoner and The Lambeth Walk (Howard, 2022).


 An example of the Pearly tradition is shown in the video below .  



Wartime Songs

Many popular songs were used to boost morale during the First World War. Knees up Mother Brown spanned these different social classes journeying from the Pearlies to the soldiers in the trenches. The simple lyrics made the song easy to remember amidst the horrors of war. Perhaps it evoked memories of joyful times in pubs back home, or maybe it simply provided a moment of uplifting camaraderie amidst the chaos.

According to Charles Legge at the Daily Mail, there is a recording of it being sung on Armistice Night, 11th November 1918 when four years of war came to an end. (Legge, 2024). While I cannot locate this recording I have found a reference in Random Harvest by James Hilton to a fictional, but plausible, account of a celebration event (Hilton, 1941, p.198) stating that “the most popular of all was “Knees Up, Mother Brown,” a roaring chorus that set the whole crowd stamping into the beer-soaked sawdust.” The Imperial War Museum in London holds a collection of sound recordings from World War I, including songs sung by soldiers and civilians. I have emailed the Museum to ask if they have a record of the recording.


Do you know the location of the Armistice Night recording? Please let me know where to find it as it will benefit my research. 



World War Two led to a resurgence of the song with the Cockney duo Elsie and Doris Waters performing a variation in their popular Music Hall style radio show. In this incarnation of the song Old Mother Brown was a Pearly Queen at her Hundredth birthday party, a good old knees up. A “Knees up” was a call to party or dance; a common phrase “Let’s have a knees up” in reference to a party can still be heard today. This performance led to the earliest known published version by Harris Weston and Bert Lee in 1938.. (Browne and Browne, 2024, Williams, n.d., Dixon, 2013). This published version featured the cheeky lyrics of the sisters that were influenced by the chatter of those East End housewives. A copy has been found on Ebay and has been purchased for the TQ Music Library.



Red vintage music cover titled "Knees Up, Mother Brown!" with dancing figures, composer names, and a blue portrait on the left. Retro vibe.
Sheet music cover from 1938


This is the first verse and chorus from the Folk Songs and Music Hall site (Baxter, 2021).


I've just been to 'ding-dong' down dear old Brixton way

Old Mother Brown the Pearly Queen's a hundred years today

Oh what a celebration! was proper lah-di-dah!

Until they rolled the carpet up, and shouted 'Nah then, Ma'


Knees up Mother Brown! Well! Knees up Mother Brown

Under the tables you must go

Ee-i-ee-i-ee-i-oh

If I catch you bending

I'll saw your legs right off

So, knees up, knees up

Don't get the breeze-up

Knees up Mother Brown.


This wartime resurgence of 'Knees Up Mother Brown' holds a special significance for me, as it connects directly to my own family history. My family and Academy are in the North of England, but the couple who ensured the Academy is here today hail from the East End of London. Proper East Enders who sang this song, and others, Connie and Thomas Groom, moved up North when they were bombed out of the East End and sang the Cockney songs to their daughter and grandchildren, of whom I was one. So while I have not been to the East End, two very special people to me, called it home.


Football Anthem

In the 1950's West Ham United supporters sang ‘Knees up Mother Brown’ from the terraces of the stadium. While information is limited to why they started to use the song the the KUMB website, which is named after the song, states the reason for West Ham using the song is down to the cockney connection due to its location and states

“Ergo my theory. We got it by default; the same as 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles'.”

While it's difficult to pinpoint a specific reason for West Ham's adoption of the song, it likely resonated with the club's working-class fanbase. The song's upbeat tempo, catchy melody, and association with East End culture made it a perfect fit for the football terraces. Its use as a chant may have emerged organically, perhaps starting with individual fans and spreading rapidly among the crowd (Cummings, 2015, Whufc.com, 2025, Wikipedia Contributors, 2024a). 


Can anyone confirm, or evidence, that the anthem was sung in the matches of this period when the defender Ken Brown was playing?  


It would be fantastic to add a video of the first versions of this song sung from the terraces of West Ham United in the 1950’s. The full chorus of voices must have been a spectacular ground swell of support for all the players alike.


Football Anthem: Knees up Mother Brown


Mary Poppins

The song's popularity extends beyond traditional settings and into mainstream media with the blockbuster film Mary Poppins. Dick Van Dyke played the chimney sweep, Bert, in the original 1965 film. According to an eyewitness account by Brian Selby on his blog on The Glass Worlds of Peter Ellenshaw (Sibley, 2007) states that during a lecture in 1979 given by Peter Ellerenshaw, Disney’s special effects artist, he (Peter) recounted how he had mentioned to Walt Disney “that the Cockney song-and-dance called ‘Knees Up, Mother Brown’ which would provide the inspiration for the chimney sweeps’ ‘Step in Time’ number on the rooftops”. Step in Time is where the chimney sweeps use a song and dance number as a cover to talk about the importance of timing and care of footing, quite appropriate for a roof top dance.


