Narrowboat songs

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST,Liz
Date: 16 May 00 - 11:30 AM

As a narrow boater and folk singer/musician I have enjoyed reading this discussion. It reminds me that I have been trying to prise the words for Willow Wren Bride out of Dave Blaygrove for some time now without success. Can anyone else remember the words?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: radriano
Date: 15 May 00 - 06:50 PM

I just learned a canal boat song that's a pretty good one. Here are the lyrics:
Click here.
If you want the music to this, I can send you a GIF of it. You can reach me at [e-mail]

Regards,
radriano

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 15 May 00 - 05:54 PM

Did I mention that, since giving up social work, I now do casual narrow boat driving instead?
No contest!!! Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Stewie
Date: 15 May 00 - 09:49 AM

I've got the 'Bold Navigators' also but, if my copy ever had a lyric sheet, it doesn't have one now. There is a note on the cover, though, that all the songs, together with their sources and a full bibliography can be found in a book 'Canal Songs' by Jon Raven, obtainable from 68 Limes Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. That's a 1975 address so it would be very lucky if it's still applicable.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 15 May 00 - 09:02 AM

On the towpath, of course.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 15 May 00 - 08:55 AM

Hmm....still dealing with a mental picture of steering a 75-footer around the horn, and where would the horse walk?

Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 15 May 00 - 08:17 AM

What about 'Who's the fool now?'!

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 15 May 00 - 05:38 AM

Around the 'Horn', by narrowboat???

There should be a song there, all right?

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHN KANAKA-NAKA^^^
From: AndyG
Date: 15 May 00 - 05:09 AM

Hi,
I don't see a narrowboat connection, but here y'go:

JOHN KANAKA-NAKA

I heard, I heard the Old Man say,

John kanaka-naka too-ri-ay.

Today, today's an holiday,

John kanaka-naka too-ri-ay.

Too-ri-ay, O - oh, too-ri-ay,

John kanaka-naka too-ri-ay.

We'll work tomorrer but not today,
We'll work tomorrer but not today,

We're bound away for Friso Bay,
We're bound away at the break of day,

We're bound away around Cape Horn,
We wished to God we'd never been born,

AndyG

Subject: Lyrics to John Kananka
From:
Date: 14 May 00 - 06:17 PM

Can anyone help me with lyrics to 'John Kanaka'. I recently took my kids aboard the 'Peking' at the South street seaport in New York City. During a sail raising activity they sang along to this song. They loved it and have been singing bits of it they remember ever since. Unfortunatley theyre forgeting it as time goes on. Anyone who can help?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 19 Aug 99 - 06:25 AM

Astonishingly, the "Bold Navigators" recording mentioned in this thread is available in the US from CAMSCO via the Mudcat, though I've not found it available in the UK!Nothing else by the Ravens though, nor "Straight from the Tunnel's Mouth."

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 03:35 AM

I think they can do you for being drunk in charge. There was a cartoon by Rowland Emett (who designed all the funny machines in the film Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang) in the 30s or 40s of a gang of burglars, with masks, flat caps, hooped jerseys and bags marked "swag" fleeing along a winding contour canal in a horse-drawn narrow boat from a horse-drawn police narrow boat at a rattling four mph - it could only happen in England!

Steve

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 02:56 PM

Do the drinking and driving laws apply to narrowboats?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 07:45 AM

Sorry to hear it was such a disappointment. Still, every cloud has a silver lining, and in this case it has to be all the interesting stuff that has come up in this thread.

Hope they all had Monster Hangovers.....

Kris

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 07:37 AM

Before they relaxed the licensing laws, Bron, it used to be that case that a bar on a moving boat (or train, or whatever) could stay open all day. People with long memories might have some kind of strange association with this, feeling obliged to drink themselves silly. I don't need an excuse, but I'm still polite after a few jars.

