Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row

Subject: 3 jolly boys all in a row
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 08:54 AM

Anyone know this unlikely tale? the chorus goes

The one says "aye", the other says "no",
We are three jolly boys all in a row,
In a row, in a row,
In a row, in a row.
We are three jolly boys all in a row

Thanks, Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 jolly boys all in a row
From: GUEST,Patrish
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 11:03 AM

Yes I have sung it, but was as relaxed as a newt at the time.I think it has a lot of "I Sir" No sir" in it I will do my best to remember and get back to you
Patrish

Subject: Lyr Add: AYE SIR AYE
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 11:58 AM

Remembered>>>

Aye Sir, Aye
Words and Music: Traditional

You went for a walk, sir? Aye sir, aye.
And you did the same sir? No sir, no.
You did, did you not sir? Aye sir, aye.
It's true is it not sir? No sir, no.
One says: "Aye" and the other says: "No",
we are four jolly lads all in a row,
In a row, in a row, we are four jolly lads all in row

You met a fair maiden? Aye sir, aye.
And you did the same sir? No sir, no.
You did, did you not sir? Aye sir, aye.
It's true is it not sir? No sir, no.

She's having a baby? No sir, no.
She is, is she not sir? Aye sir, aye.
It's true is it not sir? No sir, no.
He cannot deny sir? Aye sir, aye.

Will you buy the round sir? No sir, no.
And how about you sir? No sir, no.
You will, will you not sir? No sir, no.
Not one little drop sir? No sir, no.

One says: "No" and the other says: "No",
we are four thirsty lads all in a row,
In a row, in a row,
If no-one will treat us then we'll have to go!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 jolly boys all in a row
From: AndyG
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 12:04 PM

(I might have a recording of this somewhere, I'll check)
From memory:

Three Jolly Boys:

Now you went for a walk sir ?
Aye sir aye,
And you did as well sir ?
No sir no !
He did did he not sir ?
Aye sir aye,
He cannot deny it
No sir no !

For one says "aye", the other says "no",
And we are three jolly boys all in a row,
In a row, in a row,
In a row, in a row.
And we are three jolly boys all in a row

And you met a fine girl sir ?
Aye sir aye,
And you did the same sir ?
No sir no !
He did did he not sir ?
Aye sir aye,
He cannot deny it
No sir no !

Now she's having a baby
Aye sir aye,
And you are the father
No sir no !
He is is he not sir
Aye sir aye,
He cannot deny it
No sir no !

Usually led by the person in the middle adressing the chap on each side in turn.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 jolly boys all in a row
From: AndyG
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 12:11 PM

Dammit,

Always refresh before submitting...

Anyway my version is wrong in the verses and GUEST's is right, though I haven't checked yet.

I know it's three (3) jolly boys though as I remember seeing it done by Harry Boardman, amongst others, using the delivery decribed above.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 jolly boys all in a row
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 02:55 PM

The Spinners did it too! Yours,Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 jolly boys all in a row
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 06:12 PM

I have a Spinners recording of it and will check it against AndyG's and GUEST's lyrics once I find the time. I never thought anyone would remember that one! Any info on the background or where it came from? (There are no notes on my album.) - Susanne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 jolly boys all in a row
From: GUEST,Guest-Meadow Muskrat
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 10:59 PM

I saw Barrand and Roberts perform this with Cliff Haslem years ago, although I don't think they recorded it. As best as I can recall it starts:

We three jolly lads all in a row,
One says yes and the other says no.

and continues several verses in which the 2nd person says yes and the 3rd says no, until the final verse which goes:

You'll buy all around, sir. No, sir, no, sir.
He will, will he not, sir? No, sir, no.
You will, will you not, sir? No, sir, no, sir.
He will, will he not, sir? No, sir, no.
O we three thirsty lads all in a row,
One says no and the other says no.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 jolly boys all in a row
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 03:21 AM

Wow - excellent response - thanks guys!

