Lyr Req: Manchester Rambler

Subject: Manchester Rambler
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Dec 01 - 03:11 PM

Transferred from the Help forum:

Subject: Can't find album
From: [e-mail] Carol Higgins
Date: 30-Dec-01 - 02:57 PM

I love "Manchester Rambler" on album "Black and White", Ewan MacColl, 1983. Any chance of finding it? I am specifically after the song above. Thanks, Carol Higgins

I can't tell if Carol wants an album to purchase, or the lyrics. I'll e mail for clarification.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Manchester Rambler
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 31 Dec 01 - 03:19 PM

Eh?

Manchester Rambler is in the DT

'Black and White' can be purchased pretty much anywhere (that sells CDs)

Paul

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Manchester Rambler
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Dec 01 - 03:27 PM

I know, Paul. Sheet music is over at the DT mirror. Waiting to hear what Carol really wants.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Manchester Rambler
From: GUEST,CArol Higgins
Date: 31 Dec 01 - 09:47 PM

I am after the performance of Manchester Rambler, so I guess it is the album I want--cassette or CD. I want to hear it! . I played a bit of it from the album "Black and White" (1997). I know there was an earlier one made (1983) but the newer one is probably better. Thanks for your help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Manchester Rambler
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Dec 01 - 10:42 PM

Barnes and Noble carries it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Manchester Rambler
From: alanKH
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 04:32 PM

I have it MP3 if you want it mailed to you?

Alan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Manchester Rambler
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 04:37 PM

CAMSCO Music carries it. 800/548-FOLK (3655)

Carries everything else, to.

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M A RAMBLER (MANCHESTER HIKER'S SONG)
From: GUEST,hrothgar
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 04:53 AM

(a) Extra verse 2.

(b) Check some of the place names - the DT version was probably put in by a musician with no feeling for words.

(c) Title: "I'm a Rambler (the Manchester Hiker's Song).

(d) If I remember correctly, some bits of it were used in "The Ballad of John Axon."

(e) From "Ewan MacColl Peggy Seeger Songbook" Oak Publication, New York, N.Y. 1963. Copyright Stormking Music, Inc 1963.

I've been over Snowdon, I've slept up on Crowden,
I've camped by the Wain Stones as well.
I've sunbathed on Kinder, been burned to a cinder,
And many more things I can tell.
My rucksack has oft been my pillow,
The heather has oft been my bed,
And sooner than part from the mountains,
I think I would rather be dead.

CHORUS:
I'm a rambler, I'm a rambler, from Manchester way,
I get all my pleasure the hard moorland way.
I may be a wage slave on Monday,
But I am a free man on Sunday.

There's pleasure in dragging through peat bogs and bragging
Of all the fine walks that you know;
There's even a measure of some kind of pleasure
In wading through ten feet of snow.
I've stood on the edge of the Downfall,
And seen all the valleys outspread,
And sooner than part from the mountains
I think I would rather be dead.

The day was just ending as I was descending
Down Grindsbrook, just by Upper Tor,
When a voice said "Hey, you!" in the way keepers do
He'd the worst face that I ever saw.
The tone of his voice was unfriendly,
In the teeth of his fury I said
"Jack, sooner than part from these mountains
I think I would rather be dead."

He called me a louse, he said "Think of the grouse!"
Well, I thought, but I just couldn't see
Why old Kinder Scout and the moors round about
Couldn't take both the poor grouse and me.
He said "All this land is my master's"
But at that I stood shaking my head
For no man has a right to the mountains
Any more than the deep ocean bed.

I once courted a maid, a spot welder by trade,
She was fair as the rowan in bloom
And the blue of her eye matched the blue moorland sky
And I loved her from April till June.
On the day that we should have been married,
I went for a ramble instead,
For sooner than part from my mountains
I think I would rather be dead.

So I go where I will, over valley and hill,
And I lie where the bracken is deep.
I belong to the mountains, to the pure crystal fountains,
Where the rocks they are rugged and steep.
I have seen the white hare in the heather
And the curlew fly high overhead
And sooner than part from the mountains,
I think I would rather be dead.

