Songs about or from Bolton

Subject: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Charmain
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 07:33 PM

Anybody know any?

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST,Emma B
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 07:37 PM

I don't suppose this counts really but I've heard this charming Laycock poem set to music.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 08:09 PM

I should have said the setting was by Eddie Crotty

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 01:19 AM

You can get a lot of songs from Bob Bolton, a regular here, but I never heard anyone sing about him.

But maybe you mean the town of Bolton, in which case all I know is that it comes up toward the end of one of the famous Monty Python sketches.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 01:32 AM

'THE BURY NEW LOOM
As I walked between Bolton and Bury it was on a moonshiny night,
I met with a buxom young weaver whose company gave me delight'



About Bury, really - but mentions Bolton in first line.

Oldham is near Bolton — do the Owdham Tinkers sing any songs about it?

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 03:13 AM

Mentioned as a Tattoo in Rawtenstall Annual Fair.
Anything written by the Bolton Bullfrog, Bernard Wrigley is technically "from".
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 04:15 AM

The Bodleian has three:

Royal visit to Bolton

Rivington Pike

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 04:15 AM

The first meeting of the wax figures in the museum of the Star inn, Bolton

I may have more at home - I'll check.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 08:16 AM

Tom Sydall's song about the bargee and his horse, 'arry metions Bolton in the same context as the Bury New Loom but again it isn't specificaly about Bolton.

I think the chorus goes -

It's heel and toe and to and fro
and neither slow nor tarry
As we head down to Bolton town
and turn right round for Bury


Our Bernard on here sings it so you could PM him for teh proper words!

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 08:18 AM

Incidentaly - As well as searching for 'Bolton' you could also try the local dialect and look for songs about 'Bowton' or other variations.

D

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Sailor Ron
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 08:23 AM

Bernard Wrigley used to sing a song about selling pies, or attempting to, at Bolton Warderers.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 08:44 AM

From 'Wrigley's Writings' by Bernard Wrigley:

'Pie Saturday' (most likely the one that Sailor Ron mentions above)
'(Bolton's) The One Place For Me'
'The Black pud Stud (from Bolton)'
- I've no doubt there are others in the Wrigley ouvre.

Incidentally, in the intoduction to 'Wrigley's Writings' there's a somewhat puzzling acknowledgment to me. This was for a poem Bernard and I wrote together called 'Albert, the Lion and the Drink', which can be found on the CD 'Albert, the Lion & The Car PArk'.
Bernard gave me a complimentary copy of the book, and I was most flattered to read the acknowledgment.
Then I found he'd inadvertently missed the poem out of the book altogether.
Still, the thought was there...

Bernard's a most obliging chap and will, I know, be more than happy to help with songs concerning Bolton

http://www.bernardwrigley.com

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST,Henryp
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 12:45 PM

Will yo' come o'Sunday mornin? - The Winter Hill Trespass

In September 1896, members of the Bolton Socialist Club helped to organise a massive 10,000 strong trespass march over Winter Hill in protest against the closure of the path across what Colonel Ainsworth claimed as his Grouse-moor. Five thousand song sheets were printed, containing a song by Bolton socialist poet, Allen Clarke, titled 'Will you come a Sunday mornin'?'

Will yo come o'Sunday mornin
For a walk o'er Winter Hill
Ten thousand went last Sunday
But there's room for thousands' still!
O the moors are rare an' bonny
An' the heathers sweet an' fine
An' the road across the hill tops
Is the public's - yours and mine

Chorus:
So come o' Sunday mornin'
For a walk o' er' Winter Hill
Ten thousand went last Sunday
But there's room for thousands still!

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 02:15 PM

The picture of Burnden Park, Going To The Match, was painted in 1953 by LS Lowry. The Professional Footballers' Association paid £1.9 million for it in 1999 and it now hangs in the Lowry Centre in Salford.

