Lyr Req: It's Roll on My Time, Boys (Shep Woolley)

Subject: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: GUEST,Shanty Kees
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 05:59 PM

I like to have the words for "Roll on me time" by Shep Woolley. Is there anybody who can help? Thanks!!

Kees

Subject: Lyr Add: IT'S ROLL ON MY TIME (Shep Woolley)
From: Peace
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 09:31 PM

This is all I could find. Don't know if it's what you want. Please note that on a Shep W site the song is called "It’s Roll on My Time, Boys".
The following is from
www.hms-danae.co.uk/Shanties/roll_on_my_time.htm

IT’S ROLL ON MY TIME, BOYS

CHORUS: So roll on my time, boys, roll on my time.
This is my last trip on the Grey Funnel Line.
Then I'll say farewell to the wind and the brine,
And sing you a song called Roll on my Time.

Well, first we have the Stokers. they work down below.
They give us fresh water and make the ship go.
Now, the ship’s broken down, boys. Well, isn't that fine?
In the hot water tap, there's diesel. in the cold one, brown slime. CHORUS

And next come the Tiffies. a bright branch are these.
If you want to be one, you'll need G.C.E.'s
Now to get G.C.E.'s, boys, you'll need a head.
It's amazing how much work can be done from a bed. CHORUS

And down there in Vernon, the bells they did ring.
They do demolitions and listen for pings.
But the Sonar boys, too, now are wearing a frown,
For what can they ping now the 'Criterion’s' down. CHORUS

And then come the RP's with hands on their hips,
With Chinagraph pencils and puckered-up lips.
Well, they'll get us there, boys, whatever the cost.
Oh, where are we, pilot? We’re f***ing well lost. CHORUS

And last comes the G.I. so tall and so proud.
His voice never made sense, but God! it was loud.
Well, the poor old G.I. is all dead and gone.
They gave him his brains back and christened him 'POM'. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: Peace
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 10:28 AM

Refresh.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: GUEST,Shanty Kees
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 11:12 AM

Thank you very much Peace, this is a great help. As English is not my native tongue I couldn't understand all the words from the CD. I'm sure that now, with these lyrics, I can complete the lyrics.

Kees

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: Peace
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 11:20 AM

Great, Kees. And welcome to Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: Peace
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 11:32 AM

BTW, if you ever need help with the 'translation' of vernacular or slang in songs, be sure to ask. Folks here are very helpful.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: GUEST,Guest - Chalkie
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 04:13 PM

Hi' Kees,

I told you you would love that song! No doubt you will have it ready for Whitby.

All the best

Alan

Subject: Lyr Add: ROLL ON ME TIME (from Shep Woolley)
From: MuddleC
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 12:27 AM

>>A couple of corrections from an ex-Petty Officer Radio Electrical Artificer (Air)....... a Tiffy
^^
ROLL ON ME TIME

                     
:Chorus:-

And it's roll on me time boys, roll on me time
This is my last trip on the Grey funnel line
So I'll say farewell to, the wind and the brine
And sing you a song called 'Roll on me Time'



Well first we've got 'Stokers', what work down below
They give us fresh water and they make the ship go
Well the ship's broken down boys, don't that sound fine
But in the hot tap there's diesel, in the cold one brown slime

Chorus

And next we got Tiffy's, a cool bunch are these
If you want to be one, then you'll need G.C.E.'s
but to get G.C.E.'s boys, you'll need a brain in your head
It's amazing how much work they can do from a bed

Chorus

And down there in Vernon they heard the bell ring
They do demolitions and they listen for pings
But the Sonarmen too boys, now are wearing a frown
For what can they ping now the 'Criterion's' down

Chorus

And next we've got RP's with hands on their hips
With chinagraph pencils and puckered up lips
Well they'll get us there boys, what ever the cost
Well where are we pilot?, we're bloody well lost

Chorus

And there stands the G.I., so tall and so proud
His voice never made sense but God, was it loud
Well now the old G.I. is all dead and gone
They've give him his brains back and christened him 'POM'.

Chorus

Well me time it has rolled now, all the times that I had
Sometimes they've been happy, sometimes they've been bad
But I'll say farewell now and drink your health with me wine
and hope that'll you'll join me in 'Roll on me time'

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: Escapee
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 01:27 AM

Don't feel too bad ,Kees. English is my native tongue and it doesn't make complete sense to me. for instance, what do "tiffeys" "GCE's" "down there in Vernon" ,"the Criterion" "RP", "GI", "POM" and "Roll on me time" mean?
MuddleC, maybe you can help me out. My son is a Petty Officer in the US Navy and he rattles out acronyms and technical slang 'till I wonder if we're speaking the same language. But if he's patient, he can make me understand.
Thanks,
SKP

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: GUEST,Phot at work
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 05:11 AM

I've been meaning to learn that song for ages! I should have been out after my 22 this November........................But like a mug I signed on for another five! Roll on me time boys...........

Wassail! Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: GUEST,Phot at work
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 05:21 AM

Escapee, Here's a quick translation from "Jackspeak" to English!

Tiffy...Artificer, engineer.
GCE.....General Certificate of Education(School exams)
Vernon(HMS Vernon)....RN sonar school, and demolition school.
RP......Radar Plotter
GI......Gunnery Instructor(And Drill instructor)
POM.....Petty Officer Missileman(See above!)
Roll on me time..... looking foward to the day you leave the Royal Navy!!

