Ranzo, Benbow by Schantieman
(Tune: Dido, Bendigo (trad.); New words by Steve Freedman circa 1987)

Schantieman's Comments:  This was written one night whilst attempting to sleep in the car at Whitby FF.  There really was a pub called (something like) the Duke of Wellington in Whitby.  The age of the song can be deduced from its reference to 'opening time', a concept now lost in the mists of history.

As I was a-walking one fine summer's evening
I overheard some folkies all singing.
There were twenty-two of them in the Duke of Wellington
So early, just as the pubs were opening

Chorus:
And they sang Ranzo, Benbow, Drop of Nelson's Blood-oh
Loud enough to set the rafters ringing
Then they sang Shoals of Herring, On a Monday Morning.
These were the songs that they were singing.

Well, the first song being long, and only just beginning
I made straightway to the toi – let.
As I was coming out, I heard somebody shout,
"We haven't heard you sing us all a song yet!"

So I sang . . .

Now the next song being loud, and one with a chorus,
I joined in and we sang it all together.
Then we all sang Twanky Dillow and the Banks of the Green Willow,
And then we sang about the blooming heather!

Then we sang . . .

Now the evening, it drew on, and the clock reached eleven,
The landlord rang the bell and shouted, "Time!"
So we all said, "Half past ten" and began to sing again –
The harmonies we sang were oh – so fine.

And we sang . . .

Repeat chorus ad nauseam.

Copyright ©2002 S J Freedman (unless I can claim it earlier. I've certainly been singing it for years!)