You wandered by back-to-back houses
In your notebook you sketched every sight
You took home the faces and places
And painted long into the night.
You put all the scenes of the city
In a dreamscape in front of our eyes
All alone amongst thousands of people
You lived under grey northern skies

You followed the fans towards Burnden
When the Wanderers had a home game
Everyone found a place on your canvas
But you remained outside the frame.
You showed all your pain in a portrait
Of a man with such angry red eyes
All alone amongst thousands of people
You lived under grey northern skies

No-one captures a street scene like you do
They called you the Master of Arts
Now your pictures they hang in high places
And you found a place in our hearts.
You lived all your life in the city
And you never could sever the ties
All alone amongst thousands of people
You lived under grey northern skies

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Charmain
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 05:52 PM

Thanks all - My parents are from Bolton and even my Pa (who knows an awful lot of songs) struggled although he did come up with "Howfan (WestHoughton) Fair" which is mainly about brawling in public!!

Thanks for all the suggestions - I like the Lowry song - but I do want some thing that is about Bolton itself...

The Rivington Pike and the Winter Hill songs are near the mark - I don't suppose you know if there are tunes already?? Although if there arn't I'm quite happy to make up my own!!

I think I will give Mr Wrigley an e-buzz and see if he can help too!

Thanks again everybody!!

Cx

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST,Henryp
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 08:13 AM

You can get the music, and an arrangement for three or four voices too, for 'Will yo' come' from the Bolton Clarion Choir via www.boltonsocialistclub.org.uk/1886-1900.html.

http://bernardwrigley.blogspot.com/2007/07/blog-post.html
has the words and music for;
(Bolton's) The One Place for Me;
a love song for the town of Bolton, to be played at the opening of the Octagon production of "Spring And Port Wine" in summer 1970
Pie Saturday;
written as part of the documentary BOLTON WANDERERS at the Octagon Theatre in the summer of 1970
Black Pud Stud;
I didn't record it until the Buggerlugs CD, then began to sing it with the Fivepenny Piece in 1996

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 08:26 AM

A ditty from my days living near Bolton...

Poem 130 of 230: ENTRÉE/AT BOLTON'S ALBERT HALL: OPERA SONG - WINTER 2000/1

(TUNE:

G A B C' B
C' D' C' B
B C' B D' D'
G E D C
C' E' F' E' E'
E' E' D' C'
C' E' F' G' G'
G E D C)

From novel, and play,
To opera,
La Traviata
Was my entrée
To a media
I find is a
Fine way to relay
Human drama.

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 09:37 AM

Another Bodleian broadside (opening of Bolton Town Hall, 1873):

Did you see the prince & princess?

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 10:13 AM

Charmain

You might also want to check out Clive Leyland. Most of his songs are based around the Bolton area, eg

SCOUT ROAD
Clive Leyland

1.
What is there now where the forest stood? It stood so proud and tall.
It wasn't made of leaves and wood - those towers of brick could never fall.
Not so long ago you'd have hardly seen the factories for the smoke.
Now the demolition man has been and laid the chimneys low.

- REFRAIN -

Looking down from Scout Road, searching for a way back home again.

2.
The church clock stands without its hands, Trinity's an empty shell.
Sweet Green's now a barren land with no more tales to tell.
The ironworks' walls did lately fall to another superstore.
The loyal and the true are no use at all, no-one wants them any more.

- REPEAT REFRAIN (twice) -

- BREAK -

- REPEAT REFRAIN -

3.
The old pit-head's been left for dead, the winding gear has gone.
In Hulton Park down in the dark, the shafts don't see the sun.
The reason's plain it's greed and gain that left these scars to heal.
The old ones don't forget the pain their memories reveal.

- CODA -

But it's only now you can imagine the plough, you can see how the land's survived.
The rivers and the hills are with us still, smiling at our little lives.
It may take some time and some future wiser minds to take us back to the start.
Maybe they will find they need not be so blind, maybe they can leave the heart.

- REPEAT REFRAIN (twice) -


The Houghton Weavers have also written songs about Bolton (Howfen Fair, Howfen Wakes
The Pretoria Pit Disaster).

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Mr Happy
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 10:33 AM

Didn't Terry Pratchett do a book 'Bolton, the Landscape' ?

