At first he worked in a solicitor's office, but wrote stories and soon joined the staff of the Leeds Mercury newspaper.
In 1912 they wrote "Piccadilly Trot", with the then-fashionable ragtime rhythm, for Marie Lloyd; and, the following year, "Hold Your Hand Out, Naughty Boy!"
[2][3] In 1914, he began working with composer and music publisher Lawrence Wright, producing the popular marching song "Are We Downhearted?
[1] After severing his ties with Wright, David started his own publishing firm in the 1920s,[1] and unlike many songwriters became financially successful.
[2] He signed up established songwriters Fred Godfrey and Harry Castling, as well as his own son, Hubert W. "Micky" David (1904-1999), who also became a successful composer; he wrote the hit song "Felix Kept On Walking", was associated with Twickenham Studios, and wrote the theme music to BBC TV's Come Dancing.