Lyr Req: words to Ol' Riley

Subject: Lyr Req: words to Ol' Riley
From: GUEST,Jan Cantle
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 04:57 PM

I asked thus question before about the words to Ol' Riley. It was one of my favourite songs for Stuart to sing to me. As he got dementia he forgot more and more words, and then he died so I have had no way to ask about the words.

Not long ago I found a cassette tape of his singing he made for me in about 1980, and ol' Riley was on there. The only versions I have found on the net are not the one he sang.

The trouble is that it is a fast song, and very difficult to transcribe. Below are the words that we have managed to extract from the tape. Does anyone have any iideas how we can extract them more easily than repeatedly playing the tape. As it is so old, I am frightened of damaging it by repeatedly stopping and starting it. My daughter even tried putting it through speech to text software - unsuccessfully!



Ol’ Riley

Ol’ Riley done gone like a turkey through the straw
When he ran away
Ol Riley done gone like a turkey through the straw
On a hot summers day
Ch.
Ol’ Riley, Ol’ Riley
Ol’ Riley was a hard working man.

He ran through the grass and hounds couldn’t catch him,
On a long summers day
And he ran so fast they couldn’t catch him when he ran away.
Ch.
Ol Riley had a pair of shoes of his own,
They had heels in front and heels behind,
No one know which way Riley’s gwine
When he ran away.
Ch.

The next verse has something like 'he went to the country woman;s house, and she offered him some beer. Riley asked for water cos' he was being chased.

Apart from this one song, Stuart Cantle: A life in song will be published in an i book this week. I have enjoyed writing it, although at times it made me sad, But it will be a lasting link to my lovely husband.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: words to Ol' Riley
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 06:11 PM

This one? Leadbelly singing "Ol'Riley"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT8d2nRedqQ

Leadbelly lyrics for "Ol' Riley"

Here Rattler Here
Old Riley crossed the water
On them long hot summer days
Old Riley crossed the water
On them long hot summer days
Oh Sic 'im, oh sic 'im
Oh sic 'im done gone
Here rattler here
Oh sic 'im, oh sic 'im
Oh sic 'im done gone
Here rattler here
Riley crossed the water
On dem long hot summer days
Riley crossed the water
On dem long hot summer days
He's headed for the river
As sure as your born
Here, Rattler, here
He can hear the sheriff blowin his horn
Here, Rattler, here
Here old rattler
Here rattler here
Hey old rattler
Here rattler here
Oh Sic 'im, oh sic 'im
Oh sic 'im done gone
Here rattler here
Oh sic 'im, oh sic 'im
Oh sic 'im done gone
Here rattler here
Riley crossed the water
On dem long hot summer days
Riley crossed the water
On dem long hot summer days
He's headed for the river
Where we can't go
Here, Rattler, here
Headed up north for freedom land
Here, Rattler, here
Hey old rattler
Here rattler here
Hey old rattler
Here rattler here
Oh Sic 'im, oh sic 'im
Oh sic 'im done gone
Here rattler here
Oh sic 'im, oh sic 'im
Oh sic 'im done gone
Here rattler here
Old Riley crossed the water
In them long hot summer days
Old Riley crossed the water
In them long hot summer days

Rambling Jack Elliott singing -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYw-ilkgFBA

Lonnie Donegan singing (possibly in Chris Barber's Jazz Band)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDW9rqHtQCs

Ross

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: words to Ol' Riley
From: Howard Jones
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 03:56 AM

You could make a digital copy of the tape by connecting the cassette player to a computer (or if that's not possible, use a microphone) and using software such as Audacity (which is free). Once you have a copy on your computer you can stop and start it as much as you like without risking damage to the tape. You can also slow it down, although while that can be useful for working out how a melody goes it might not make lyrics any more intelligible.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: words to Ol' Riley
From: GUEST,Jan Cantle
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 06:08 AM

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will get a grandchild to help me with the software. Unfortunately, I suspect Stuart's version is a combination of several versions of the songs, rather than a straight copy of Leadbelly or Lonnie Donegan. And having recently gone through all his Vinyl EP's ot is not on any of them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: words to Ol' Riley
From: Mr Red
Date: 04 Apr 19 - 06:13 AM

it might not make lyrics any more intelligible.

repetition can make the words clearer. And once you "know" the words they become obvious. More postings of verses/versions would help there.

(Isn't the brain a wondrous thing?)