Wassail!! Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: Escapee
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 12:16 PM

Thanks, Chris.
Fair winds to you.
SKP

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: pdq
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 12:56 PM

For purposes of disabiguation, Shep Woolley is British and often sings raunchy military songs. Sheb Wooley was a singer/songwriter/actor from Oklahoma who died a couple of years ago. Sheb Wooley was a star in the TV show "Rawhide" with Clint Eastwood and had a huge novelty record hit with "Flying Purple People Eaters".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: Teribus
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 08:01 AM

"Ram It I'm RDP" also by Shep, much funnier song

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time - Shep Woolley
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 08:19 AM

Shep Woollley is alive and kicking down in the Solent.He is booked in our folk club soon.


Scooby

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time (Shep Woolley)
From: GUEST,Shanty Kees
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 04:20 AM

Thanks Chris for explaining the song. Now there is just one part of a line left I don't understand. "now the 'Criterion's' down". Can you or someone else explain this?

Thanks,

Kees

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time (Shep Woolley)
From: Phot
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 04:42 PM

I don't know what that is, but give me a day or two, and I'll find out!

Wassail!! Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time (Shep Woolley)
From: Teribus
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 01:47 PM

"now the 'Criterion's' down"

"The Criterion" was a pub in Portsmouth, same sort of vein as "The Yorkshire Gray", the "Albany", the "Surrey" - All notorious and desperate boozers, but the stories that came about because of them and the characters they served would easily fill a book.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time (Shep Woolley)
From: bubblyrat
Date: 29 Apr 08 - 12:42 PM

I used to go in there !! ( and The Keppels Head ,of course, ---when I worked in No. 4 boathouse ! ).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time (Shep Woolley)
From: GUEST,shep woolley
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 07:11 AM

I suppose these things come better form the horses mouth so to speak.
Shep Woolley has written, does write songs and stories of the 20th century Royal Navy.
He is probably not as famous in the folk world as Cyril Tawney or Tom lewis, because initially his songs were aimed - at RN sailors and RN life - more than some 'civvy' idea of what the navy is about.
There aren't many - rolling tideways,setting suns or yo ho ho's - but there are tales of being - not happy with the situation on board ship 'Tiffys getting more free time - hence working from a bed'
Radar plotters (RP's) who spend their time on watch in an air conditioned operations room - away from the wind and rain and yet still manage to get the ship lost.
The criterion was a pub in Commercial road in Portsmouth - frequented by prostitutes (of both sexes) tranvestites, Rough tough women who would often fight eachother and the sailors - The reference in the Vernon verse of Roll on me time to 'Heard the bell ring' - means its had its time - the bell has rung - it had been listed to be closed
down -
Nothing to 'ping' The explanation - Pinging in naval official terms
refers to the sonar return contact which makes a 'ping sound'
but Pinging in this song has a double meaning - for when a sailor is ashore -if he pings someone or something he 'homes in' be it a fanciful female, or an item in a shop window -
The Criterion being famous for its clientelle as explained above - Sailors with little or no money on a night out (run ashore) would spend time in the bar allowing the old gays & rough old gals to chat em up and buy them drinks - in the hopes of 'fun later'   
when closing time came, the sailors went to the toilet (heads) and left by the back door /rear entrance ( not too good a choice of words)
and returned onboard or to another club, the chatter upper would be left waiting in the bar for their return and be dissapointed - (they had been pinged)
sailors liked to be reminded of such antics - hence the popularity - but a song is what you make it or you read into it - so the secret is Sing it... but don't dig too deep into what its about if you are easily offended.
sw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time (Shep Woolley)
From: Rasener
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 07:27 AM

Hi Shep
How did it go in Brum?
Les Worrall

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time (Shep Woolley)
From: GUEST,davo
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 10:51 PM

Anybody out there know the cords to this great song ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time (Shep Woolley)
From: bubblyrat
Date: 01 Aug 09 - 01:51 PM

Reminds me of one of "The Spinners" who had ROMFT on his guitar ( Roll On My Fucking Time (or Twelve)).....My musical mandolin-playing oppo Ned Starkey ( Sonar Compartment, HMS Eagle,1966-69) had it emblazoned on a builder's Safety Helmet that he was fond of wearing on "Banyans" at,for example ,Pulau Tioman, Malaysia. It would be lost on British sailors today--they only have to "sign on" for a few months, not like the minimum NINE YEARS (over the age of 18) I had to sign on for !! But it was worth it ,for me,although I wish I had signed on for 22 years----my pension would be much bigger !!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll On Me Time (Shep Woolley)
From: bubblyrat
Date: 01 Aug 09 - 01:57 PM

Cords ??---I could pull some strings,I suppose ! (sorry).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It's Roll on My Time, Boys (Shep Woolley)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 06:48 AM

As an 85 year old WW2 RP.one of the first, and it took more guts than most other cruising stations on a big ship,Climb an 80 foot steel rung ladder on HMS Renown Battle Cruiser( no Puffy harness's like they have today, if you fell they wrote out a chit for a replacement matelot,we had to rotate the Radar dishs by hand 360 to a stop, then back again.Try it in the north atlantic in a hurricane,If you fell over board there were two armed Royal marines
stationed on the port & Starboard Quarter deck exit hatchs , with orders to SHOOT any one who fell over board,Of course the Admiralliy would not confirm this,,, but there may still be some leather necks alive to back up my statement.you canread more when my book come out.I wss a Ganges Boy with 12 weeks training then 8weeks Radar or should I say RDF as it was known then.and i did not have a pink hand bag,it was black Victor Humphries DJX406514enown

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It's Roll on My Time, Boys (Shep Woolley)
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 19 Feb 11 - 12:48 AM

Reminds me when I was in the mob (RN) for 12 years good times and bad took the rough with the smooth.
All gone now

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: It's Roll on My Time, Boys (Shep Woolley)
From: GUEST,An old three badge killick
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 09:53 AM

Rammit mate I'm r d p ,,, romft.