Steve

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 27 Jun 99 - 04:58 PM

No, I didn't see that. The good news, however is that the owner found out that I can drive narrowboats, and may be offering some work. I've just started part time in my "day job", so I can think of nothing better. Stressed out social worker 2.5 days a week, canals at 4mph the rest. Brilliant! Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 27 Jun 99 - 01:55 PM

Just one of those days I'm afraid, but they do serve to make us appreciate the better ones.... Next time it will be better, if there is going to be a next time?

Did you see that the BBCs 'Songs Of Praise' came from Braunston today (Sunday)?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 27 Jun 99 - 12:58 PM

I have just completed the Waterways Weekend. The two afternoons making music on the wharf were great. People came and went, and were very appreciative. The evening boat ride yesterday promised to be really good. We'd got a good song list together. The meal for the "punters" was ready. They had specifically asked for live music and were paying well. The weather was breaking, but a thunderstorm on the canal is a great experience, without being threatening. The group came on board from their coach, and proceeded to drink as much as they could in the shortest possible time. Once they had listened (sort of) to a few of our numbers, and ascertained that we could not (would not) do any Abba or dire straits,they set to and sang whatever came into their heads very loudly for the two hour duration of the trip. The ladies circulated amongst the men, until they needed to throw up out of the window. The waitresses were sexually harrassed to the point of tears. Outside, the tranquility of the canal was enhanced by the storm, but we could neither see nor hear it. We had to put our stuff away for fear a fight would break out. I could not believe that people still behave this way in the name of having a good time. They were by no means teenagers, and one chap told us that, basically, they didn't give a F***. One man spent half an hour telling me about his collie that died aged 18, and how he had had to have the day off work to bury her. Sorry to inflict this on you, but I'm sure others have had to suffer pond life like this, and how do you stop feeling bad about it? I know it wasn't our fault, but what kind of people book a meal on a narrowboat, with live music, with the sole intention of getting legless? Thanks for listening, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 24 Jun 99 - 08:44 PM

Re the 'Tom Pudding' and Chris Sherburn's dad. I spoke to Chris recently (in the gent's, actually) and he said that he started to play the concertina on board his dad's boat, towing the 'Tom Puddings'.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 23 Jun 99 - 03:52 AM

Oi Bron, pwy sy'n cariad yma?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 22 Jun 99 - 06:58 PM

I'm doing the gig this weekend, and I am really looking forward to it.. Thank you everyone for the information and songs. I'll let you know how it went next week. Cariad, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: rickter
Date: 03 Jun 99 - 05:09 PM

AndyG: I have been a fan of narrowboats since I took my first paddle down the Grand Union in a canoe some 10 years ago. I do have RealAudio capability and would appreciate whatever you could send over the wires, quality notwithstanding. My address is [e-mail].

Hopefully, rickter

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Penny S.
Date: 28 May 99 - 05:24 AM

How narrow were they on the Stroudwater Canal? That was a very narrow strip of water, hard to imagine how the water got round the craft.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 28 May 99 - 03:51 AM

Not quite that narrow, Don! 6'10" was usually the limit: gets you through the 7'00" bridge 'oles and locks - just!

Have a look at this blue clicky thing - the "Venice of the Midlands", but without the strong pong!

Steve

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Don Meixner
Date: 27 May 99 - 09:37 PM

LLANFAIR

For a beautifully written description of English canal boating in the days of its prime, early 1800's, read C.S. Forester's Honrnblower and The Atropos. At least the first chapter altho' I'll reccomend the entire book. The boat described may not strictly be a narrow boat but at 70' with a 5' beam you must admit that its a very narrow craft.

Don

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Penny S.
Date: 27 May 99 - 04:51 PM

Ouch! What puzzles me is that I am sure someone else mentioned Slough Comprehensive before I did.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 May 99 - 03:18 PM

Has everyone missed the old "I'm sorry I'll read that again" gag?

.....An arrow whistled past my ear.

(whistled tune of the Eton boating song)

Voiceover: No, you fool, Arrow, not Eton....

