They're Moving Father's Grave to Build a Sewer

"They're Moving Father's Grave to Build a Sewer" (Roud 10391) is a classic comic song, often thought to be from the music hall tradition.^[1] It is usually sung in a straight key of C major, but can be varied.

The earliest known mention of the song is in the Altoona Mirror for 15 April 1901, describing the songs played by "street piano music venders" in Altoona, Pennsylvania, which included "They Be Moving Mother's Grave to Build a Sewer". Other early versions include "They Have Shifted Little Willie's Grave to Build a Sewer" sung in 1902 by vaudeville performer Arthur Deming in Indianapolis, and "We Had to Move Paddy's Grave to Dig a Sewer" sung at a 1903 meeting of the Brotherhood of Boiler Makers and Iron Ship Builders in Sacramento, California.^[1]

It was a favourite of Frank Muir, who sang it many times on BBC Radio 4. Denis Norden also sang the song in the final series of radio panel show My Music (1994).

A version of the song was also recorded by Oscar Brand, on his album Bawdy Songs Goes to College recorded in 1955, under the title "Father's Grave".

A variant of the song, called "Grandpa's Grave", was recorded by the comedian Peter Sellers and included on his 1960 LP with Sophia Loren, Peter & Sophia, as well as on the B-side of the duo's hit single "Goodness Gracious Me".

The song was repopularised by the Clancy Brothers, who included it on their 1965 album Recorded Live in Ireland.^[2]

Charles Keeping sang this song for the record version of his 1975 book Cockney Ding Dong.

The Men That Will Not Be Blamed for Nothing recorded a version called "Sewer (Live)" for their 2010 album Now That's What I Call Steampunk! Volume 1. A limited edition of this album included a phonograph cylinder of this track; the first music commercially available on wax cylinder for almost a century.^[3]

Lyrics vary, but Muir's version is thus:

They're moving Father's grave to build a sewer
They're moving it regardless of expense.
They're taking his remains, to put in nine-inch drains
And provide the public with a nice new gent's.
It's such a lovely place behind the gasworks
With dandelions growing by the fence:
Now it seems a wicked plot
To spoil that lovely spot
Just for one old rich man's convenience.

— Frank Muir, A Kentish Lad (October 2000)