Lyr Req: The July Wakes

Subject: The July Wakes
From: Catlin
Date: 12 Jul 00 - 05:55 PM

I had this song on a Mike Harding LP and I'm hoping one of you nice people have the Lyrics. I can remember one of the lines is "and we'll taste clean rain", and as the title suggests it's about Wakes week in a Lancashire town
*Hugs*
Catlin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The July Wakes
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 12 Jul 00 - 08:59 PM

It's also sung by Gary & Vera Aspey on their 1979 LP 'Seeing Double' Topic 12TS407. Since it's 1.55 am here now, I'm off to bed but if no-one comes up with the words by tonight then I'll post them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The July Wakes
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 12 Jul 00 - 11:54 PM

G'day Catlin,

I just looked at DigiTrad, using [clean rain] and [july wakes] and neither came up with this song - which surprises me as I know that I got the words from somewhere and I thought it was here.

I will look at my archives on my home computer and see if I can locate it. It is a great song.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The July Wakes
From: AndyG
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 05:11 AM

Try here

AndyG

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The July Wakes
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 11:41 PM

G'day AndyG,

I had just worked out (spelled: remembered ... sort of ...) that I got the words from the same posting. I guess we need to remind one Joe Offer or Max to 'harvest' that one into DigiTrad.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: Lyr Add: JULY WAKES
From: Anglo
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 12:02 AM

(This from a thread on Mar 17, which I found with a search for "wakes" - don't know why "july wakes" wouldn't work, it's in the thread title. I also suppose I should do a blue clicky rather than copy and paste, but I am technologically limited.)

JULY WAKES

Looms are swept an' t'brass is drawn
An' me an' Jack we'll be up at dawn
An' we're off to beg or steal or pawn
For t'July Wakes.

We've sweat for one and fifty weeks
An' human limbs, like looms, they'll creak
So we'll go and climb up Pendle Cheek
And rest us limbs.

We'll roam in t'woods an' sprawl in th'hay
An' watch great clouds swing up at play
And if they brast, we'll turn that way
And taste clean rain.

We'll follow rivers up to t'sky
And watch great fishes swimmin' by
An' we'll sup from brooks when we get dry
And stand up men.

Day's carefree till Jack, downcast
Watchin' larks and linnets racin' past
Hears the hooters moan through the linnet's blast
To 'ell wi' t'looms!

Cos Monday'll see us back in t'shed
Watchin' shuttles spewin' out miles and miles of thread
And we'll be weavin' fifty one weeks of bread
And one of life.

This from Mike Harding's book, Folk Songs of Lancashire (Whitethorn Press, 1980), which I had forgotten I had. He says, "The words for this song were written by Richard Pomfret and the tune was put to it by Stan Ellison." No chords are given, so you'll have to work out your own!
Malcolm

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