Narrowboat songs

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Wotcha
Date: 23 May 99 - 12:02 AM

Although not canal boat songs per se, I would recommend a couple of songs by Bob Roberts, the last of the Spritsail Bargemen, who sang "Stormy Weather Boys," and "The Worst Old Ship." You can find recordings on the Saydisc label, "Sea Songs & Shanties" (basically recordings taken by Peter Kennedy in the 50s and 60s for the BBC).

Cheers, Brian

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 May 99 - 07:13 PM

There is a silly song sung locally here (Kent) by an amateur band called "Canal Folk" but probably from somewhere else (although if the Higham train tunnel which used to be a canal tunnel didn't have a hole in the middle it would be the longest chalk-lined tunnel in Europe) which comes in two versions. It is undoubtedly a narrowboat song.

The clean version of the chorus goes : -

"Boatie, boatie, /spit in the cut/Wiping his nose on a mopstick."

The other (which I favour as probably more authenic)goes

"Boatie, boatie, /shit in the cut/Wiping his arse on a mopstick."

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Graham Pirt
Date: 22 May 99 - 06:54 PM

I live in a town at the end of the Aire and Calder canal, built as a company town. In the docks we still have the Bartholomew hoists that lifted the Tom Puddings out of the water to tip them and empty the coals into larger vessels. Tom Puddings were unique to the A&C and were formed into trains which were pushed by a barge (occasionally pulled. Goff Sherburn was the last of the skippers and is the father of Chris Sherburn a brilliant concertina player who is touring the States in July (I think)with guitarist Denny Bartley.

Also the Keels on the River Tyne were rowed to the Colliers moored at Shields. The term is supposed to come from a Scandinavian word for a type of boat - a kyel.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 99 - 06:18 PM

It does have an original tune, but I don't think I like it very much now. It had instrumental 'fiddly bits' that tended to drag the song out, so if you can get one to fit let me know?

Enjoy youself on the Montgomery, I don't know that one but we did have wonderful week on the Monmouth and Brecon. It is so beautiful and peaceful.

The two of have also done that flight up to Birmingham from The Severn. Never again.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 22 May 99 - 05:33 PM

Hey, Shambles, that is a great song, we hadn't mentioned the roses and castles (I'm planning on trying my hand at that when I start working part-time ) Has the song got an original tune, or is it one I'm likely to know already? It mentions The Shroppy, The Shropshire Union, which isn't far from here, and the weekend I'm doing is on the Montgomery canal. the navigable bits, that is!!! Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BRAUNSTON BELLE AND THE NUMBER ONE^^
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 99 - 02:54 PM

Here is one about narrow boat life.

THE BRAUNSTON BELLE AND THE NUMBER ONE

When I first saw my Rosie, my heart flew like a bird
Our eyes met at Braunston Junction, smiled but ne'r spoke a word
I watched, as she drifted on the lock-side, like a swan on Tixall Wide
Her hair, was plaited like a fender, head held up, so full of pride

Roses and castles, hearts and flowers
Counting the days, counting the hours

I asked for her hand in marriage and to her father we did run
But he'd vowed, that when she married, it would be to a Number One
My heart fell, when he started speaking, then Rosie, she held the floor
"I'll wed this man or no other, till then I'll work the cut no more"

Roses and castles, hearts and flowers
Counting the days, counting the hours

I swore, that to this place I'd not travel, not to see her work on the land
I may leave here a company man, but worthy will return to take her hand
She said, she would wait for me, there, each and every Whitsun Day
Years passed, and I would hear tell, of my Braunston Belle, from all who passed that way

Roses and castles, hearts and flowers
Counting the days, counting the hours

In time a Number One, I became, 'The Rosie' and the butty 'Ben'
Turned south, upon the 'Shroppie' for to see my Rosie again
As I passed, all the boat's would cheer, bright ribbons and bunting flew
They cleared all the flights for me, for it seemed the whole country knew

Roses and castles, hearts and flowers
Counting the days, counting the hours

The next time, I saw my Rosie, my heart flew like a bird
Our eyes meet a Braunston Junction, smiled but ne'r spoke a word
I watched as she drifted on the lock-side, like a swan on Tixall Wide
Dressed in white, in all her splendour, as she walked on to be my bride

Roses and castles, hearts and flowers
Counting the days, counting the hours

Roger Gall 1996 ^^

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 99 - 01:23 PM

I stole the above from here A Short History Of English Canals

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 99 - 01:21 PM

Several late eighteenth and early nineteenth century English canals used 'tub' boats, capable of carrying from 5 to 10 tons, often used with primitive boat lifts or inclines. The Aire & Calder Navigation's engineer developed this idea into the 'Tom Puddings', a compartment boat system for carrying coal. Moved in trains of up to 30 compartment boats by steam tugs, they were lifted out of the water and then tipped by hydraulic machinery to empty their cargo into sea-going ships.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 22 May 99 - 01:14 PM