(English public school joke)

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 26 May 99 - 07:28 PM

Ian - I'm thrilled to hear you've got 'The Bold Navigators'. Why not put the notes and lyrics in this thread? I'd be interested in seeing them as well as Llanfair. Or perhaps, if you don't want that, would you please mail them to me at [e-mail]? Thanks a lot, Susanne

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 26 May 99 - 08:09 AM

Andy G, don't go to too much trouble: as I log on from work at lunch & break times I can't receive audio etc. The lyrics of the Dudley Tunnel eventually would be fine. My own tape to tape deck is out of order at the moment so I know what a pain it is. Roger.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 26 May 99 - 07:57 AM

The canal in "The Callibar" really did exist. It became disused between the wars (I think). There's an excellent book about it, the naem of which completely escapes me. There's also a Black Country version of the song; "Next time I go to the Patent Shaft [steelworks] I'll take the bloody tram".

Steve

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AndyG
Date: 26 May 99 - 07:56 AM

Hi Roger,

(Our SMTP server is currently broken so I can only respond here.)

There's a bit of a problem for me as I only have a single tape deck that I trust.
(Techie thing; all my sound equipment runs through my PC at the moment due to a long-term web project I'm working on.)
Can you cope with files in RealAudio format ?
If so it's probably easier for me to send the data on disk.
The tape itself is poor quality and so, sadly, is the performance :(
Come to think of it, I might be able to borrow the CD writer for the weekend.
NB I can't do any of the above before the weekend.
I'll Email you when I've checked out what's actually feasible with my current home setup.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 26 May 99 - 06:21 AM

AndyG.
Sounds great. If you could e-mail me your address to : [e-mail] and if I sent you a blank cassette tape do you think you could.....?
Roger (who spent 10 year of his childhood/adolescence very near what became Spaghetti Junction and many happy misspent hours in the Opposite Lock jazz club in Gas Street Basin)

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AndyG
Date: 26 May 99 - 06:16 AM

First pass through the tape last night, I'll try to do some transcriptions during the week. (no promises)

Waterways Lament
Song about the physical state of the canals, probably a '60's song though it could be anytime 1945 - 1965

Poor Old 'Orse
Well known song, though many think it's a blue water shanty

The 'Orrible Trip
A recitation about a trip to and through Brum. Mentions Spaghetti Junction so reasonably modern

Tommy Note
A complaint about payment by Tommy Note and thus the Tommy Store. (cf Company Store).

Boaty Boaty Spit in the Cut
As Mentioned above. A "rude" song. Not very PC I'm afraid.

Lass of Coventry
Romantic song IIRC

Single Bolinder
As I said earlier a comic song.

Girl on the Cut
Hard times song.

Winson Green Jail
Can't remember, I was distracted by a computer failure whilst I was listening, hohum.

Dudley Tunnel
does indeed have the chorus "Push, boys, push." However it's about the closing of the Dudley Tunnel.

Hard Working Boater
Song in praise of the boatmen and their community.

Tom Beech's Last Trip
As I said above, but also about the community of the working boatmen.

Tipton Slasher
Song in praise of a recently deceased fighter. Broadside ballad type like the other songs of its ilk.

The Humber Belle

Didn't get to hear this one as I had to go to the Folk Club.

Any requests ?

AndyG

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AndyG
Date: 25 May 99 - 09:43 AM

Roger,
I plan to give the tape an airing over the next few days, so I might have the words at some point.
The only song I remember from the album is Tom Beech's Last Trip, which, as I recall, is about a barge that got iced in trying to make a winter trip. The boatman froze to death. Good song though.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 25 May 99 - 09:36 AM

AndyG,
those place names have resonance to an exiled Brummie like me.
I wonder if the "Dudley Tunnel" song is the one I remembered as "Push boys push" about "legging" through a tunnel?
Do you have the words?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AndyG
Date: 25 May 99 - 04:40 AM

Correction. The album was "Straight from the Tunnel's Mouth". I found a tape backup of it. Sorry, I didn't take a note of artist or label on the tape. However the track list is as follows;

Waterways Lament
Poor Old 'Orse
The 'Orrible Trip
Tommy Note
Boaty Boaty Spit in the Cut
Lass of Coventry
Single Bolinder
Girl on the Cut
Winson Green Jail
Dudley Tunnel
Hard Working Boater
Tom Beech's Last Trip
Tipton Slasher
The Humber Belle

AndyG

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Wotcha
Date: 24 May 99 - 10:02 PM

There's a nice slice of canal that runs from Tiverton through Samford Peverell in Central Devon ... very peaceful ... but no otters and no tunnels. I believe the industrial god Brunel devised some unique methods for getting the canals going in the West Country.

