the lyrics to "if it wasn't for the 'ouses in between" were written by edgar bateman, who later wrote two more of elen's songs: "she's too good to live is mrs. carter" and "the postman's 'oliday." the music to the songs was written by george le brunn, who wrote a vast number of music-hall songs and accompaniments for marie lloyd and dan leno, and also for gus elen's "it's a great big shame". chance newton, a friend of elen, spoke of his habit of leaving scores he was working on at the various pubs he visited en route to the particular hall he was travelling to.