Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 26 Jan 18 - 03:47 PM

There's a mention up thread of "The Mountjoy Hotel". I have that in my repertoire, from the singing of Dominic Behan, who I suspect wrote it. It has a few words in common.

Subject: Lyr Add: BARLINNIE HOTEL
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Jan 18 - 01:38 PM

From Blood on the Streets: A-Z of Glasgow Crime by Robert Jeffrey (Edinburgh: Black & White Publishing, 2009), page 17:

"While researching the life of Walter Norval for a biography Glasgow's Godfather (Edinburgh: Black & White Publishing, 2003), of this infamous gangster, the old villain surprised me by giving me a rendition of a song called 'The Barlinnie Hotel'. Walter Norval does not know who wrote it or when, but the words are as clear in his head as when he first heard them many years ago."

BARLINNIE HOTEL

In Glasgow's fair city there's flashy hotels.
They give board and lodgings to all the big swells;
But the greatest of all now is still in full swing:
Five beautiful mansions controlled by the king.

There's bars on the window and bells on the door,
Dirty big guard beds attached to the floor.
I know 'cause I've been there, and sure I can tell:
There's no place on earth like Barlinnie Hotel.

I was driven from the sheriff and driven by bus,
Drove through the streets with a terrible fuss,
Drove through the streets like a gangster at state,
And they never slowed up till they got to the gate.

As we entered reception they asked me my name,
And asked my address and the reason I came.
As I answered these questions, a screw rang the bell.
It was time for my bath in Barlinnie Hotel.

After my bath, I was dressed like a doll.
The screw said: "Quick march, right into E-Hall."
As I entered my flowery*, I looked round in vain,
To think that three years here I had to remain.

For breakfast next morning I asked for an egg.
The screw must have thought I was pulling his leg;
For when I recovered, he let out a yell:
"Jailbirds don't lay eggs in the Barlinnie Hotel."

The day came for me when I had to depart.
I was sick as a dog, with joy in my heart;
For the comfort was good and the service was swell,
But I'll never return to Barlinnie Hotel.

[* flowery dell = cell]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 26 Jan 18 - 03:09 AM

Mike Hardings version is called ' The Strangeways Motel '

Dave H

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 18 - 12:44 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 09:34 PM

It appears that the lyrics to THE SAUGHTON HOTEL—the one that begins "In Embro's fair city there's flashy hotels"—are in The Singing Street by James T. R. Ritchie (Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1964), page 100.

However, the book is classified as "snippet only" by Google Books, so I can't see the whole song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 05:33 PM

The "Bonny Dundee" tune not used for this song is the one in the Skene MS. I'd guess leeneia found the Dauney edition.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 05:29 PM

Eh?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 01:04 PM

Hi, Jack. It's been a year, but thanks for the explanation about the Skene Manuscript. I found it on Google Books.

My early-music gang is going to love the idea of 17th-century "Scotish musik."

Subject: Lyr Add: SAUGHTON HOTEL
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 06:05 AM

Copied from another forum:


(To the tune of "Toor a loor a lie oor a lie oor a lie lay")

Tam wuz lifted blind drunk frae thi High Street yin nicht
An afore he wuz jiled he pit up a guid fecht
The auld ballie said, "Ye can gang fur a spell
Tae six month hard labour in thi Saughton Hotel".

Tam went in a taxi, he drove there in state
And a warder cam oot and he opened thi gate.
The gate clashed ahint Tam jist like thon in Hell,
An he kent he wuz intae thi Saughton Hotel.

At six in the mornin Tam gangs tae brak stane.
By hauf past eleeven hes back's racked wi pain,
But he disna daur stop; gin he duz ther's a yell
An he's awa tae thi cooler in thi Saughton Hotel.

Thi warder comes roon in thi middle o nicht.
He smoothes doon Tam's pillae, he pits oot thi licht.
He asks hoo he's keepin an then leaves hes cell -
Och, they're awfae nice warders in thi Saughton Hotel!

