Wot Cher! Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road

Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road" is a British music hall comedy song written in 1891 by the actor and singer Albert Chevalier.

[1] Chevalier developed a stage persona as the archetypal Cockney and was a celebrated variety artist, with the nickname of "The Singing Costermonger".

The song tells the story of Bill and his wife who, with a lodger, live down an alleyway off the street (which were usually passages lined with crowded tenements), near the Old Kent Road, one of the poorest districts in London.

They are visited by a toff, a well-dressed man, who must have been a gentleman because he took his topper (top hat) off in the presence of the narrator's missus (wife).

The man's speech however betrays that he is lower class himself when he informs the lady that her uncle Tom has 'popped off', slang for died.

"Ma'am" says he, "I 'ave some news to tell, Your rich uncle Tom of Camberwell, Popp'd off recent, which it ain't a sell, Leaving you 'is little donkey shay."

It woke the alley up a bit, Thought our lodger would 'ave 'ad a fit, When my missus who's a real wit Says "I 'ates a Bus because it's low!"