A few decades back, I recall that solo, Atlantic row-boatman, Shay Blyth was advocating for the canal system for some reason. I remember that fists solved the right-of-way if two barges should encounter each other in a tunnel ...

Meanwhie in the US, I believe that there are a number of titles celebrating canals. Two weekends ago, fellow (Liam's Brother who was that?) sang a barge song at the Pier in New York's Southstreet Seaport: although dressed in black he didn't sound like J. Cash ...

Cheers, Brian

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 24 May 99 - 07:26 PM

"Here's looking at you kido".

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 24 May 99 - 06:43 PM

I was talking about otters to our neighbour, who works for the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, he says that they are making a comeback, and that he,s seen evidence of them in the Banwy, just by here. I haven't seen one yet, but hope to soon. You'll have to let me know when you're in the area again, Roger, so we can perhaps chat in person. Other UK mudcatters, everyone goes through Welshpool at some time or another, like Sam's in Casablanca!!!!! Hwyl, as time goes by, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 24 May 99 - 09:06 AM

Bron, look out for otters on the Mongomery canal. We stayed near Welshpool at Easter and on the Bank Holiday Monday walked both ways up the towpath from Welshpool, saw hardly any people, very peaceful and watched an otter for several minutes.
Hwyl,
Roger

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Ian
Date: 24 May 99 - 08:22 AM

Whoops!

My e-mail is [e-mail]

Ian

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Ian
Date: 24 May 99 - 08:20 AM

Llanfair

The album Suzanne was referring to is "The Bold Navigators", John Kirkpatrick and John Raven, TRADITION TSR 019. I have a copy with sleeve notes and words which I'll scan for you if you e-mail me your e-mail.

Cheers!!! Ian

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AndyG
Date: 24 May 99 - 05:51 AM

I once had an album "Straight from the Cut", sadly no longer present which was of UK canal songs. Some are mentioned above, some not. Ring any bells for anyone ? One other song was "The Single Bolinder" a canal version of the Geordie song "The Deputy's Kist".

Penny, that was Eton, LLANFAIR asked for Narrow

AndyG

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 24 May 99 - 04:12 AM

On an earlier thread on Black Country songs I asked about a song I half-remembered, called "Push boys push" which I thought the Black Country Three used to do about propelling a barge thro' a tunnel in the W. Midlands by lying on the cabin and pushing with feet on the roof of the tunnel. Sadly no-one came up with words or tune. I'd be interested to hear if if emerges in your research.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 May 99 - 01:37 PM

Not THAT narrow!

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Penny S.
Date: 23 May 99 - 12:51 PM

Jolly
boating
weather,
And
a
hay
harvest
breeze,
Blade
on
the
feather,
Shade
off
the
trees;
Swing,
swing
together,
With
your
bodies
between
your
knees.

Sorry, couldn't resist it.

Penny

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MANCHESTER CANAL (Paul Graney)^^
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 May 99 - 10:46 AM

Here's another version of the Calibar, from a broadside by Paul Graney of Manchester.

