The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #51740   Message #4150736
Posted By: Nigel Parsons
22-Aug-22 - 02:12 PM
Thread Name: Origin: Cosher Bailey
Subject: RE: Origin: Cosher Bailey
With my collection of BBC songbooks from schools broadcasts I thought I'd add the versions there (for those who remember learning them in school)

From Singing Together Spring 1977 & Autumn 1984 both the same set of lyrics:

COSHER BAILEY
Trad

Cosher Bailey had an engine,
It was always needing mending,
And according to her power,
She could do four miles an Hour.
Did you ever see, did you ever see
Did you ever see such a funny thing before?

On the night run up from Gower
She went twenty miles an hour;
As she whistled through the station
Man, she frightened half the nation.
Did you ever see, did you ever see
Did you ever see such a funny thing before?

Cosher bought her second-hand,
And he paint her up so grand,
When the driver went to oil her
Man, she nearly burst her boiler.
Did you ever see, did you ever see
Did you ever see such a funny thing before?

Now Cosher Bailey he did die,
And they put him in a coffin
But one night they heard some knocking,
Cosher Bailey only joking.
Did you ever see, did you ever see
Did you ever see such a funny thing before?


The song was also used in 'Music Time' The Big Balloon Show Summer 1979, but with slight differences in the first verses, and two verses replacing the fourth verse:

COSHER BAILEY
Trad

Cosher Bailey had an engine,
It was always wanting mending,
And according to her power,
She could do four miles an Hour.
Did you ever see, did you ever see
Did you ever see such a funny thing before?

On the night run up from Gower
She went twenty miles an hour;
As she whistled through the station
Man, she frightened half the nation.
Did you ever see, did you ever see
Did you ever see such a funny thing before?

Cosher bought her second-hand,
And he paint her up so grand,
But when he went to oil her
Man, she nearly burst her boiler.
Did you ever see, did you ever see
Did you ever see such a funny thing before?

Oh, the sight it was heart-rending!
Cosher drove his little engine
At full speed into the tunnel
And he shot right up the funnel.
Did you ever see, did you ever see
Did you ever see such a funny thing before?

Now poor Cosher lies in plaster,
His old engine met disaster
When he filled her up with water
She went faster than she oughta!
Did you ever see, did you ever see
Did you ever see such a funny thing before?