MovieChat Forums > The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) Discussion > Fun Seeing Rathbone as a Music Hall Wag

Fun Seeing Rathbone as a Music Hall Wag


Lots of fun seeing Basil adopt the persona of an English Music Hall performer or Wag and sing the classic English Music Hall tune written by John Glover-Kind in 1907 entitled I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside.

Many have said they have had a hard time deciphering the lyrics Rathbone performs with a cockney accent. So here are the complete Rathbone lyrics, including his slight changes to the original.

Everyone delights to spend their summer's oliday
Down beside the side of the silvery sea
I'm no exception to the rule
In fact, if I'd my way
I'd reside by the side of the silvery sea.
But when you're just the common or garden Smith or Jones or Brown
At bus'ness up in town
You've got to settle down.
You save up all the money you can till summer comes around
Then away ya go
To a spot ya know
Where the cockle shells are found.

Oh! I do like to be beside the seaside
I do like to be beside the sea!
I do like to stroll along the Prom, Prom, Prom!
Where the brass bands play:
"Tiddely-om-pom-pom!"
So just let me be beside the seaside
I'll be beside meself with glee
Oh there's lots of girls beside,
I should like to be beside
Beside the seaside!
Beside the sea!

(Prom here is short for Promenade)

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It didn't look like him, but I knew that in his other films he often disguises himself very cleverly. The song may be corny by todays standards but it is a nice performance.

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Rathbone performed it with gusto!


Its that man again!!

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I loved it - someone put up a great recording of the scene on youtube, and I downloaded the soundtrack to my mp3 player...

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