Glasgow police song: Coppers' Song (Imlach)

Subject: Glasgow police song
From: Old Grey Wolf
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 09:38 AM

Does anyone know the title & lyrics of a comedy song about Glasgow police finding a body, and dumping it "on another man's beat". One line goes something like: "At four in the morning they re-found it with a note saying not wanted on beats 3 or 4"
I last heard it in the late 60's.

Subject: RE: Glasgow police song
From: GUEST,#
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 10:05 AM

Hamish Imlach's the Coppers' Song

That is from

http://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/maybe-appreciated-by-the-50s-60s-people-here-526744/

There are some lyrics there, too. Anyway, give it a look.

Subject: RE: Glasgow police song
From: GUEST,#
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 10:09 AM

Here it is on YouTube

Subject: Draft: The Copper's Song (Hamish Imlach)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 10:13 AM

So, here's a start, based on the lyrics at http://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/maybe-appreciated-by-the-50s-60s-people-here-526744/

Any corrections?

-Joe-

---

THE COPPERS' SONG
(Hamish Imlach)

It was 12 oclock when they found it,
Lying there still as a log,
A badly bashed aboot body,
Tyre marks messed up its physog.

So they went through the usual procedure,
Kicked it to be sure it was deid,
Then they went through its pockets and shared oot its cash,
Smoked all its fags while it bled,

Then solemnly they took their positions
One at its head and its feet,
Picked it up carefully, and walked doon the close,
An' dumped it on another man's beat.

It was four in the morning when they re-found it,
Propped up in an old Chip Shop door,
It was naked by noo wi' a sign roon its neck,
"Not Wanted on Beats 3 or 4".

Subject: RE: Glasgow police song
From: Old Grey Wolf
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 10:29 AM

Very fast response. Thanks troops.

Subject: RE: Glasgow police song
From: Megan L
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 10:54 AM

THE COPPERS' SONG
(Hamish Imlach)
As taken from the youtube video

It wis doon in auld Invertotty
The gestapo were oot oan the beat
Looking for murder and arson
And drunks as they stoat through the street

Now two of the chief constbules agents
Had notebooks quite full of names
Forty men, three wumin and a dug
Fur pissin up closes and lanes

It was 12 oclock when they found it,
Lying there just like a log,
A badly bashed aboot body,
Tyre marks scorched up its physog.

they went through the usual procedure,
Kicked it to be sure it was dead,
Then they went through its pockets and shared oot its cash,
Smoked all its fags while it bled,

Then they lifted up his body
Wan at his head and his feet
Carried it up to an alleyway
And dumped it on another mans beat.

It was four oclock when they refoundit
Propped up in an old Chip Shop door,
It was naked by noo wi' a sign roon its neck,
"Not Wanted on Beats 3 or 4".

Subject: RE: Glasgow police song: Coppers' Song (Imlach)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 11:51 AM

What is the name of the melody for this song? John McCutcheon uses it for his "Red Corvette (a True Story)."

Subject: RE: Glasgow police song: Coppers' Song (Imlach)
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 12:03 PM

Don't know if it's the original or not , Joe, but it was also used for a song, which I seem to remember being taught in school, about being "Bound For Botany Bay".

Subject: RE: Glasgow police song: Coppers' Song (Imlach)
From: GUEST,G Man
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 04:11 PM

Botany Bay

Subject: RE: Glasgow police song: Coppers' Song (Imlach)
From: GUEST,Jim I
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 06:45 PM

It is virtually the same as the tune for the Irish song (Clancys and Makem) 'The Cobbler'.