'The Propeller Song'

Subject: 'The Propeller Song'
From: SandyBob
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 01:19 PM

Does anyone know of a source for the lyrics to a ballad called 'Hey Jimmy' or 'The Propeller Song'? I heard Ewan McColl sing it once and have looked for it since. It is about a guy working in the shipyards in Scotland. His boss caught him in the sack with the boss's daughter and punished him by giving him a dangerous job climbing up a huge propeller on one of the ships in the yard.

I remember a great lyric...something about

"He gave me the job that I most hated. Hey Jimmy, Ho Jimmy Revenge is sweet, though overrated. Hey Jimmy, Ho."

Thanks,

SandyBob

Subject: RE: 'The Propeller Song'
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 01:39 PM

If this is off one of his Radio Ballads the good news is that the BBC are issuing the full set on 8 CDs. The bad news is I haven't seen them listed separately so that's over £80 sterling.

Subject: RE: 'The Propeller Song'
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 02:07 PM

Just looked on the BBC shop website (www.bbcshop.com/) and the new release isn't listed so it may be licenced to someone like ?Argo. I'll check the ad tonight.

Subject: RE: 'The Propeller Song'
From: Ewan McVicar
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 04:56 PM

The song was written by Glasgow singer and shipyard worker Jim Brown, although Maccoll did indeed sing it. I'll scout round and see if I have the lyrics. If not I'll phone Jim when I can.

Subject: RE: 'The Propeller Song'
From: SandyBob
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 05:17 PM

Fantastic!

I'd be very interested in any history behind the song. I remember Ewan Maccoll sang it in heavy Scots dialect and said it was based on a true story. His advice to the singers in the audience was that the Hey Jimmy/Ho Jimmy part "should be sung as if you were about to vomit."

SandyBob

Subject: RE: 'The Propeller Song'
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 03:42 AM

Re: my postings above- the set is available on Topic Records for £14.99 each or £89.99 the set, special offer from Radio Times Enterprises, telephone UK 01483-204488. No numbers quoted and only three (Travelling People,Song of a Road and Body Blow) mentioned by name.

Subject: RE: 'The Propeller Song'
From: Ewan McVicar
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 04:28 AM

Here you go. Never say I never done nuthin fur ye!

THE PROPELLER SONG
By Jim Brown

On the cauldest mornin ever
Hi Jimmy, haw Jimmy
We was workin on the river
Hi, Jimmy, haw!

Oor gaffer's name was Charlie Provan
Took us tae a job in Govan

He's the biggest swine frae here tae Yarrow's
Makes his wife work doon the Barras

And the boat was lyin in the dry dock
Where all the painters run amok

Wi her single screw and high stack funnel
Red wi rust up tae the gunnels

Says he tae me "Look here, young fella
Get doon and take aff that propeller"

Well, he knew the job that I most hated
Revenge is sweet, not over-rated

Cause he caught me wi his darlin daughter
Doon Lovers' Lane in ma wee motor

Then the snaw came on an I gied a shudder
At the thought o climbin up the rudder

Now I stand condemned wi this auld propeller
For wrastlin wi big sexy Bella

I've a note in a book which discusses Jim's songs that "The song was inspired by the writer looking down into a dry-dock on such a cold morning, watching the engineers at work and creating in his mind the story of the foreman's revenge."
So, Maccoll not necessarily too close to the mark this time.

Subject: RE: 'The Propeller Song'
From: SandyBob
Date: 18 Jun 99 - 03:20 PM

Thanks Ewan!

The melody has stuck in my head all these years so I believe I can even sing this song. Your note about the inspiration reinforces what I've seen so many times -- that storytelling songs come from good story tellers, not necessarily directly from biographical events.

SandyBob