Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song

Subject: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:38 PM

I found this thread in the Google Cache, and I'll try to reconstitute it, as best I can.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nick Dow Song
From: GUEST,Singerdave
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:38 PM

Have been given two lines to a traveller song by Nick Dow:-
We've been here now for fourteen days
As time as we were gone

can anyone help further please, even from you Nick as an old friend would like. Thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: GUEST,cnd
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:39 PM

Nick Dow was formerly involved here -- perhaps someone has a contact they could provide you with to get the lyrics from the source? I understand he is unlikely to return to the forum himself, but if he does share the lyrics with you, one way or the other, I'm sure other people would be interested to read them.

Here's the song - "Dont live and dream, live the dream" April 2021 Song by Mick Darling and Nick Dow (Facebook link)

I can transcribe if you'd like (and indeed, someone should, as Facebook links are wont to be short-lived and finicky), but someone may be better suited for it than I. If no one else wants to, I'll give it a stab at a later date.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:40 PM

CND, whatever you can do I'd appreciate that for this old friend of mine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: GUEST,Steve Gardham
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:40 PM

Nick is active here often. I'm sure he'll spot this soon.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: GUEST,Keith Price
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:41 PM

I think Nick has withdrawn from Mudcat Steve.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: GUEST,The Sandman
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:41 PM

nick dow has an e mail adress if you email me at dickmiles77at gmail.com i will send it to you singer dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: GUEST,Steve Gardham
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:42 PM

Okay I'll email him now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:42 PM

Very kind of you all to help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: GUEST,cnd
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:43 PM

Below is my attempt at a transcription. Part of the challenge here is that Nick used several Gypsy words. I found two relatively large dictionaries here and here. I've italicized words I've identified as Gypsy and will provide a definition list below based on those links.

I am open to feedback and corrections. Hopefully Nick or someone more familiar with the language and accent can come along and offer some direction.



We'd been here now for fourteen days, it's time as we were gone
The muskers and the lawyers say we should be moving on
So ??tend?? the chickens, tie the goat, and bridle up the grai
There's work to do and songs to sing, so lets be on our way

CHORUS
Wit me to ra laddy, wack fa laddy, too ra loo ra lay
Wit me to ra laddy, wack fa laddy, too ra loo ra lay

Well I've built me a wagon up from scratch and kept it on the road
I've raised my children proud and strong to help me bear the load
I've watched the seasons come and go for nigh on thirty years
I've fought to earn my living and I've never shed a tear

CHORUS

Well I've passed my time in dealing scrap, I've ??peddled?? up the grai
Made ??puffits??, baskets, wooden bows the Gorgios loved to buy
With a bounty's whip and a walking stick made from the holly tree
It's my darling makes the ???? they're the best you'll ever see

CHORUS

Well I've passed the winter locked in snow, I've battled with the mire
I've found the food as best I could and cooked it on the fire
Colder than the winter, black as any crow
Is the scorn and hate of the magistrate to ??? on their road

CHORUS

They send JCBs and council thugs to try and make us go
Their summons and evictions keep us moving to and fro
But whether we're here or Wentworth there or camping on the moon
We'll still be here on doomsday and stay til afternoon

CHORUS

But whether we're here or Wentworth there or camping on the moon
We'll still be here on doomsday and stay til afternoon

CHORUS






muskers/mushgros - policemen
grai - horse
Gorgio - a non-gypsy
JCB - not necessarily a gypsy term, but one I wasn't familiar with; it's a construction equipment company

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:43 PM

We'd been here now for fourteen days, it's time as we were gone,
The muskras and the lawyers say we should be moving on,
So pen the chickens, tie the goat, and bridle up the grai,
There's work to do and songs to sing, so lets be on our way.

CHORUS
With me to ra laddy, wack fa laddy, too ra loo ra lay,
With me to ra laddy, wack fa laddy, too ra loo ra lay.

Well I've built me a wagon up from scratch and kept it on the road,
I've raised my children proud and strong to help me bear the load,
I've watched the seasons come and go for nigh on thirty years,
I've fought to earn my living and I've never shed a tear.

CHORUS

Well I've passed my time in dealing scrap, I've fettled up the grai,
Made buffets, baskets, wooden flowers the Gorgios loved to buy,
With a pony's whip and a walking stick made from the holly tree,
It's Mic Darling makes the clothes pegs they're the best you'll ever see.

CHORUS

Well I've passed the winter locked in snow, I've battled with the mire,
I've found the food as best I could and cooked it on the fire,
Colder than the winter, black as any crow,
Is the scorn and hate of the magistrate who'll force us on the road.

CHORUS

They send JCBs and council thugs to try and make us go,
Their summons and evictions keep us moving to and fro,
But whether we're here or Whitworth fair or camping on the moon,
We'll still be here on doomsday and stay 'til afternoon.

CHORUS

But whether we're here or Whitworth fair or camping on the moon,
We'll still be here on doomsday and stay 'til afternoon.

CHORUS

Muskra- Policeman

Buffet- wooden Stool

Fettle up -shoe the horse

Mic Darling- Traveller and singer

Whitworth fair- Horse fair revived by the late Walter Lloyd near Bacup, but harassed out of existence by Police and the local council.

The moon- Bacup heights, traditional camping ground, but full of large holes dug for coal slag. Christened the moon, because they look like craters.

JCB's large mechanical diggers, used to dig ditches and lift large stones to block off Traveller, and Gypsy camping grounds.

The best you'll ever see- There was a friendly rivalry between Travellers and Gypsies to see who could make the best clothes pegs, in traditional way with a peg knife and stripped willow. Mic Darling was the best at this (if nothing else).

The tune used is Traditional, (When I was a little boy)

This song was written for a Channel four programme about an eviction from Whitworth, but never used. The council and the police did their best to make life hell for all concerned, after it's broadcast.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: GUEST,Joe Offer
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:45 PM

Hi, Nick - up above, cnd posted a link to "Dont live and dream, live the dream" April 2021 Song by Mick Darling and Nick Dow (Facebook link)
Is that the title of the song? Is the songwriter attribution correct?

There's a YouTube video called Don't live and dream, live the dream, part 1 Jan to March 2021 songs by Tommy Doran. What's the connection?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 27 Apr 22 - 05:45 PM

Words written by Nick Dow. The song never had a title, due to its intended use on T.V. Since Mic Darling was mentioned, we settled upon 'The Mic Darling song' as a working title, for want of a better one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nick Dow Song
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 Apr 22 - 09:52 AM

Nick, just a thought...why not include this great song as the signoff in our current book? Very relevant and a masterpiece.