I think you are talking about butties. The narrowboat, in which the family lived, was horsepowered, and other, unpowered boats were tied on behind, or on the side if it was a wider canal. The boats are very manouverable when going along the canal, you can move one by leaning on a bargepole. Turning and stopping are a different matter. Most boats are 30 foot+ long, and don't do anything in a hurry!!!! Thanks for the help, I've got plenty of time, so any other ideas would be welcome. Hwyl. Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 99 - 10:58 AM

I can dimly remember also that there were vessels called 'Tom Puddings', that were used in the North of England for bulk coal, I think?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Ferrara
Date: 22 May 99 - 10:26 AM

Re Lorraine's question about keel boats: What were the boats called that were manned by keelmen, in Newcastle-on-Tyne? There's a song called The Sandgate Lassie's Lament, sung by Norman and Flora MacDonald (or did I forget their names again?) with the refrain, "Since I married a keelman, all me good days are done."

We heard that Newcastle had a fairly shallow harbor, and when coal trains brought in a load of coal, the keelmen rowed it out to where the ships that would haul it were anchored, and heaved it on board, which means they were pretty rough-and-ready guys.

But their boats aren't related to narrowboats, which were strictly for use on the canals, I think. Most of them were houseboats as well, weren't they, in which the captain and his family lived? What was the means of locomotion? In the US most canal boats were pulled by mules.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Penny S.
Date: 22 May 99 - 04:15 AM

One of the most surprising things I have learned was how easy it was to move a narrow boat along a tunnel by legging. It was easier than pushing my teeny weeny British car. It made all the texts about the environmental friendliness and energy-saving nature of water transport come alive. Mind you, it was already moving.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: DonMeixner
Date: 21 May 99 - 10:57 PM

Lorraine,

Keel boats are pretty much an American hull type. They were largely a river boat and not a canal craft but I imagine there was some cross over. Similar in some ways to a Durham boat but without any rocker to the keel. The keel boats were pushed along the rivers of the American west by several men with long poles and they were used to transport people and supplies. The Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled much by keel boat. Good representations of them can be seen in the movies "The Big Sky" and "Davy Crockett and The River Pirates"

Narrows are slab sided kinda pointy on both ends and usually flat bottomed with a hint of a keel. The are as the name implies very narrow because they must travel the very narrow canals of Great Britain. I imagine they are powered now but in years passed they were pushed by a small, powered pram and befor that they were pulled by a horse from the towpath on the canal. Many families lived aboard narrow boats at one time. I'm not sure if they are used for anything but recreation now.

More than you needed Huh?

Don

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Lorraine
Date: 21 May 99 - 09:08 PM

Are Keel boats narrow boats? Lorraine

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 21 May 99 - 08:32 PM

Gordon Bok recently recorded a song called "Stormy Weather" which is a barge song from the East coast of England; I could post the words later if you want it. It's published in Roy Palmer's "Oxford Book of Sea Songs".

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 21 May 99 - 08:22 PM

Bill

Yours wasn't there when I posted. I tried your link, but it didn't work. Is it me?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 21 May 99 - 08:16 PM

This may help FOLKWISE

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: bill\sables
Date: 21 May 99 - 08:07 PM

Hi Llanfair. Have you tried Folkworks canal songs site at www.pipemedia.net/users/jeffd/index.htm Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 21 May 99 - 06:58 PM

I've long tried to find the words for the songs on John Kirkpatrick and Jon Raven's 1975 album of canal songs (the title is round the next corner of my mind ...). I'm sure that's the kind of stuff Llanfair is after, too. Can anyone help. Some song titles were 'The Rosemary', Leeds A Seaport Town (I think),Tommy Notes, Let's Begin Delving. I'd also be interested in the sleevenotes, if there were any. Good luck, Llanfair! - Susanne

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Don Meixner
Date: 21 May 99 - 06:36 PM

LLANFAIR,

The only one that comes to my mind is The Good Ship Calibar. WE have some excellent Narrow Boats on the New York State Barge Canal that can be rented by the week. A floating motel filled with food spirits and fuel, just bring your clothes. Not many folks know what Narrow Boats are and you are right, your life slows to a gentle and elegant speed when on the water.

Don

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 21 May 99 - 06:19 PM

Thanks, Bert. I've had a look, and most of them are American, I've found a couple there that might do. I'm sure that there must be lots more songs. Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Bert
Date: 21 May 99 - 06:02 PM

A search of DT for "canal" turns up loads of hits. I don't know how many are British though.

Bert.

Subject: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 21 May 99 - 05:42 PM

I've been asked to provide the music for a weekend celebrating the British canal system (British Waterways, not dentistry). Any ideas for songs. The canals here are mostly very narrow, as are the boats, but spending time on a narrowboat is like slowing your whole life down to 4 miles an hour. Thanks a lot, Hwyl, Bron.