Pack up Your Troubles


Melody - Melody - Felix Powell

George Henry Powell (Asaf), 1912

1. Private Perks is a funny little codger
With a smile, a funny smile.
Five feet none he's an artful little dodger,
With a smile, a funny smile.
Flush or broke he'll have his little joke,
He can't be suppressed,
All the other fellows have to grin,
When he gets this off his chest, HI!

Chorus:
Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag
And smile, smile, smile.
While you've a lucifer to light your fag,
Smile boys, that's the style.
What's the use of worrying,
It never was worthwhile. So:
Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag
And smile, smile, smile.
  2. Private Perks went a-marching into flanders,
With a smile, his funny smile.
He was loved by the privates and commanders
For his smile, his funny smile,
When a throng of bosches came along,
With a mighty swing,
Perks yelled out,"this little bunch is mine!
Keep your heads down, boys and sing, HI!
Chorus:

3. Private Perks he came back from bosche shooting,
With his smile, his funny smile,
Round his home he then set about recruiting,
With his smile, his funny smile.
He told all his paks, the short, the tall,
What a time he'd had,
And as each enlisted like a man,
Private perks said "now my lad," HI!
Chorus:


The words were written first by George, then put to music by his brother. Both thought the song was a dud, and put it away. Later it was submitted in a competition for a marching song, which it won. It was then incorporated into the brothers' music-hall act, and became an instant hit. Felix Powell shot himself in 1942, apparently feeling that he had nothing left to live for.
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