Where Is My Sunday Potato?

Album: Babes In The Wood (1947)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • As might be suspected from the title, this is a novelty song, but one that, curiously, fell foul of the censor.

    To understand why, it must be remembered that during and for some time after the Second World War, there was food rationing in Britain. The song was composed by George Gee with words by Gee and Harris Weston; it was published by Arcadia Music.

    The story behind it is related by Robert V. Kenny in the Summer 2013 issue of The Call Boy, the quarterly journal of the British Music Hall Society. The song was first performed publicly by Arthur Lucan in Babes In The Wood at the Bristol Hippodrome during the 1947-8 season.

    Lucan was part of a comedy duo Lucan & McShane, although with the passage of time they don't seem so funny. "Where Is My Sunday Potato?" is said to be a topical comedy hit that was a "huge success" in over fifty pantomimes, and to be "the inevitable food-chorus song".

    That may well be, but in December 1947 the BBC objected to it on political grounds. In those days there was no independent radio, so the BBC's word was law. It was though cleared for broadcast the following month. It remains to be seen if it could also have been considered a protest song as suggested. It may be too that a higher power didn't think much of it because Lucan's rendition is said to have come to an abrupt end on February 16, 1948 when the Bristol Hippodrome was devastated by a "mysterious backstage fire" which kept it closed for almost a year. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 2

  • Sue from IdahoIs there anywhere I can find the music and lyrics to Where is My Sunday Potato?
  • Curiouslibrarian from Pennsylvania, UsaWhere can I find lyrics to this song? Am not finding anything at all online. Suggestions?? Thank you!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.