Lyr Req/Add: Ballad of Bethnal Green (P Roberts)

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Jul 99 - 01:38 PM

Ah. With the benefit of hindsight, that should have been Tito Gobbi.

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Jul 99 - 01:37 PM

There used to be a housemaster called Priestwood, I think, at a prep school (UK meaning) near Harrow called Orley Farm School who had a collection and occasionally used to let the kids listen. It should be in the book!

Oh, and Dave Bryant, who calls himself the Toto GObbi of the Balls Pond Road and advertises in one of the EFDSS magazines to get gigs also knows at least two of the songs mentioned.

Happy hunting.

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: SueH
Date: 14 Jul 99 - 01:05 PM

someone who is an occasional visitor to our session sings the Portugese song, which has a similar tune to the Ballad of Bethnal Green, I think. I'll try & get the words - it might be a while though.

The only place I have been able to find on the Web is the one listed above, Graham Grainger's site. He obviously has the book, Strictly For Grownups, so if you emailed him (his email address is on the site) he might be able to help you.

SueH

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Folkbloke
Date: 14 Jul 99 - 11:45 AM

Ana I thought my problems were solved. I have E-mailed the B.B.C. Record library inthe vain hope they might have some details of recordings but as yet nothing. I'll keep looking though. Keep the thread going and we might get the whole collection together one day. Adrian. (folkbloke.)

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: AndyG
Date: 14 Jul 99 - 11:38 AM

Roger,
I'm sorry but I truly don't have any Paddy Roberts lyrics, though I did once own an album, and it may still exist in my parents house somewhere...
Sadly, or I think so anyway, the following couplets from The Lavender Cowboy have occured to me during the day.

And he rounded up cattle, a-riding side saddle
because he preferred it that way.

He went out on bender and slugged the bartender
And stole all the strawberry gin.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 14 Jul 99 - 11:04 AM

Well done, Bert, I can now forgive you for beating me to the "redhair" gag on the pickup line thread!
1959 eh? How time flies! No wonder we can't remember the damn things!
I ought to remember some of the Belle of Barking Creek, if not the Lavender Cowboy.
I think AndyG is just playing with us and really has those lyrics.
Post them, damn you,post them for the love of Max.
Paddy had, shall we say, a limited vocal range, that I can cope with, and I can get away with more if the song is both intended to be funny and is less well known! (The "audience" [six goldfish and the odd frog]don't know what it's supposed to sound like!)
>:o(

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Bert
Date: 14 Jul 99 - 10:46 AM

We're getting closer found this site

http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/1242/songbook.html#english010

Bert.

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: AndyG
Date: 14 Jul 99 - 06:24 AM

Roger,
Here's your starter for 10

He was just a lavender cowboy,
With only two hairs on his chest,
And he rode on a filly, called daffy-down-dilly,
The prettiest horse in the west.

Andon't like to see a grown man cryG

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 14 Jul 99 - 06:17 AM

Andy,
Aaaaaaaargh!

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: AndyG
Date: 14 Jul 99 - 05:40 AM

Ah, Roger,
Just to keep you in a fret, you might like to consider The Belle of Barking Creek or The Lavender Cowboy,
(which is different from but clearly based on the DT version)

AndyG

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 14 Jul 99 - 04:44 AM

Bert, thanks for reminding me of those two songs, I think... now I'll be fretting till I can remember the remaining lines, so I may curse you later! :o)

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Folkbloke
Date: 14 Jul 99 - 04:38 AM

Have not come across that particular song Martin, but I suppose at sometime Mr Roberts might well have done, and phrases stuck in his mind, but how many songs start with "I'll tell a tale of......." or similar. I hate to think. (cue for someone to post a bloody great long list of song titles, but I'll take the risk.) I will check in with my Irish expert and see if there is any Historical background to the song and post if there is. Thanks for the interesting angle. regards, Adrian. (folkbloke)

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 13 Jul 99 - 08:53 PM

Sorry about the unclosed thingy - as the bishop said to the actress. It still works anyway (as....)

Regards

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 13 Jul 99 - 08:51 PM

Legal Eagle.

On the subject of Portuguese (and even Portugees), have a look at THIS

and tell me what you know, pleae.

Regards

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Folkbloke
Date: 13 Jul 99 - 04:54 PM

It appears we are slowly but surely tracking the old genius down. Any further information will be greatly appreciated. I would love to be able to bring his work back into the public domain and get him the credit his wit deserves.

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Legal Eagle
Date: 13 Jul 99 - 03:05 PM

There's the one about "I couldn't stand Portuguese in general,and in particular I couldn't stand him"

And there's also

"The French and the Italians/chase their women round like stalions" - and going on to the "the Englishman with his habituel sang-froid (which translated means his usual bloody cold"

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Bert
Date: 13 Jul 99 - 02:20 PM

He did an album called "Strictly for grownups"(I think)

A snippet from one of the numbers goes...

When I was a boy scout and you were a brownie
We leaned all the regulations, of which there were lots
We went to the woods and we practiced them over
You did your semaphore while I did my knots.

