Lyr Req: My Wee Gas Mask (John J. Kerr)

Subject: Lyr Req: In my wee gas mask
From: guitar
Date: 17 Jun 07 - 03:42 AM

Hello My name is Tom,

I'm looking for the words to a song by Dave Willis a Scottish muisc hall entertainer, and his song called 'in my wee gas mask (ARP)'

I would be really grateful if any one could help.

thanks
tom

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In my wee gas mask
From: Jim McLean
Date: 17 Jun 07 - 05:28 AM

I remember this song well. Dave Willis's catch phrase was 'Way, way up a kye' (Kye meaning sky)

In my wee gas mask, I'm working out a plan
Tho' all the kids imagine that I'm just a bogey man
The girls all smile and bring their friends to see
The nicest lookin' warden in the A.R.P.

Whenever there's a raid on, listen to my cry
An airy-plane, an airy-plane away-way up-a-kye
Then I run helter-skelter but don't run after me
You'll no get in my shelter for it's far too wee.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In my wee gas mask
From: guitar
Date: 17 Jun 07 - 06:08 AM

thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In my wee gas mask
From: GUEST,George Delaney
Date: 20 Jun 07 - 12:44 PM

Was looking for these lyrics myself for my wifes party piece and these are the words she already knows. Apparently Jonnie beattie has an album out entitled " A tribute to the comedy greats", or something similar, and it contains more lyrics than that. If I get a copy i'll post them to this thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In my wee gas mask
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 06:47 PM

The British Library Sound Archive says the title is MY WEE GAS MASK and it was written by John J. Kerr. They have a recording by Johnny Beattie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In my wee gas mask
From: GUEST,David Rae
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 05:46 PM

I thought line two was:
"Tho' all the - lads an' lassies think - I'm just a bogey man"
Apart from that I'm sure Jim McLean has it right. Dave Willis definitely made a record of 'In My Wee Gas Mask', because I can remember playing it on a wind-up gramophone! Surely a copy must have survived somewhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In my wee gas mask
From: Jim McLean
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 05:30 AM

David Rae, I have just done some 'Googling' and your line comes up as well as mine. I think I prefer your line as mine was from memory ... 60 years ago?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Wee Gas Mask (John J. Kerr)
From: GUEST,Dave's great neice
Date: 16 Nov 12 - 04:43 PM

I remember grandad playing uncle Dave's record. (He was "The Great Claud) ". It's well remembered in the family. I have the sheet music somewhere ( but I cant find it to double check) and we've always sung " and all the kids imagine that I'm just a bogey man"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Wee Gas Mask (John J. Kerr)
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 16 Nov 12 - 06:53 PM

As far as I remember, the tune was "Castles in the Air" (Wee Wullie Winkie).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Wee Gas Mask (John J. Kerr)
From: GUEST,Eileen Buckley-Knowles
Date: 06 May 13 - 02:01 AM

Learned while a schoolkid at Gretna School during WW

Wi' ma wee gas mask
Ah'm workin' oot a plan
And a' the folks imagine that
ah'm just a bogey man
The girls all smile
and bring their friends tae see
The finest lookin' warden in the ARP

Whenever there's a raid on,
You can hear ma cry
"An airyplane, an airyplane
A way way up a-kye
Ye can a' rin helter-skelter
But dinna rin after me;
Ye'll nae get in ma shelter
Cos it's far too wee.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Wee Gas Mask (John J. Kerr)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 May 13 - 02:39 AM

Way up a kye, became a family saying, due to this wee song. A relic of my childhood, fondly remembered. Thanks for reminding me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Wee Gas Mask (John J. Kerr)
From: GUEST,Jimmy Cunningham
Date: 28 Jan 14 - 11:11 AM

Jim Mcleans words are exactly the words my uncle sang to me and I now sing to my grandaughter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Wee Gas Mask (John J. Kerr)
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 07:44 PM

My great untie used to sing this to me...

In ma wee gas mask,
Im working oot a plan
When aw the weans imagine that im just a boogey man
The girls all smile
And bring their friends to see
The nicest looking warden in the ARP

Whenever theres a raid on
You can hear me cry
"An aeroplane, an aeroplane a way way up a kye"
Ye can a rin helter skelter
But dont rin after me
You'll no get in my shelter cause it far wee

Twas on the 1st of April
Theres a black oot in the park
You couldnae see the blackoot
Cause the night was far too dark
A woman cried protect me sir

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Wee Gas Mask (John J. Kerr)
From: GUEST,Natalie
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 07:51 PM

From above Cont......"For I will save your life"
Imagine the shocker I had got
When I found it was me wife

In ma wee gas mask.......

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Wee Gas Mask (John J. Kerr)
From: GUEST,Janie Amler
Date: 03 May 14 - 03:21 PM

My Dad studied medicine in Glasgow, Scotland and came home with the song before he himself went to war, as a US Captain. Years later, he was in the audience of the Tonight Show and they asked if anyone in the audience could sing a song that no one else knew. Dad got up on stage, sang My Wee Gas Mask, and won the prize. No one in the studio that night knew the song. He had taught it to me when I was very a very little baby boomer. I had forgotten the words. Thanks so much for writing them down. The Scottish version is the one he sang.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Wee Gas Mask (John J. Kerr)
From: GUEST,Annette Rae
Date: 15 Aug 20 - 01:22 AM

My mum used to sing this to me when I was a child 70 years ago. She was a Glaswegian who survived the ferocious bombing there in WWW2. Thankyou for bringing back a lovely childhood memory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Wee Gas Mask (John J. Kerr)
From: GUEST,Jack Foley
Date: 11 Nov 23 - 03:46 PM

You can hear Dave singing the whole song, plus his usual monologue in the middle, at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye7AoPEWv70

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Wee Gas Mask (John J. Kerr)
From: GUEST,Jack Foley
Date: 11 Nov 23 - 03:46 PM

You can hear Dave singing the whole song, plus his usual monologue in the middle, at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye7AoPEWv70