ADD: Hole in the Ground (from Bernard Cribbins)

Subject: Hole In The Ground
From: Alex
Date: 15 Nov 97 - 02:21 AM

Just heard Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen do "Right, Said Fred" and was reminded of another song made famous by Bernard Cribbens in the 60's. "There was I, diggin' this hole, hole in the ground, so big and sorta round .... " It ends with " ... it ain't there now, the ground's all flat - and beneath it is the bloke with the bowler hat" Anyone help with the rest?

Subject: RE: Hole In The Ground
From: Simon in New Zealand
Date: 19 Nov 97 - 02:42 AM

I am sure I've got the old single somewhere, it was by Bernard Cribbins I think. I'll try and dig it out.

Subject: RE: Hole In The Ground
From: Helen
Date: 19 Nov 97 - 05:48 AM

Another two old songs I used to like, no make that three, were:

Give me back my gabardine mac, it's too big for you. Here am I nearly 6(?) foot tall, you're only five foot two ........ (Can't remember any more than that)

Also:

"Where did you get that hat, where did you get that style? etc"

Also: "My old man said follow the van, and don't dilly-dally on the way"

What I liked about all of these songs are the bouncy tunes, as much as the silly words. I suppose they were music hall songs, or something like that. All very British, tongue-in-cheek.

Helen

Subject: RE: Hole In The Ground
From: Alex
Date: 19 Nov 97 - 10:12 PM

Simon, if you can find the words, I'd be grateful. I can't believe you would still have the single! Helen the songs you mention were more pub songs than music hall. They may even go back to WW2 or earlier. Talking of silly words, I guess it depends on who is doing them. For example "Splish Splash" which was recorded by Bobby Darin and sung somewhat seriously as early rock 'n' roll was covered in Britain by Charlie Drake (we mentioned him in the "Boomerang Won't Come Back" thread) and played as a comic song.

Subject: RE: Hole In The Ground
From: pjstreet
Date: 22 Nov 97 - 09:51 PM

Helen, Do you know the words to My old may said follow the van? I know most of them; my british ex-husband used to sing it. He sang a couple others, too: I wish a was a rock. and When I'm cleaning windows.

Subject: RE: Hole In The Ground
From: Helen
Date: 23 Nov 97 - 05:36 PM

I didn't remember the words to this songbut I found it at http://mypage.direct.ca/f/fstringe/m.html

My old man said, "Follow the van, Don't dilly-dally on the way!" Off went the cart with the home packed in it, I walked behind with my old cook linnet. But I dillied and dallied, dallied and dillied Lost the van and don't know where to roam, You can't trust the 'specials' like the old time 'coopers' When you can't find you way home.

I don't know the words to the other two songs either.

Helen

Subject: RE: Hole In The Ground
From: Bert
Date: 24 Nov 97 - 04:21 PM

PJ,
Look at the URL that Wolgang gave us on the "houses in between" thread.

I might have a recording of My Dad singing "When I'm cleaning windows."

He sings several of those old George Formby songs.

I'll see if I can find it for you.

Subject: RE: Hole In The Ground
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 04:46 AM

Well there I was digging this hole
Hole in the ground, big and sorta round it was.
And there I was digging this hole.
It was flat at the bottom and the sides were steep.
And along comes this bloke in a bowler, he lifts his hat and sez.
Oh don't dig it there, dig it elsewhere
you're digging it round and it ought to be square
The shape's all wrong,it's much too long,
and you can't put a hole where a hole don't belong.
Well there I was digging this hole
Hole in the ground big and sorta round it was
It's not there now, the ground's all flat
and beneath it is the bloke in the bowler hat'
So that's that.

Subject: Lyr Add: HOLE IN THE GROUND (from Bernard Cribbins
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 11:25 AM

Full monty:

There I was, a-digging this hole
A hole in the ground, so big and sort of round it was
And there was I, digging it deep
It was flat at at the bottom and the sides were steep
When along, comes this bloke in a bowler which he lifted and scratched his head
Well he looked down the hole, poor demented soul and he said:

"Do you mind if I make a suggestion?"

"Don't dig there, dig it elsewhere
Your digging it round and it ought to be square
The shape of it's wrong, it's much too long
And you can't put a hole where a hole don't belong."

I ask, what a liberty eh?
Nearly bashed him right in the bowler

Well there was I, stood in my hole
Shovelling earth for all that I was worth, I was
There was him, standing up there
So grand and official with his nose in the air
So I gave him a look sort of sideways and I leaned on my shovel and sighed

Well I lit me a fag and having took a drag I replied:

"I just couldn't bear, to dig it elsewhere
I'm digging it round 'cause I don't want it square
And if you disagree it doesn't bother me
That's the place where the hole's going to be."

Well there we were, disscussing this hole
A hole in the groud so big and sort of round it was
It's not there now, the ground's all flat
And beneath it is the bloke in the bowler hat.

And that's that!

Subject: RE: Hole In The Ground
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 11:44 AM

You can hear it here: http://www.edict.com.hk/vlc/listening/cribbins/holeframes.htm

Subject: RE: Hole In The Ground
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 12:26 PM

Oh, wow, guys. What fun!!! (I listened) Thanks evah so....          Tw