Cyril's Reunion

Subject: Cyril's Reunion
From: Uncle Tone
Date: 14 Apr 13 - 03:07 PM

I have just uploaded a video to YouTube of our tribute to Cyril Tawney.

Details are in the comments. Hope you like it:

Cyril's Reunion

Tone

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 14 Apr 13 - 03:33 PM

Very nice!

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: EBarnacle
Date: 14 Apr 13 - 07:05 PM

Post the words, please!

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: Uncle Tone
Date: 15 Apr 13 - 04:14 AM

Thanks for your interest!

In 1988 Cyril was told that if he didn't give up drinking he would be dead within a year. He went T but hated it. He couldn't enjoy his navy reunions when all his mates were knocking 'em back and he wasn't. He then wrote his saddest song ever, 'Reunion' that begins, 'Sorrow is my stock in trade'.

But then he decided that quality of life was more important than longevity. He carried on drinking as usual, and lived for another 17 years!

This is my tribute to Cyril Tawney. It makes reference to twelve of his songs.

From the CD 'Special Brew' Info at

Special Brew

Cyril's Reunion      by Tony Haynes (Another old Tiffy)   June 2012

Chorus
Sing us a sea song Cyril,
Or a shanty that's anti the sea
Prop up the bar with that old guitar
And sing of the Royal Navy
Yes you sing of the Royal Navy

You did your time on the Grey Funnel Line
But the submarine life was a bore
So you sung on TV, bought your liberty
And carried your oar ashore
Yes you carried your oar ashore

So sing us a folk song Cyril….

I got as far as old Sammy's Bar
With a pint of the old black and tan
When a Lean Unwashed Tiffy sank his in a jiffy
Then sang of the old Oggy Man
Yes you sang of the old Oggy Man

So sing us an old song Cyil…..

Sally was breezy, but too Free and Easy
The Amazon Girl loved you less
And the Five Foot Flirt was a nice bit of skirt
Ah but Rosemary loved you the best
Yes Rosemary loved you the best

So sing us a love song Cyril……

Stanley the Rat was a fast one at that
All out of the Diesel and Shale
And Six Feet of Mud went down as it should
When sung with a pint of good ale
Yes when sung with a pint of good ale

So sing us a funny song Cyril…..

(Slow time)
But the booze had to stop, nary a drop
Your stock in trade turned into sorrow
Reunion you wrote with a lump in your throat
(Normal speed)
Ah but maybe we'll give up tomorrow
Yes maybe we'll go T tomorrow

So sing us a rebel song Cyril……

You loved your beer. It gave you good cheer
And that pipe was a warming embrace
And a tot of good rum, warming your tum
Lit up the glow on your face
Yes it lit up the smile on your face

So sing us a drinking song Cyril……

Yes sing us a sea song Cyril
Or a shanty that's anti the sea
Prop up the bar with that old guitar
And sing of the Royal Navy
Yes you sing of the Royal Navy

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: Sugwash
Date: 15 Apr 13 - 06:01 AM

Nice song Tony, well done.

Andy

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: John Routledge
Date: 15 Apr 13 - 10:24 AM

"Reunion" is an astonishing song about the effect of too much alcohol.It is about eight years since I heard it sung by Martin Wyndham-Read and can still feel the power of the words. Not easy listening.

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: Uncle Tone
Date: 15 Apr 13 - 11:40 AM

One of our local singers, Ian, at the Crown & the Ferry Boat FCs here in Yorks does it extremely well. His soulful rendition is what fired me to write 'Cyril's Reunion', having some 'inside' info of what happened next!

Cyril was my inspiration when it came to folk singing. He was about 10 years before me in the RN. He also pioneered for us, very successfully, the 'Unicorn Federation of Folk Clubs' tours, throughout Herts, Beds, Bucks and Northants back in the 80s.

An artist was invited for a fortnight or three week tour, with days off, for a block fee. We'd do all the arranging, We'd put them up in one central venue (usually my spare room), and ferry them from club to club. Despite the fear that everyone would go to just one club, the opposite happened. The audience tended to follow the artist about. This meant the artist had to have more than one set, but Cyril coped with that no problem. You don't see much of that now, but it worked then. The agents hated it!

Several of the big names in the circuit now did Unicorn tours back when after Cyril, including Steve Tilston and Maggie Boyle. (Who can boast that Steve Tilston slept in their bed? I was downstairs on the settee, I hasten to add!)

Perhaps this should be another thread?

Tone

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: Uncle Tone
Date: 16 Apr 13 - 11:34 AM

See new thread:

Federated tours?

Tone

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: breezy
Date: 16 Apr 13 - 06:26 PM

Cyril played at the Windward Folk Club in St Albans about Nov 2002

The room was full.

He arrived by train in the afternoon and esconced himself in the Cross Keys from 4.00 p.m. until he entered the club room to warm applause at 8.00 p.m.

He broke a string during his first song and never replaced it.

When he finished it was pointed out that he had not sung some of his better known songs

cyril said 'Oh F##k'

then continued

his encore went on for 45 minutes, ending at 11.55 and featured his new Christmas song about the shepherd who went for a pee and missed the angel

he then encored in the bar until 3.0 a.m.

George papavgeris struggled to keep up !'

A video was made and given to Rosemary

we also held an evening after he passed on at the Duke of marlborough where eery song was a C T song headlined by the late at the Comfort Hotel Johnny Collins

I remember Tony promoting him on the Unicorn tour and remarking how he rarely heard a song repeated. Iwas at the Haddenham gig but had come across Cyril in Leeds at the Grove in 1964/5

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: Uncle Tone
Date: 16 Apr 13 - 06:37 PM

'Rarely heard a song repeated'.

Yes but there were a couple of occasions when he was so pissed that he did the first half again in the second half. However it was also so good that nobody objected.

'Ello Breezy! (from York)

Tone

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: GUEST,Tony Rath aka Tonyteach
Date: 16 Apr 13 - 06:49 PM

Can you still get his songbook - would love to obtain a copy if anyone has one Cheers

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: Uncle Tone
Date: 17 Apr 13 - 06:28 AM

There's a great online version here, words but no music:

Cyril Tawney Song Book

Tone

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 13 - 06:22 PM

Enjoyed the song - Thanks!
Brought back some happy, and sad, memories.

Eddie

Subject: RE: Cyril's Reunion
From: Uncle Tone
Date: 30 Apr 13 - 05:58 AM

The song has now been linked on Reinhard Zierke's excellent mainlynorfolk site as a tribute to Cyril, with a link to this Mudcat thread too.

Thanks Reinhard. I'm rather chuffed about that!

mainlynorfolk

Tone