HTML line breaks added --JoeClone, 4-Jan-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Manchester Rambler
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 31 May 18 - 07:59 AM

In "The Essential EM Song Book"
2001 Peggy Seeger
it has
"But I have my freedom on Sunday"
'c' 1978 Ewan MacColl, Ltd
with an explanation about why he changed it from
"I am a free man..."

Though I rarely hear anyone sing "my freedom"


~~~~~~~~~~~
also
"The things that he said were unpleasant;
In the teeth of his fury I said,
"Sooner than part from the mountains..." "

"And the blue of her eye mocked the June moorland sky,
And I wooed her..."

"... , the clear running fountains
Where the grey rocks rise rugged and steep."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Manchester Rambler
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 31 May 18 - 07:50 PM

Pat and I had the pleasure of being at The Singers Club one night when a crowd of Ewan's old mates from the'Trespassers Protests' walked in, including the leader, Benny Rothman
We sat for an hour after the club had finished listening to reminiscences of the protests - magic night - special people
Jim Caarroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Manchester Rambler
From: Brian Peters
Date: 02 Jun 18 - 09:27 AM

The Mass Trespass is still commemorated by a group in Hayfield, the starting point of the walk. I've been known to sing 'Manchester rambler' at their annual event.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Manchester Rambler
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 03 Jun 18 - 11:01 PM

Is that in the little car park area by the camp-site, Brian? Parked there a number of times in the past and seen the commemorative plaque.

Subject: Manchester Rambler - Version new to me!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Jun 20 - 10:28 AM

By the man himself and his daughter on Kirsty's album "The one and only".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N_wU0wsp8k

I'm sure many will have heard it before. To those, like me, that haven't - Enjoy :-)

Subject: RE: Manchester Rambler - Version new to me!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Jul 20 - 04:46 AM

This one is quite pleasant too. Although Rod could have given a bit more background than when he first recorded it!

Subject: RE: Manchester Rambler - Version new to me!
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Jul 20 - 05:01 AM

Manchester Rambler is a good song and that is a good version.

Subject: RE: Manchester Rambler - Version new to me!
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 03 Jul 20 - 08:17 AM

"Manchester Rambler is a good song and that is a good version."
It's always been regarded a such Dick
We were at the Singers the night the surviving mass trespassers turned up to wish Ewan a happy 70th
Kirsty did several choruses with Ewan and Peg and made a nice job of them
Pat and I joined her on the extremely difficult South African, 'White Wind' track- proud to have been part of that great composition
Not sure what to say about the Rod Steward and football crown ensemble - maybe I missed the smiley at the end
The words of 'Dirty of Town need to be heard and uncluttered to be appreciated IMO :-)
Jim

Subject: RE: Manchester Rambler - Version new to me!
From: JHW
Date: 03 Jul 20 - 08:25 AM

As I remember it but a pleasant reminder. Never likely to do the Pennine Way but might make Kinder one day. I love being out on foot. The Joy of Living is another great song.

Subject: RE: Manchester Rambler - Version new to me!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Jul 20 - 10:19 AM

I did all my early walking on and around Kinder and, yes, I am from Manchester! Get there if you can. Crossing the plateau takes some skill and a bit of good luck with the weather but is very rewarding. If it's too wet or foggy, stick to the edges.

Subject: RE: Manchester Rambler - Version new to me!
From: The Sandman
Date: 04 Jul 20 - 02:50 AM

I believe it was his first song?

Subject: RE: Manchester Rambler - Version new to me!
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 04 Jul 20 - 04:03 AM

It's certainly early - 1932, but he was almost certainly making songs for factory-gate theatre productions before that, according to Peggy and Eddie Frow
Most of the earlier ones were lost
Jim

Subject: RE: Manchester Rambler - Version new to me!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Jul 20 - 05:53 AM

Sorry, should have made it clear that my second link is a different Ewan McColl song. I'm sure most people will spot that anyway :-)

Subject: RE: Manchester Rambler - Version new to me!
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 05 Jul 20 - 03:28 AM

I did comment on that a couple of postings down Dave - though it was difficult to tell

Jim