Lyr Add: The M & B Downer (Don Perrygrove)

Subject: Lyr Add: The M & B Downer -Don Perrygrove
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 Apr 14 - 07:02 AM

Inspired by a strike of Draymen at Mitchells and Butlers brewery in 1966 - Tune is Maggie May

The M & B Downer - Don Perrygrove

In the year of sixty six , poor old Brum was in a fix
For the Draymen out at Cape Hill all stopped work
In a week it hit the town , not a half pint could be found
And the lushes of the city went berserk

Chorus

They were drinking Pepsi Cola , after shave and Ice Cream Soda
And Grannie's parsnip wine went down a treat
Our Chief Constable complained of an empty Steelhouse Lane
Not a drunk was seen in all the city streets

Dick the Dypso's wife was bragging that her Richard's on the wagon
And has sworn to touch John Barleycorn no more
Then the kitchen she went in , found twelve empty brass tins
And poor old Richard paralytic on the floor

The barmaid she was cheering , 'cos since there'd been no beer in
She hadn't had to wash nor wipe a glass
Not a beer stain could be seen , 'cos they'd licked the tables clean
She was being paid for sitting on her -- Own

On the twelfth day of the famine , they called the custom man in
He declared "This ale's unfit and it must go!"
So they poured the precious stuff down the bleeding brewery suff
Now we know why Sidney Carter's down below

In the taverns and the pubs , and in the folk song clubs
To sing without their beer the new not how
Then The Campbell's had a hunch , and drained The Jug Of Punch
And had the bloody cheek to sing The Barley Mow

Brum's boozing intermission was far worse than prohibition
But I'm pleased to say once more they've got their beer
And one last thing I will say , If you draymen want more pay
Please don't strike , we'll have a whip round for you here

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The M & B Downer -Don Perrygrove
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Apr 14 - 01:52 PM

Our Sidney behind the tube strike? Never..

When you're working in the dark, down below,
Underneath St James' Park, down below.
The Underground bosses you can hear 'em when they tosses
Off the RMT strikers, down below....