Yes, GUEST's (is that you, Meadow Muskrat?) version is the one I remember (or forget!) done by Barrie Roberts and Mike James in the seventies. Their last verse responses went "no sir, no", "not bloody likely!" and "you must be joking!". They performed it with Roberts asking the questions and James responding, moving from one side to the other to represent a crowd.

Thanks a lot! Now, if I can just find a partner ...

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 jolly boys all in a row
From: GUEST,Patrish
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 03:46 AM

Sorry, in my hurry to post the words I forgot to put in my name. I am GUEST, but I am really Patrish.
I got the words from a recording of Tom Lewis - Mixed Cargo.
We sing it a lot
Patrish

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 jolly boys all in a row
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 11:01 AM

Ah, I got mine from live performances! I eventually rose from floor-singer to resident artiste, and replaced James when he went off to join Scotch Mist.

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 3 jolly boys all in a row
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 11:03 AM

... but I could never remember the words to this one!

Subject: Lyr Add: THREE JOLLY BOYS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Jan 10 - 02:11 PM

Obviously not complete and possibly expurgated, but at least it establishes a date and possible origin:

From More Tommy's Tunes: An Additional Collection of Soldiers' Songs, Marching Melodies, Rude Rhymes and Popular Parodies... by Frederick Thomas Nettleingham (London: Erskine Macdonald, Ltd., 1918), page 23:


THREE JOLLY BOYS

Now you'll pay the rent, sir.
—Aye, sir, aye.
And you'll do the same, sir.
—No, sir, no.
Now will he, or will he not?
—Aye, sir, aye.
You cannot deny it, sir.
—No, sir, no.

CHORUS: Now one says "aye" and the other says "no."
We are three jolly boys all in a row,
In a row, in a row, in a row, in a row.
We are three jolly boys in a row.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 24 Jan 10 - 03:49 PM

There's a long set here You Went For A Walk Sir - The Sharecroppers.

And according to my copy of the Roud index, Mike Yates recorded a se from George Spicer in 1974 (released on Topic record Blackberry Fold).

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: Brian Peters
Date: 24 Jan 10 - 04:12 PM

Harry Boardman did a great, if somewhat anarchic, local version of this song on 'Golden Stream'. He collected it from three singers in Delph, near Oldham, and recalled that it was also sung with piano accompaniment by one Fred Smithers at the Star in Scouthead, nearby.

I don't have the lyrics to hand but will try to transcribe them. I remember Harry's version had the line "You took her up Scouthead".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: GUEST,Keith Twort
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 11:10 AM

I recorded the Golden Stream many years ago (I am the K of AK records).
The Three Jolly Boys, unlike all the others, was recorded, part way through the editing session, in the front hall of my 3 bed semi! This was to replace another song which was dropped. Sadly I still have around 100 cassettes of this album, which for copyright reasons I will shortly have to scrap.
The lyrics (straight off the master!) are:

Your courted a fair maid
Aye sir aye
And you did the same sir
No sir no
He did did he not
He bloody well did
He cannot deny it sir
No, sir, no

(Chorus:

The one says aye and the other says no
We are three jolly boys all in a row
In a row, in a row, in a row, in a row!
We are three jolly boys all in a row)

You took her up Scout head
Aye Sir Aye
And you did the same sir
No, sir, no
He did, did he not,
He bloody well did,
He cannot deny it sir
No, sir, no.

(Chorus)

You played with her muslin
Aye Sir Aye
And you did the same sir
No, sir, no
He did, did he not,
He bloody well did,
He cannot deny it sir
No, sir, no.

(Chorus)

Now she had a baby
Aye sir aye
And you are the father
No, sir, no
He is, is he not,
He bloody well is,
He cannot deny it sir
No, sir, no.

(Chorus)

Now you'll buy drinks round sir
No, sir, no
And you'll do the same sir
No, Sir no
He will will he not,
He bloody well will
He cannot deny it sir,
No, sir no.

