Lyr ADD: By Ibrox Park (Alistair Hulett)

Subject: Lyr Req: 'By Ibrox Park' by Alistair Hulett
From: GUEST,Catriona
Date: 03 Apr 15 - 09:52 AM

I have been looking for the lyrics for 'By Ibrox Park' a song written by the brilliant singer/songwriter Alistair Hulett.

TIA

Catriona

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park by Alistair Hulett
From: GUEST,#
Date: 03 Apr 15 - 10:30 AM

It's on his 2000 CD entitled "In Sleepy Scotland". I'm unable to find any lyrics online. They might be there but I haven't found any, yet.

Do you have a few lines from the song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park by Alistair Hulett
From: Catriona
Date: 03 Apr 15 - 11:40 AM

Yes, and thank you for your quick reply.

Driving down by Ibrox Park
One grey November afternoon
Where concrete tower blocks,
grim and dark, defy the Sun,
and the moon.

I saw a host of working men,
make their way decked in empire blue
And I thought about when it all began,
in 1822

Bang the drum and wave the flag
Let them know who's king of the pile of slag....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park by Alistair Hulett
From: GUEST,#
Date: 03 Apr 15 - 12:01 PM

Catriona, I can find no lyrics on Google. I think maybe it will need to wait until someone with the recording or who knows it all can post the lyrics. I'm sorry I can't be of any help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park by Alistair Hulett
From: Catriona
Date: 03 Apr 15 - 01:09 PM

Thanks anyway.

I have been looking everywhere for those lyrics. I have a copies of the song on my phone, iPod, and my computer. But like so many songs, not all the words are clear.

I hope someone here on Mudcat has the album.

Thanks again.

Catriona

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park by Alistair Hulett
From: Megan L
Date: 03 Apr 15 - 03:56 PM

Didn't have any more luck than guest# but found it to download on his memorial site.
CD download

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park by Alistair Hulett
From: GUEST,Catriona
Date: 03 Apr 15 - 08:12 PM

Thanks, Megan. I hope the lyrics are included with the artwork.

Subject: Lyr Add: BY IBROX PARK (Alistair Hulett)
From: Stewie
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 01:16 AM

There is no lyric sheet with the CD. However, my friend Phil Beck in Perth has made a transcription. Here is what he hears - corrections are welcomed:

BY IBROX PARK

Driving down by Ibrox Park
One grey November afternoon
Where concrete tower blocks grim and dark defy the sun and the moon
I saw a host of working men make their way decked in Empire blue
And I thought about when it all began in 1822

Chorus: Bang the drum and wave the flag
Let them know who's king of the pile of slag
Though poverty sits at our door
With dour Jock like some ill throckett dog
We'll make it cower in the golden hour
When we go marching around the bog

Carried back in a waking dream
I heard the strains of a reform song
From our past thick as clotted cream I saw them marching strong
Workers bent on liberty circled round by the Orange crew
Drunk with hatred and bigotry
And the old red white and blue

Chorus

Snail pace slow through the human sea
I inched my way past the football stand
With half my mind lost to reverie on days gone far from hand
To Goven Streets 1831
The Duke of Gordon he paid the fee
And hired thugs from the Orange clan
Made reformers blood run free

Chorus

Driving down by the Ibrox Park
A wave of sadness it drenched my soul
From concrete tower blocks grim and dark
Come sights I cannae thole ['thole' means 'stand or bear']
In childhood's dreams I've scaled the wall
Well skeined by empires to call us back
And my hair thin falls watching Cowan's braw
And by the Union Jack

Final chorus: Scorn the drum and burn the flag
Tell them what to do with their pile of slag
Nae more we'll slumber in poverty
Or feed our bairns towards ill throckett dog
Let masters cower in the golden hour
When we come marching out frae the bog
When we come marching out frae the bog

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park by Alistair Hulett
From: Megan L
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 01:35 AM

Well done Stewie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park by Alistair Hulett
From: GUEST,#
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 06:44 AM

Way to go, Stewie, and thank you to Phil.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park by Alistair Hulett
From: GUEST,#
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 06:11 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park by Alistair Hulett
From: Catriona
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 07:35 PM

Pure deid brilliant. Stewie, you did it! Thanks to you and to Phil.

I see a few possible corrections. I'll take a closer listen and send a post either after I get the Easter baskets assembled tonight, or just before I collapse from post-holiday exhaustion on Monday.

Catriona, in Glasgow

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park by Alistair Hulett
From: Catriona
Date: 06 Apr 15 - 11:07 AM

The only major change I could find would be is to change this line:

And my hair thin falls watching Cowan's braw
And by the Union Jack

to

And my hair thin falls watching callants braw
Stand by a Union Jack

'Callant Braw' is a Scots term often found in music and literature to describe a fine, young man.

Changing 'and' to 'stand' makes sense of the lines. As I listened to the song several times Alistair could be singing either word.

Thanks again, Mudcatters.

Catriona

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park by Alistair Hulett
From: GUEST,phil beck
Date: 06 Apr 15 - 10:02 PM

Catriona: I thought when I tried the transcription that there was some Gaelic expression that I couldn't fathom, and I'm sure, having listened again, that you've hit it with 'Callants braw' (a phrase I've not heard before) and that you're right about 'stand' for 'and' as well: it makes complete sense. Well done. I can now update my version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park (Alistair Hulett)
From: GUEST,Catriona
Date: 18 Nov 15 - 08:50 PM

It's only been ... how many months? Sorry.

Ok. 'Callant' is Scots based on the English word 'gallant', which has been made into a noun. A 'callant' is a brave youth, certainly of fighting age.

