Lyr ADD: Down the Solent (Mike Sadler)

Subject: Lyr Req: Bound for the Isle of Wight
From: GUEST,Phil Williams
Date: 19 Sep 10 - 03:08 PM

At Sidmouth in a session at the Swan a Gentleman sang - to the tune of the Rio Grande - a song with the chorus.

'And Away, boys, Away. Way down Solent
We've just left the pier and we're all on the beer,
and we're bound for the Isle of Wight'

I'm hoping the author might make the world a better place and publish the words here, credits will be given at every opportunity!!
Thanks
Phil 'Gazuki' Williams

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bound for the Isle of Wight
From: Dead Horse
Date: 19 Sep 10 - 07:25 PM

By Calshot Spit, where the sea-gulls all .....flit?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bound for the Isle of Wight
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 19 Sep 10 - 07:37 PM

Proper title..Down the Solent By Gutta Percha.
Originally published on Forest Tracks on, I think, Southern Byways. No longer available I'm afraid. If no words are forthcoming soon I could transcribe them eventually.

Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN THE SOLENT (Mike Sadler)
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 07:05 AM

It was me (so nice to be called a gentleman), but it was most likely at The Volunteer, as The Swan was always the Irish musicians session. It could have been Mike Sadler - I did see him at Sidmouth around 1978-82 near the old station where I assume he was staying, but not sure what his haunts were there.

Yes, the song writer was Mike 'Guttapercha' Sadler who was a languages teacher at Farnborough Grammar School in Hampshire where I was in the 1960/70s. (This is spooky. I was only thinking about Mike and downloaded stuff from Mudcat a fortnight ago. Today, he lives at Frimley, only 10 minutes walk from the hospital where my mother is currently residing, and I did think of paying him a visit en route!)

Mike was also visited Fleet Folk Club (Fox & Hounds at Crookham) when Maggie Holland and Pete Edwards ran it. He also made a beeline there when the late Roy 'Cobblers' Harrison sped up from Romsey on his moped. Paul Marsh has recorded a CD, but it seems to be trapped on a failed hard drive (although he told me two years ago he's found it and will send me a bespoke copy). I emailed Paul only a fortnight ago but am yet to hear back, so I hope this shames him into action!!!

There are a number of Mike's songs on the late Dave Williams' double-CD 'Your Turn, Nipper' on Forest Tracks (so to their website). I know of no-one else who sings them, and Mike knows I do a few of his.

I wrote down what words I could recall from over 25 years ago (which is just as well: if it was purely from memory, it'd be slightly different). I also wrote down the words of Mike's 'Frimley Green Council Bog' song, and his 'Estate Agent's song' which aren't on Dave Williams' CDs. Interestingly, Dave's widow is Mike's sister. Even more spooky, the woman who runs the Oxfam shop in Sidmouth is Joe Thomas's sister Thelma who was also a languages teacher at Farnborough GS. (Well, interesting to me, anyway).

So, here goes:

DOWN THE SOLENT
(Mike Sadler)

Come all you land lubbers, you've nothing to fear
    Down the Solent
On a Red Funnel steamer bound from Royal Pier
    And we're bound for the Isle of Wight

Ch: And away boys away
    Down the Solent
    We're leaving the Pier and we're all on the beer
    And we're bound for the Isle of Wight.

Away with the gangplank! the Captain, he roared
And hoist up the anchors, jacks, safely on board

We passed by Esso tankers on a fast-moving tide
Polluting the beaches upon either side.

On the banks of the Solent was a hell of a crowd
A-watching Ted Heath sinking Morning Cloud.

Arriving at Cowes I espied a trim craft
She was well-loaded for'ard and nicely trimmed aft.

Ch.
And away, boys, away, Down the Solent
We passed Calshot Spit where the seagulls all flit (or s**t)
And we're bound for the Isle of Wight

I turned this craft round to a well-shelted spot
For she had the powder and I had the shot.

Oh, look what you've done to my rigging, she cried,
Too late, I wsa firing a second broadside.

Now I'm in dry dock it's now I can discern
I'm covered in barnacles from stem to stern.

And now I know why they call this Cowes Week
My foremast's all broken and my mainsa'ls all week.

If you heard it from me, I changed the second chorus so it's only used right at the end - mainly because the humour palls upon repetition. Also because, the audience sand 's**t' when Mike said 'flit' during his original version. I also sing '.. and so my French sheet' instead of '.. and my mainsa'ls all week'.

(Memo: my, oh my, we DO have a history!!)

I hope you''re satisfied. I'm now going to have to play @Your Turn, Nipper' for the first time in years!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bound for the Isle of Wight
From: GUEST,Phil Williams
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 08:29 AM

What a wonderful place Mudcat is, Gentlemen all!
Thanks very much for that.

I think I'll sing 'Where the seagulls all fly' to purposely scupper the rhyme.

Phil Williams

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bound for the Isle of Wight
From: acegardener
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 12:32 PM

It used to be the anthem of The Men of Wight Morris and was nearly alway lead by Geoff Jerram, who at one time might have been a member of Guttapercha. 'Now I'm in dry dock I can discern' was always sung slowly along with the next refrain, then fully back in for the barnacle line.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bound for the Isle of Wight
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 08:20 AM

If any of the above correspondents have any other songs, snippets or memories of Moke Sadler's singing, I'd be glad to hear them. Likewise, Roy 'Cobblers' Harrison.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bound for the Isle of Wight
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 08:36 AM

I'll try again: this time in English with contact details.

If any of the above correspondents have any other songs, snippets or memories of Mike Sadler's singing, I'd be glad to hear them. Likewise, Roy 'Cobblers' Harrison.
Contact me at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Solent (Mike Sadler)
From: RTim
Date: 01 Feb 23 - 09:59 AM

Hi all - I received the news today from his Sister - Christine Williams - that the Legendary South Hampshire Singer & Songwriter "Gutta Percha" ie. Mike Sadler sadly died on Sunday 29th January 2023 at his home in Frimley aged 91 !!
I don't suppose I shall reach such a great age.
However, when given the opportunity I will continue to sing his songs and forever remember him and his Brother-in-Law - Dave Williams.

RIP Mike "Gutta Percha" Sadler....