Talk:Burlington Bertie

Original research?
The Analysis section smacks of original research. If it is, it should be removed. If it is a common analysis, references should be cited.Lilac Soul 10:04, 17 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I can probably get a reference. That Bow is not the most salubrious part of London, is well-known to UK residents, though maybe not to persons of other countries. It is for the benefit of the latter that I mention it. It would be the same thing as if some supposedly wealthy American gave his address as the Bronx or the Bowery. Geographic frames of reference are commonplace knowledge in one country but possibly enigmatic in another country. As Al Capone said: 'I don't even know what street Canada is on.' Colin4C 13:50, 17 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Agreed with the above - the analysis is a bit skewed. The character portrayed is not wealthy or aristocratic, but has delusions of grandeur. Probably a cockney.--Lil Miss Picky (talk) 22:24, 12 February 2010 (UTC)

Is this true?
From the article:


 * 'The original song "Burlington Bertie" referred to Burlington Arcade, an area of London with many side arches: these arches led to the arcade's unintended notoriety as a popular refuge for homeless people -- at night, after the arcade's shops were closed -- where they could sleep with some degree of shelter and privacy. (In the song, Burlington Bertie is boasting of his address in the arcade: a posh enough address, indeed ... but only in the daytime.) Two popular music-hall songs of the 1930s, performed by Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen -- "Underneath the Arches" and "Where the Arches Used to Be" -- are widely perceived to refer to Burlington Arcade, despite conflicting explanations by Flanagan and others. The song title "Burlington Bertie from Bow" makes little sense, because Burlington Arcade and Bow are in two completely different parts of London.

Somehow I don't think so...I have never heard of the Burlington Arcade being used as a shelter for the homeless. And, besides, Bertie is from Bow in the East-End of London. The song even tracks his progress from the East End to the West End...Colin4C 14:36, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

the students at University Collage London sing a parody of this aswell which starts "im berlington berty im short fat and dirty, at least i go to UC you see" and continues with more explicit lirics about kings collage on the strand. shouldnt this at least be mentioned? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.243.48.196 (talk) 12:53, 26 June 2010 (UTC)

Not true. I walk down Burlington Arcade every week - there are no 'arches'. There are small shops with upper rooms which in Regency times were used by high class prostitutes, until the place was cleaned up and patrolled by 'Beadles' who enforce a number of arcane rules such as 'no whistling' (and of course 'no whores'). At night it is gated. It was notorious as a place of assignation, not rough sleeping. 89.168.92.249 (talk) 23:46, 25 April 2011 (UTC)

The 'arches' referred to are the arches beneath Charing Cross Station, one of central London's best-known locations for rough sleepers for most of the 20th century, thoroughly gentrified now. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A00:23C5:6409:5701:8424:AD93:DA30:B2C3 (talk) 10:06, 23 November 2022 (UTC)

Date of song
The song wasn't written in 1915: it was first recorded in 1915. It was first performed in Newcastle, UK, in 1914 - as per "Who's Who of British Music Hall" http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/THEATRE-UK/2001-08/0998118660 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 109.76.0.3 (talk) 14:54, 23 July 2010 (UTC)

"L.s.d." requires an explanation
I think it's important to explain to people the "L.s.d." in the lyrics. I am pretty sure from the age and the context that it is supposed to mean £/s/d — Pounds, Shillings and Pence, the "old money". Without any explanation, people are going to think it's a reference to a drug (narcotic). Especially if they're not from the UK or born after decimalisation day. AndyCivil (talk) 04:12, 6 June 2021 (UTC)