(Chorus)

Champion!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 11:19 AM

I think 3 or 4 boys is 1 or 2 too many if you look at the first line of the chorus -

The one says aye and the other says no

seems to indicate that there are only 2 jolly boys after all! I suspect the folk process has had a hand in this and when the Spinners sang it I would assume 4 (like a four piece I know sing as well) while a trio would sing three. Idealy I suppose it should be done by a duo:-)

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: GUEST,Keith Twort
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 12:09 PM

Actually, three jolly boys sang it. Taking verse one as an example:

(Jolly Boy No. 1) Your courted a fair maid
(No 2) Aye sir aye
       And you did the same sir
(No. 3)No sir no
( No 2)He did did he not
(No 1)He bloody well did
(No.1 & No 2)He cannot deny it sir
(Nos 1, 2, 3)No, sir, no

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 12:32 PM

"Golden Stream" was a brilliant LP - as far as Lancashire music went it had the lot - Songs, Recitations, Tunes and even Clog Dancing! I sing and recite quite a few of the things from this album as well as some of Harry's other songs from the earlier Topic albums.
The album was released on cassette sometime after Harry's death in 1987 and I'm sorry Keith still has a load of them left - I'm almost tempted to offer him money for them if it tempts him to bring a CD version out or consider licensing the tracks for someone else to do the job.

I get a number of people asking if "Transpennine" or "A Lancashire Mon" are available but sadly Topic records haven't made these available.

Maybe in these days of MP3 downloads it might be worth considering as there are less costs to worry about like CDs, inserts and trays, etc.

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 12:51 PM

Aye - it bloody well, can, Keith:-)

Still only mentions two in the chorus though
...and you cannot deny it, sir, no, sir, no

:D (eG)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 01:08 PM

Ah - No 1 is just a troublemaker, and the other two passing the can. No-one likes a party pooper!

K

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 02:03 AM

Keith says aye and Dave says no
We are jolly Mudcatters all in a row...

:D (eG)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: pavane
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 07:00 AM

A version was on "Rattlebone & Ploughjack", in the 1970's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: pavane
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 07:05 AM

I am led to believe that the word "jolly" itself was a ploughing term, you "jollied" the plough to ease its path. Hence plough boys were called Jolly Boys. Not sure how true.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: GUEST,Michael Bailey
Date: 12 Jun 11 - 09:50 AM

Keith Twort's version of the song is substantially correct as I remember it. Sam Marner(father of cricketer Peter Marner) kept The Old Original Inn at Scouthead in the 1950's, and a great deal of singing went on after hours. When we sang 'Three Jolly Boys' Sam posed the questions, I was the 'Aye' man, and my father Vincent was the 'No' man. Happy Days.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 08:10 PM

You can hear a brief excerpt (one verse and one chorus) of AYE, SIR, AYE sung by Tom Lewis and other unnamed singers on this page:

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: threelegsoman
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 09:47 AM

I uploaded this very song last week and it can be found at:

Aye Sir Aye

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: GUEST,Bill S from Adelaide
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 10:37 PM

Many years ago, we had a regular session going with Harry Boardman along and this was a frequent song. The first is the narrator, the other two give the responses and all sing the chorus. Most definitely three.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jan 16 - 06:01 PM

Someone has just downloaded the. Whole album on YouTube! (Grrrr!)


Keith

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 01:58 AM

Whatever the # involved -- three must be the minimum, as two could hardly be claimed to constitute 'a row', could they? I mean, two are bound to be standing in a straight line aren't they? Think about it...

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 12:59 PM

One says aye, one says no, and the other asks embarrassing questions.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Jolly Boys All in a Row
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 05:07 PM

A few years back Mark Dowding said
> I get a number of people asking if "Transpennine" or "A Lancashire Mon" are available but sadly Topic records haven't made these available.

> Maybe in these days of MP3 downloads it might be worth considering as there are less costs to worry about like CDs, inserts and trays, etc.

Both Trans Pennine and A Lancashire Mon are now available as downloads on Amazon.