But then thi day comes when Tam gangs frae the jile.
They'll tak him doonstairs and hang hem frae a nail.
There's a bonny wee place doon in Colinton Dell,
Whaur they bury the guests frae the Saughton Hotel.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 11:04 AM

About quarter of a century ago, I heard something similar in Ireland, only there it was "The Mountjoy Hotel". There's another thread currently running on Mudcat about a "sense of place" in trad songs...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: GUEST,grannyelbow
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 04:44 AM

Now that my nephew is a guest there we can sing it to him.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: Jim McLean
Date: 14 Nov 09 - 11:18 AM

There's bars on the windows, there's bars on the doors
And even the tables are nailed tae the floors

Thes lines also appear in the Big Mansion Hoose ca'ed Barlinnie Hotel (or variants thereof).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: Jack Campin
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 06:02 PM

There's a bonnie wee grave-yard in Colinton Dell
Where they bury the guests frae the Saughton Hotel

They do? I must have a look for that. Can't think where it is.

BTW, there is a reason why I named the tune "The Lords of Convention". "Bonny Dundee" was a different tune, documented as far back as the Skene Manuscript of 1625. Scott intended his song to go to it, and the present tune was only adopted after his death. Meanwhile, the original "Bonny Dundee" tune continued a life of its own. Look at my website for the details.

Subject: Lyr Add: SAUGHTON HOTEL
From:
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 03:53 PM

With additions and variations.Sent to me by my sister who got it from god knows where.

SAUGHTON HOTEL

I was lifted blind drunk in the High Street one night
And when I awoke there I got such a fright
The judge said tae me ye can gang for a spell
O' six month's hard labour in Saughton Hotel

    Toor-a-loo toor-a-lee
    Hoo wid ye, how wid ye like tae be me

We got in a carriage and drove there in state
We never stopped once till we got to the gate
The warder got oot and he pulled the big bell
And I duly entered the Saughton Hotel

The first thing you do is to change a yer claes
In a wee private box far frae a' public gaze
In they knicker bockers you look such a swell
For that's how they dress ye in Saughton Hotel

For breakfast next morning I ordered an egg
The warden he thought I was pullin his leg
When he got his breath back, he said wi a yell
The jail-birds don't lay eggs in Saughton Hotel

He comes up each evening tae bid ye guid night
And when tuckin ye in, he pits oot the light
He squeezes yer pillow and says tae sleep well
Aye, they're awfy nice wardens in Saughton Hotel

The doctors they have there are a' of a grade
The last one they had was a plumber tae trade
There's a bonnie wee grave-yard in Colinton Dell
Where they bury the guests frae the Saughton Hotel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 08:38 PM

Tune - The Lords Of Convention maybe better known as Bonnie Dundee.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SAUGHTON HOTEL
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 03:33 PM

Copied from Jack Campin's web site. He says the tune is THE LORDS OF CONVENTION; he also has the tune as a midi file or ABC notation.


THE SAUGHTON HOTEL

In Embro's fair city there's flashy hotels
Wi' good board and lodgings for a' you big swells;
But the greatest of these is now in full swing -
Five beautiful buildings controlled by the King.

CHORUS: There's bars on the windies, there's bars on the doors,
And great wooden benches attached to the floors;
Sure I ought to know, 'cause I've been there mysel' -
For ten years hard labour in Saughton Hotel.

I came through by train and an escort by bus
I drove through the streets with the greatest of fuss;
I drove through the streets like a Lord Mayor in state
And never got oot till I stopped at the gate.

And at the reception they asked me my name
My age and my address, the reason I came;
I answered these questions, a screw rang the bell
For me to bath at Saughton Hotel.

One Sunday morning I ordered an egg
The jailer thought I was pulling his leg
He up on a table and he gave a great yell -
"Jail birds don't lay eggs in Saughton Hotel."

Subject: Lyr Req: Saughton Hotel
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Aug 05 - 06:35 PM

Ladies & Gentlemen,

    Almost fifty years ago I heard a song about a man sent to Edinburgh's Saughton Jail.

    He had many episodes and one of them was that he asked for an egg for his breakfast and was told that "Jailbirds don't lay eggs at Saughton Hotel."

    I think that the tune was similar to the tune for "When I was single I had a fine shawl." Can anyone help me with some lyrics please.

Thank You.

      Hari