Who Wrote These Geordie Songs?

Subject: Who Wrote These Geordie Songs?
From: Tim Salt
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 10:44 AM

Does anybody out there know who wrote "Little Chance" and "Wor Nanny's Amazer"? Any help greatly appreciated.

Tim

Subject: RE: Who Wrote These Geordie Songs?
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 11:14 AM

Nanny's A Mazer was written by Tommy Armstrong the famous songwriter from the Durham coalfields.

Little Chance is, as far as I know anonymous, with a well-known version from the singing of Jack Elliott of Birtley. The notes to his recording of it say a family variant of a fairly popular mining song of the area;tune - probably music hall. Lloyd gives 2 versions in Come All Ye Bold Miners - the earliest reference there is to 1915 - I can give you the sources if you want them. It was also used to accompany collecting money with a 'tup'

Mick

Subject: RE: Who Wrote These Geordie Songs?
From: little john cameron
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 01:38 PM

Here's the lyrics for ye.clickhere

Subject: RE: Who Wrote These Geordie Songs?
From: Tim Salt
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 01:54 PM

Mick

Thanks for your speedy reply - that's brilliant. I'm in the process of finishing the artwork for a CD I've produced of a concert we had at folk club. I'm doing the credits and these were two of the songs that were performed on the night and couldn't get this info elsewhere. I can get it all finished now - thanks.

Little John - thanks for the lyrics - I don't think I'll ever be performing the song - especially not in Newcastle! but it's good to see what's being sung and try to work out what it's about. Any idea what a mazer is?

Thanks again.

Tim

Subject: RE: Who Wrote These Geordie Songs?
From: little john cameron
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 02:02 PM

Nae borrah Tim.
MAZER. A wonder, an eccentric. Well known word from Tommie Armstrongs famous Song - Wor Nannie's a mazor.

Subject: RE: Who Wrote These Geordie Songs?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 02:05 PM

No need to look so far for texts; they are both here in the Forum.

Lyr Add: Our Nanny's A Mazor
ADD: LITTLE CHANCE  John Elliot of Birtley's set.
And again, here:  RE: Old Northumbria  -this time with some additional information on provenance.

Subject: RE: Who Wrote These Geordie Songs?
From: breezy
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 06:40 PM

hey Guest MCP do you come from Middlesboro'?

Subject: RE: Who Wrote These Geordie Songs?
From: Tim Salt
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 06:44 PM

Thanks for the info and explanation.

Tim

Subject: RE: Who Wrote These Geordie Songs?
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 07:15 PM

breezy - No. Though I did once come from Middlesbrough, a town which suffered from a slight deficiency in the letter o department.

With reference to your earlier post on the songs of Graeme Miles and your January guest, I have heard him play and couldn't recommend him.

Mick

Subject: RE: Who Wrote These Geordie Songs?
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 07:41 PM

breezy - to clarify - I couldn't recommend the January guest (not referring to Graeme Miles of course, whose songs were like mother's milk during my childhood years).

Mick