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Raggytash
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 03:57 AM

There's a cosy little spot I know
lies just inside o@ Bolton
whose praises I will sing to you in rhyme
where's lives me dear old grandad
and me granny too god bless 'em
and monya hours I've spent there in me time
they have a little garden and a cosy little greenhouse
where grandad passes manya hours away
he's happy and contented among his plants and flowers
and if ever I pop in he's sure to say

Eh lad I'm fain to see thee sit thee down
I'm as fained as if tha'd gid me half a crown
now tha munn'd go away tha must stop and have the tay
eh I'm gradly fained to see thee sit thee down


Apologies for the poor dialect spelling there's at least two more verses, however I'm supposed to be working, will try and revisit this with the rest unless someone else can suplly them.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 04:09 AM

I should point out that, sadly, Clive Leyland passed away on December 22nd, 2007.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: scowie
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 04:20 AM

Charmain, the PROPER song is not "Howfen Fair" but "Turton Fair" Turton is to the north-east of Bolton and had a substantial cattle fair in its day. It was also reknowned for clog fighting, and is were most of Bolton Wanders footballers came from when The Wanderers won trophies in the early days of the football league, I think the two facts are related.My late father remembers going as a lad,a certain group,I believe altered the song to fit their locality.
Since I was born at Affetside were the boundary between Bolton and Bury ran down the middle of the road, and now live in Bolton, and everything I have written has been written in Bolton,the "When All Men Sing" should qualify.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 06:05 AM

If you don't mind stretching the geographical boundaries a tad, then there's also The Cockey Moor Snake

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST,Steve Gardham
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 11:32 AM

I may be wrong as this is off the top of my head, but if you want to go back further wasn't Joe Geoghegan a Bolton lad? He wrote some cracking songs some of which entered oral tradition, Ten Thousand Miles Away, Hey John Barleycorn, Down in a Coalmine, Girls of Glossop Road etc., I've even seen 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' put down to him. I have some of his sheet music c1860. On the other hand he may be from Bury or Burnley but worth checking. I know he was chairman of the Music Hall in one of these places.

Steve Gardham

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 06:03 AM

Well remembered, Steve.

Joseph Bryan Geoghegan was actually born in Barton upon Irwell, Lancashire, in 1816, but he seems to have lived in Bolton for many years.

He was manager and chairman of the Star and Museum Music Hall in Bolton which burned down in 1852, and he died in Bolton on 21st January 1889.

Since most of his songs appear to have been written in the 1860's and 70's, it's reasonable to assume that he wrote them while living in Bolton.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: JeffB
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 04:17 PM

There's "the Bolton Apprentice", the possible ancestor of "Leaving of Liverpool". Don't have the words, but could get them if you like.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 05:39 PM

JeffB,
Fascinating! Please try to find it and post it. Is there a book of Geoghegan's work anywhere? Or a biog? I would guess there's a good chance he was living in Sheffield for some time when he wrote 'The Girls of Glossop Road' c1866.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Weasel
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 03:22 AM

I don't suppose anybody knows any songs about Chorley?

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 11:23 AM

There's precious little biog stuff about Geoghegan. Here are a few snippets I've come across:


GEOGHEGAN, Joseph Bryen, (1816-1889) was born at Barton-upon-Irwell, and brought up to the business of a fustian cutter, but before he
reached manhood took to writing songs upon current events. He later
became a music hall manager in Manchester, Liverpool, and other towns, and later became manager of the Old Museums Concert Hall, Bolton, and for over twenty years managed various music halls in this town. He died 21st January, 1889.

(Source: BIBLIOGRAPHIA BOLTONIENSIS.
"being a Bibliography, with biographical details of Bolton Authors,
and the books written by them from 1550 to 1912; books about Bolton; and those printed and published in the Town from 1785 to date.")

Evidence of his residing in Sheffield for a time is given by the following curious item from an auction site:

Lot 73: English School 19th Century - The Great Sheffield Flood, March 11th/12th 1864. A Scene In The Wicker. Black and white engraving 13 x 31.5cm. possibly taken from a book. Together with a framed document concerning the Great Flood written by J. B. Geoghegan

In 1871 he married Mary Ann Birchall at St.John's church, Manchester (given his age in that year, she may not have been his first wife).

Mary Ann died in 1875 aged 46. Her death was registered at Stretford, Manchester.