I very much doubt that anyone but a Glaswegian could fully understand the lyrics. Lucky for me I was married to one, a man much older than I, who had actually seen and had been caught up in some very serious sectarian violence.

Below are the lyrics as I see them, though I have no idea what Alistair is actually saying when he says what sounds like 'ill throckett dog'. If my husband were alive I'd ask him, but he isn't.

I changed some of the pronunciation, but not enough as to make the song incomprehensible.

By Ibrox Park

Driving down by Ibrox Park
One grey November afternoon
Where concrete tower blocks grim and dark, defy the sun and the moon
I saw a host of workin' men make their way decked in Empire blue
And I thought about when it all began, in 1822.

Chorus: Bang the drum and wave the flag
Let them know who's king of the pile of slag
Though poverty sits at our door
With dour jaw like some ill throckett dog
We'll make it cower in the golden hour
When we go marching around the bog

Carried back in a waking dream
I heard the strains of a reform song
From a past thick as clotted cream, I saw them marching strong
Workers bent on liberty, circled round by the Orange crew
Drunk with hatred and bigotry
And the old red white and blue

Chorus: Bang the drum and wave the flag....

Snail-paced slow through the human sea
I inched my way past the fitba' stand
With half a mind lost in reverie on days gone far from hand
Tae Goven Streets 1831
The Duke of Gordon he paid the fee
And hired thugs from the Orange clan
Made reformers blood run free

Chorus: Bang the drum and wave the flag....

Driving down by Ibrox Park
A wave of sadness that drenched my soul
From concrete tower blocks grim and dark
Come sights I cannae thole
In childhood dreams I've scaled the wall
Well skeined by empires tae call us back
And my hair thin falls watchin' callants braw
Stand by the Union Jack

Final chorus: Scorn the drum and burn the flag
Tell them what to dae with a pile of slag
Nae mair we'll slumber in poverty
Or feed our bairns to wars' ill throckett dog
Let maisters cower in the golden hour
When we come marching oot fae the bog

Let maisters cower in the golden hour
When we come marching oot fae the bog

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park (Alistair Hulett)
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 19 Nov 15 - 03:12 AM

I think the Scots words are pretty much shared with all the Scots dialects Catriona and arguably Glaswegian is one of the less conservative Scots speaking areas so not that likely to use many older words not known in other areas like the north-east or Borders etc. Callant though not nowadays an everyday word is still a pretty well known word down here in the Borders especially I suppose because of the riding festivals. The Jedburgh festival is actually called Jedburgh Callant's Festival and the principle is called The Jethart Callant. The word appears in other well known songs too. Straight of my head from Hamish Henderson's "Freedom Come All Ye"

"Nae mair will the bonnie callants
Mairch tae war when our braggarts crousely craw"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park (Alistair Hulett)
From: GUEST,Dave W
Date: 12 Jul 21 - 07:47 AM

Many thanks to Stevie and Catriona for clarifying lots of questions about this excellent song. I woul, however, question a couple of minor points:
1. In the sleeve notes to this song "In Sleepy Scotland" Alistair refers to the Girvan Riots of 1831 in Ayrshire. So I think in verse 3 it should be "in GIRVAN streets" rather than Govan.
2. It may just be my ears but in the final chorus I hear "callants braw CONVOY a Union Jack" Any views?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park (Alistair Hulett)
From: GUEST,Dave W
Date: 12 Jul 21 - 07:49 AM

Sorry #2 should be in the last VERSE

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park (Alistair Hulett)
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 29 Jan 23 - 04:47 AM

What is a 'throckett' dog?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: By Ibrox Park (Alistair Hulett)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 30 Jan 23 - 05:25 AM

Just came across this excellent song. A couple of comments, I was surprised at Alistair’s pronunciation of “dour”. He says “dower” where most Scots would say “door” as in “poor” and the word is definitely “Girvin” not Goven.
Also, I have no idea what a “throckit dog” is, never heard or read the expression anywhere.
I know Alistair spent time in Australia so maybe the expression comes from there. Also “well skeined by Empire” confuses me.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: By Ibrox Park (Alistair Hulett)
From: Chris Maltby
Date: 30 Jan 23 - 08:01 PM

I remember Alistair having a go at explaining the words "ill-throckit/ill-throcked dog" to a Sydney audience as being one of those nasty little dogs full of false bravado, but ultimately powerless. It's definitely not an Australian expression, but there are plenty of those little yappy dogs. There is a definition of "throck" as "confused crowd or throng" too as well as one relating to oxen.

In my recall of him singing the song live, I would have transcribed the last half of the final verse as:

In childhood dreams I've scaled the wall
Well schemed by empires tae haud us back
And my hair thin falls watchin' callants braw
Envoy a Union Jack

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: By Ibrox Park (Alistair Hulett)
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 30 Jan 23 - 10:29 PM

Hi Chris,

Good to see you on Saturday, sorry you were too busy with sound, singing and providing lyric prompts to Bob Fagan to have a good chat. It was a fabulous night.

While researching my recording of this song, the most fitting definition I could find was 'Trock/Trockett' which means to be bartered/traded, implying that 'ill-trocked' could be a bad tempered dog that someone has tricked you into buying.

For Jim, I took 'skinned by empire' to relate to posters/painted signs on the wall enforcing/supporting English rules.

Cheers,

Daniel,

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: By Ibrox Park (Alistair Hulett)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 31 Jan 23 - 03:16 AM

Thanks Chris for “well schemed by empires”, that makes sense although I still don’t get “I’ll throcket dog” though.
Strange I cannot find the word anywhere.
“Envoy the Union Jack” could be understood but ……..

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: By Ibrox Park (Alistair Hulett)
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 31 Jan 23 - 05:06 AM

'Convoy' the Union Jack, as in form a convoy to march it down the street.