Origins: Devil in York

Subject: Origins: Devil in York
From: GUEST,Malcolm Speake
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 11:03 AM

I've often wondered who wrote this song and what inspired it, apart from the obvious, looking at the DT forum suggests it was written by Tim Brooks of Herga but that is all the information I could find. The lyrics follow:
^^^
Devil in York

The North Wind blew across Wheeldale Moor
All on a winter's day
And he met with the Devil who was there before
So the folks all say

Well there they met and there they talked
All on a winter's day
Said the Devil let's away to the City of York
So the folks all say

We'll travel the streets and the houses through
All on a winter's day
To frighten the people and the clergymen too
So the folks all say

So the Wind and the Devil that set off at speed
All on a winter's day
Never thought to the outcome of their wicked deed
So the folks all say

O'er forest and field they travelled so far
All on a winter's day
Till they blew through the gates at Micklegate Bar
So the folks all say

Then all of a sudden the Devil stopped short
All on a winter's day
And he cried what's this that the people have wrought
So the folks all say

It's a church said the wind with a great west door
All on a winter's day
And it's called the York Minster of that I'm sure
So the folks all say

Well a curse on you church the Devil he cried
All on a winter's day
Are you coming with me for I'm going inside
So the folks all say

Not I said the Wind for I carry no doubt
All on a winter's day
That if I went in there I'd never get out
So the folks all say

The Devil he laughed and the Devil he scorned
All on a winter's day
Saying you wait here I'll be back before dawn
So the folks all say

So the Wind he stayed and that door blew about
All on a winter's day
Day after day Devil never came out
So the folks all say

Now if you stand by that great west door
All on a winter's day
You'll not tarry long of that I'm sure
So the folks all say

For around that door a Great Wind blows about
All on a winter's day
As he waits for the Devil who never came out
So the folks all say

Subject: RE: Origins: Devil in York
From: RogerTCB
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 11:29 AM

Yes, I can confirm that Tim did write it. I'll try to alert him that someone's asking after it...

Subject: RE: Origins: Devil in York
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 03:45 PM

Hi Malcolm - yes, it was Tim Brooks wot wrote it about 3 decades ago, and Johnny Collins recorded it on Free and Easy. Tim went to school in York (Archbishop Holgates) - his father ran Mulberry Hall, close to the Minster, after leaving the army.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Origins: Devil in York
From: stallion
Date: 26 Jul 07 - 01:06 PM

Oh and it is windy by the West door

Subject: RE: Origins: Devil in York
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 26 Jul 07 - 01:44 PM

The story seems to have been told of various churches (Lincoln for one) and here's a reference to a similar story in Rome: THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. VOL. XVII. No. 472.] SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1831 - search for ambassador or Gesu to get to the correct paragraph.

Mick

(Tim is mostly seen playing for Haddenham Hoofers these days, but did come to Herga when I was a guest there recently and was also there for Ron Barnett's wake).

Subject: RE: Origins: Devil in York
From: GUEST,Tim Brooks
Date: 26 Jul 07 - 03:30 PM

I cannot tell a lie, twas I!

My mum worked for a while in the Minster book shop, and heard this story from a Nun.

She in turn told the tale to me and I thought "That'd make a good song!"

and so it did - greatly helped by Johnny Collins!

Shameless plug: more of my songs can be found at http://oldtimetim.com/songs.htm

OTT

Subject: RE: Origins: Devil in York
From: Flash Company
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 09:49 AM

The Devil is still in York too, sitting half way up a wall on a street corner not far from the Minster.

FC

Subject: RE: Origins: Devil in York
From: Lucius
Date: 03 Aug 07 - 04:05 PM

Hey Tim Brooks, if you're following this thread, be so kind as to tell me if has anyone ever recorded "So Far From Home"?