I can't find him on the 1881 census (probably due to spelling confusion).

According to the Era Almanack of 1888, he was the manager of Hanley Gaiety Music Hall, near Stoke On Trent in that year.

A website about the Gaiety states that he was 'lessee and manager' from 1888-1891, (he died in 1889!).

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 11:39 AM

Steve: there is "A book of selected songs, comic and sentimental, written and composed by Mr. J. B. Geoghegan, and sung with immense success by Mr. Sam Torr. pp. 12. Bolton: T. Abbatt."

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 07:20 PM

Nice one, Sminky. Is that book available or in libraries anywhere? A copy of the contents would be useful.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 04:29 AM

Steve, there appears to be a copy at the TEMPLEMAN LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF KENT (search for 'Torr'). That's the only reference I've found so far.

I'll be visiting Bolton soon where I hope to discover more.

Mr.Geoghegan has got me intrigued - a string of illegimate children, fires, (floods!), evades the census, faked death(?) It's a conspiracy theorist's dream.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 03:18 PM

Among my sheet music is 'The Same Old Game' written by JBG and the litho on the front is of Sam Torr in character.
An American folk song book describes him as an 'American Comedian' so did he emigrate at some point?
Here's a list of what I've found by JBG, mostly just titles I'm afraid but a lot are on broadsides.

Benjamin and Maria or The Sheffield Hoax
Better late than never
Brigham Young
Black Diamond
Bread and Cheese and Ale
Cockles and Mussels (Not the famous one),1876 (got this one)
Down in a Coal Mine, 1872 (got p-copy)
England is England still, 1886
The Fox and the Hare (They all have a Mate but me)
The Frenchman, 1878
Glossop Road (BS copy in Sheffield Univ.)
A Hundred Years Ago
It's a Way we have in the Army
It's really a dreadful affair
I am a merry little man
John Barleycorn is a Hero Bold (got)
Johnny I hardly knew you
The Lancashire Witches
Lines on the Flood
Marigold
The Merriest Man in the Company
The Men of Merry England
A Message from the Sea
Napoleon talks of war boys ( I can hardly believe this one)
Old Adam was Father of all (Sung by Sam Torr)
Pat works on the Railway, 1854
Queen of Merry England
Rock the Cradle John
Roger Ruff or a Drop of Good Beer, 1860
The Same Old Game (got)
Sons of Old John Bull
Ten Thousand Miles Away (got)
The Toilers of the Sea
The Waggoner
Wasn't she a Beauty

Most of these are either off the backs of other sheets or from Kilgarriff.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 15 Dec 09 - 04:48 AM

Sam Torr, of course, was (in)famously involved in 'promoting' Joseph Merrick, the 'Elephant Man'. He had a finger in many pies, though I'm not aware of him leaving these shores.

Here's my hurriedly compiled list of JBG songs:

Allah, guard the Prince of Wales. National song [begins: " Ten thousand thousand welcomes " ]. (1876)
Better late than never [Song, begins: " What folly 'tis for man to fret " ] (1860)
Black diamond
Brigham Young. [Song.] (1873)
Cockles & Mussels. Song [begins: "Of all merry blades"] (1876)
The Convivial Man. [Song, begins: " They tell me " .] (1869)
A Diamond in the Rough. [Song, begins: "I'll sing you".] (1876)
Don't say who gave you the tip. [Song, begins: "I'm going to sing".] (1878)
Down in a Coal Mine. [Song, begins: "I am a jovial collier lad".] (1873)
England is England still. (1886)
England with all thy faults I love thee still (1875)
Glossop Road. (1860)
A hundred years ago. (1860)
It's A way we have in the Army (1863),
IT'S REALLY A DREADFUL AFFAIR
John Barleycorn is a hero bold. (1860)
Johnny, I hardly know you. [Song, begins: "While on the road".] (1867)
Lancashire Witch
Measure your Wants by your Means, [song] (1860)
The men of merry England. (1858)
The Name of England ... Song [begins: " There is a world known little isle " ] (1876)
Napoleon talks of War, Boys. (1860)
A Novel Idea. Song [begins: " Ah! gentlemen " ]. (1873)
Oh! Marigold. [Song, begins: "Tho' I'm a blighted trumpet flower".] (1873)
Old Adam was father of all. [Song, begins: "What a wonderful world".] (1876)
Old England's future king. Patriotic song, [begins: " Arouse, ye loyal Englishmen " ] (1863)
The Queen of merry England. (1860)
Rock the Cradle John.
Roger Ruff, or a drop of good beer. [Song, begins: "I'm Roger Ruff".] (1860)
The Same Old Game. [Song, begins: "When I was quite a lad".] (1876)
The Style, by Jove! [Song, begins: " You talk about your howling swells " .] (1866)
Ten Thousand Miles away. [Song begins: "Sing oh!"] (1870)
They all have a mate but me. [Song, begins: "Kind Christians all".] (1876)
Time works wonders [song, begins: " A friendless youth " ] (1869)
True hearts are always trumps. song
Volunteers rouse & be ready. (1860)
The Waggoner. [Song, begins: "True hearts are always trumps".] (1860)