Hear the music in the video below.


Can you hear the influence of Knees up Mother Brown in the chorus? 


Mary Poppins: Step in time

"Step in Time," with its energetic choreography and catchy tune, serves as a joyous celebration of life and the importance of finding joy in everyday moments. While the song is not a direct adaptation of "Knees Up Mother Brown," it shares a similar upbeat tempo and lively spirit. In a follow up blog I will analyse where the influence of heritage behind the song can be heard. There are some potential echoes heard in 'Trip a Little Light Fantastic’ in Mary Poppins 2, however like echoes it is more of a question of “Was that inspired by …” rather than a definite “This was inspired by …” . 


The Muppets

Another memorable appearance of "Knees Up Mother Brown" occurs in a 1980’s episode of The Muppet Show. Fozzie Bear, dressed as a Pearly King, leads a lively rendition of the song in a traditional East End pub setting, accompanied by Rowlf on the piano and a chorus of Muppets. This version cleverly incorporates elements of Pearly King culture, with Fozzie's costume and the bustling pub atmosphere adding to the comedic effect. As with many adaptations of the song, the Muppets add their own lyrical twists, enhancing the humour and creating a unique interpretation of this classic tune.



Kids Sing-Along

Bringing Mother Brown up to the modern day finds this song being enjoyed by the next generation. It can be heard in a sing-along form on the video below and as part of many teaching books, including the Triquetrae Piano Programme, designed for use in this Music Academy.


Childrens Song Knees up Mother Brown

This song first appears at Level 2 Achieve of the TQ Piano Programme (Caton-Greasley, 2025). The skill being developed is the ability to move between chord inversion finger patterns. When practising this song make sure you play the left hand first and that you can move smoothly between each chord. The melody will be able to be heard clearly above the chords when you can play them without thinking too much about your hand position. Then you, and your friends or family, can sing along with the tune as many hundreds of voices have for over a century. There are two versions of the tune below. Version one has a simple melody and bass pattern for chords and version two has some additional right hand harmonies to highlight the concepts discussed in the related article.


Version 1

This video has a clear melody line above foundation chords with limited movement. 



Version 2

Version two incorporates more complex harmonies, including some of the interesting chord progressions and voice leading that we'll explore in the upcoming harmonic analysis blog.



Summary

This timeless tune has endured through generations, its catchy melody inviting singing and dancing across cultures and time periods. From its origins in Victorian London to its appearances in wartime trenches, football stadiums, and even popular films, 'Knees Up Mother Brown' has woven itself into the fabric of British life. It offers a glimpse into the power of music to connect generations, evoke emotions, and transcend cultural boundaries.


The song's enduring popularity is its simplicity and versatility. Its catchy melody and easy-to-remember lyrics make it accessible to everyone, regardless of musical background. Whether you're singing along at a pub, cheering on your favorite team, or simply reminiscing about childhood memories, 'Knees Up Mother Brown' is sure to evoke a sense of joy and nostalgia.


I encourage you to share your own experiences with this song in the comments below. Have you ever sung it at a party? Do you have any fond memories associated with it? Let's keep the spirit of 'Knees Up Mother Brown' alive for generations to come.

And for those interested in exploring the foundational musical nuances of this classic tune, stay tuned for my upcoming blog post on its harmonic analysis. I'll look into the chord progressions and voice leading that make this song so special.


Questions

Question 1: Where was the song “Knees Up Mother Brown” frequently sung?

Question 2: What does the phrase "knees up" mean in the context of the song?

Question 3: Where did soldiers sing "Knees Up Mother Brown" during wartime?

Question 4: What historically significant event is associated with a recording of "Knees Up Mother Brown"?

Question 5: Which football club adopted "Knees Up Mother Brown" as their anthem?

Question 6: In what Disney film does a rendition of "Knees Up Mother Brown" appear?

Question 7: Which Muppet character performed "Knees Up Mother Brown"?

Question 8: What group of London figures are strongly connected with the song "Knees Up Mother Brown"?

Question 9: What is the speculated connection between Queen Victoria and the song?

Question 10: Question 10: What does the song mean to you?


Reference list




I would like to Mr Williams for the copy of the music off Ebay.

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