There was another one called "Love isn't what it used to be" Which contains the classic line "Just grab a handful and damn the finesse"

Yes we certainly need a reissue.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 13 Jul 99 - 11:19 AM

I agree, he's due for a reissue. I think there was an LP in the "World of" series, it was advertised on the insert to another LP I had, but that was in the days (early '70s)when I had discovered a good source of second hand LPs-mostly jazz & blues- so it was probably already unavailable, or I'd have looked for it then!
I learned his songs off the radio (?early '60s?)so they must have been broadcast fairly frequently, though I can't bring any of the other titles to mind.
I've just had a quick look at AMG and a couple of UK record store sites and he's "unknown".

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Folkbloke
Date: 13 Jul 99 - 10:59 AM

I only wish I could get hold of the words and music to some more of his songs. I m sure he must have written more, and if they are anything like Bethnal Green, they should be heard more. I feel they are definitely a part of our singing tradition.If anyone knows of a publisher who handles or handled paddy's work, or his record label, please let me know.

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 13 Jul 99 - 03:40 AM

Yes, 'bloke. I was unhappy with my first version & was singing it on the way home in the car to try to get it right and I'm sure your version is correct. The joke,of course, is the prim language that a teddy boy wouldn't have used contrasted with "sloshed".

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Folkbloke
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 01:26 PM

A HUGE THANKYOU TO ROGER THE ZIMMER WHO HAS COME UP TRUMPS. SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM HOW I USED TO SING IT BUT AS SOON AS I READ WHAT YOU POSTED THE OLD GREY CELLS ALL FELL INTO SHAPE. The way I used to sing that 3rd verse as has now come back to me was:

It all went well because he fell for all her girlish charms.
But he had some doubts when he found her out in someone else’s arms
He said 'look here, you know my dear, this is going a bit too far.
Then he turned quite white and he sloshed her right in the middle of her Cha Cha Cha.

My brain can now rest. Hope your typing finger soon mends

Cheers, folkbloke.

HTML line breaks added --JoeClone, 8-Jan-02.

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 06:51 AM

"started" NOT "stared", of course! Just as the memory recovers, the typing goes to hell!

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Alan B
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 06:41 AM

Don't know why I'm telling you, but I had this record until last year, I've looked everywhere. If it comes to light I'll get back

I suppose this is supposed to give you some kind of hope, but in reality it will only frustrate you

Good luck anyway in your search

Alan B

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 06:37 AM

OK, almost got it:
Missing words in first verse are I think, "in a place called Bethnal Green"
[NOT a "town"] I'm pretty sure of the first two lines of the third verse, the third may be a bit shaky. I don't think there are any more verses.
It stared well because he fell for all her girlish charms
But he had his doubts when he found her out in somebody else's arms
He said:" My dear, [you know, I fear] that is going just a bit too far"

The bits in square brackets are doubtful. A amazing what the brain remembers! It must be all the fish I've eaten in the past week.

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 06:21 AM

I used to know this as well, but never had it on record. I'll ponder over your lyrics and see if I can dredge the rst from my failing memory banks. (What happens if you give someone with Alzheimer's Viagra? A night to remember)

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Folkbloke
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 04:47 AM

Thanks Keep trying. I am and it's Driving me mad. folkbloke.

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Legal Eagle
Date: 11 Jul 99 - 06:55 PM

I thought if I took the text off to a word processor I would remember some of that but now it's eluding me too.

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Folkbloke
Date: 11 Jul 99 - 06:42 PM

As requested, this is all I have. *** denotes missing words.

THE BALLAD OF BETHNAL GREEN.
(Paddy Roberts)

I tell the tale of a jealous male and a maid of sweet sixteen.
She was blonde and dumb and she lived with her Mum *** called Bethnal Green.
She worked all week for a rich old Greek for her Pa was on the Dole.
And her one delight was a Friday night when she had a little rock and roll.
CHORUS: With my rit fal dal to my titty fal dal to my itty bitty fal dal day.

Then one fine day in the month of may she found her big romance.
He was tall and sleek with a scar on his cheek and a pair of Drainpipe pants.
She thought with you I could be so true through all the years to come.
For she loved the Gay Abandoned way he chewed his chewing gum. CHORUS.

***
***
***
Then he turned quite white and he sloshed her right in the middle of her cha cha cha. CHORUS.

He was brought before a man of the law who said this will not do.
I have had enough of the kind of stuff I gets from the likes of you.
And was he peeved when he received a longish time in clink.
In a fit of pique she married the Greek and now she's dressed in mink. CHORUS.

There might even be other verses as well, but this is the way I always sung it. Hope you can help.
[e-mail]

HTML line breaks added, and a few spelling corrections. --JoeClone, 8-Jan-02.

Subject: RE: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Llanfair
Date: 11 Jul 99 - 02:37 PM

I used to hear this one regularly in my youth, perhaps if you post the bits you remember, I might remember some other bits. Bron.

Subject: Still looking for Ballad of Bethnal Green
From: Folkbloke
Date: 11 Jul 99 - 12:39 PM

I am still looking for words to the Ballad of Bethnal Green by Paddy Roberts. I have some words, and used to perform the song myself some years ago while working as a folksinger, but time and inactivity have dulled the memory banks. Anyone please help.