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 15 Dec 09 - 12:18 PM

I don't whether it's by chance or design, but Bernard Wrigley does sing this one!

Sing ho! for a brave an' a gallant ship,
An' a fast an' fav'rin' breeze,
Wi' a bully crew an' a cap'n to
To carry me over the seas;
To carry me over the seas, me boys,
To me true love far away,
For I'm takin' a trip on a Government ship
Ten thousand miles away.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 15 Dec 09 - 03:55 PM

Be interesting to know if The Bolton Bullfrog is aware he's singing a Bolton song! Are yer there, Bernard?

'American Comedian' Sorry, I was referring to JBG, not Torr.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST,Bryony Mitchell
Date: 17 Jun 12 - 12:16 PM

@Steve Gardham - JBG was my great great great grandfather. I would love to get hold of some of his music sheets. Can you tell me where you got them from or where it's possible to get copies please? Many thanks :o)

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 05 Sep 17 - 05:07 AM

Earlier in the thread there was mention of a song entitled Me Mate and Me Butty.

I'm informed by Bernard Cromarty, who took the poem/song down from the author, Tom Sydall, that it's called 'Eel and Toe.

Bernard has generously provided lyrics and a recording which can be found on the Songs of the Inland Waterways website:

'Eel an' Toe

IMO this is a wonderful addition to the list of songs relating to the canal system and, having listened to it a few times, it's ear-wormed its way into being one of my favourites.

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 05 Sep 17 - 05:51 AM

The Loneliness of Lowry

You wandered by back-to-back houses
In a sketch book you caught every sight
You took home the faces and places
And painted long into the night

    You put all the scenes of the city
    In a dreamscape in front of our eyes
    All alone amongst thousands of people
    You lived under grey northern skies

You followed the fans towards Burnden
When the Wanderers had a home game
Everyone found a place on your canvas
But you remained outside the frame

    You showed all your pain in a portrait
    Of a man with such angry red eyes
    All alone amongst thousands of people
    You lived under grey northern skies

No-one captures a street scene like you do
They made you a Master of Arts
Now your pictures they hang in high places
And you found a home in our hearts

    You lived all your life in the city
    You never could sever the ties
    All alone amongst thousands of people
    You lived under grey northern skies

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Sep 17 - 07:08 AM

I'm a Radcliffe lad and I went to school in Bolton, Thornleigh to be precise. I won't regale you with the execrable Thornleigh school song. 😩 Mention of Affetside reminded me of my very favourite photo of Mrs Steve which I took there before we were married, so over 40 years ago. 😢

I was in the same class as Bernard Carney, who moved to Perth in Australia 45 years ago and never came home. I'm still in touch with him and owe him an email. I've even been to his house! He's made his living as a kind of folk-inspired singer-songwriter and very good he is too. Though he's a Bury lad he may know a song or two about Bolton. I'll ask him!

Subject: RE: Songs about or from Bolton
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 05 Sep 17 - 12:08 PM

"Ian Hendrie
...'Eel an' Toe"

Thanks Ian, I'd been looking for that, hadn't thought to look under "eel" !