THE MANCHESTER CANAL

O the S.S.Irwell left this port the stormy seas to cross
They heaved the lead & went ahead on a voyage to Barton Moss
No fair ship e'er left the slip from this port to Natal
Than the boats that plough the waters of the Manchester Canal

The third day out or thereabout a great storm swept the main
The captain called his officer, I just forgot his name
"You see that light there on the right? Aye, aye" he did exclaim
"Well it's the Wilson Brewery lightship at the end of Ancoats Lane"

The captai's brow was darkened for he saw a storm was brewing
And the engineer reported that the horse it wanted shoeing
"Is there a chart aboard this barque?" He asked of 1 or 2
The captain he was ashy pale & so was all the crew

"By gum, we've lost our reckoning, whatever shall we do
We must be near to Bailey Bridge on the banks of Pinmill Brew"
Then all became confusion as the stormy winds did roar
And the captain wished himself & crew were safe again on shore

"Let go the anchor boy" he cried "for I am soerly puzzled
The mate is drunk & in his bunk, see that the cook is muzzled
We're short of grub in this 'ere tub & we are far from land
There's not a oat in this 'ere boat & the engine's broken down"

"Close reef the sails" the bosun cried "we're in a great dilemma
Just row her to Pomona Bay she cannot stand the weather
She's sprung a leak now all si lost let each man do his best
For soon she'll be a total wreck on the shoals of Throstle's Nest"

But soon the storm abated it, was rather overrated
When the captain, crew & officers were quickly congreated
They searched the chart in every part, to find their situation
They were east, nor'east of Bailey Bridge, just south of Sallford Station.
^^

Barry

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 May 99 - 06:55 AM

It is a small world.

When I mentioned the 'Tom Puddings'I had no idea of the link between them and the Sherburn's and I played with Chris and Denny in a number of sessions this past Easter. I shall be seeing Chris again in June and will ask him all about his dad's 'Tom Puddings'.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CRUISE OF THE CALABAR (from Tawny)^^
From: alison
Date: 23 May 99 - 12:51 AM

There is one version of CALABAR in the database... still based in Northern Ireland.. but a different canal

Here is the Clancy Brothers' version....


THE CRUISE OF THE CALABAR
Trad. Arr. Cyril Tawny

1. Come all ye dry-land sail-y-ors and listen to my song,
For it's only forty verses and it won't detain you long.
It's all about the advent-y-ures of this here Lisburn tar
Who sailed as a man before the mast on the good ship Calabar.

2. Now the Calabar was a spanking craft, copper-fastened fore and aft,
Her helm it stuck out far behind, and her wheel had a great big shaft,
With half a gale to swell each sail, she'd make one knot per hour,
She's the fastest craft on the Lagan canal, and she's only one horse-power.

3. Now the skipper he was a strapping lad, he stood just four feet two,
His eyes were black, his nose was red, and his cheeks were a Prussian blue,
He wore a leather medal that he'd won at the Crimea war,
And the captain's wife was passenger cook on the good ship Calabar.

4. Now the skipper he says to me, "Me lad, look here me lad," says he
"Would yous like to be a sail-y-or to sail the raging sea?
Would yous like to be a sail-y-or the foreign seas to roll
For we're under orders for Portadown with half a ton of coal."

5. The next morning we set sail, the weather being sublime,
And passing under the old Queen's bridge we heard the "Albert" chime.
'Tis then we came to the Gasworks Straight, a very dangerous part,
And ran head on to a lump of coal that wasn't marked on the chart.

6. Then all became confusion while the stormy winds did blow,
Our bo'sun slipped on an orange peel and fell into the hold below,
"Put on more steam," the captain said, "for we are sorely pressed,"
But the engineer replied from the bank, "The horse is doing his best."

7. And we all fell into the water and then let out a roar
There was a farmer standing there and he threw us the end of his galluses and he pulled it all ashore.
No more I'll be a sail-y-or to sail the raging main,
And the next time I go to Portadown, I'm bloody sure I'll go by train.

^^

The "Albert" refers to the Albert clock in Belfast.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: alison
Date: 23 May 99 - 12:45 AM

Hi,

"Barges" by Ralph McTell... it's about watching the barges as opposed to being on them.

"Cruise of the Calabar" as done by the Clancy brothers..... it's about a horse drawn boat taking coal along the Lagan canal from Belfast to Portadown.

SLainte

alison