Lyr Req: The Deckie (from 'The Good Hope')

Subject: LyrReq (and explanation)The Deckie
From: GUEST,jennifer thorp
Date: 15 Sep 02 - 06:45 AM

I've got bogged down with a discussion of some lyrics, which have been complicated by the fact that my correspondent is Danish. The song is "The Deckie" which I know from the music of The Good Hope (play at National Theatre last year) where it is sung by Chris Coe. If anyone knows the song I'd appreciate some help. The first part of the song describes a girl who is in love with a deckie, and we are debating over a line which appears to go "they'll go a courting with yon owner's lass" but my friend can't hear this and doesn't believe me, and I'm already contaminating his embarassingly good English with Yorkshire dialect. Have I heard right? Then the last verse describes a captain who can't get a crew together to go fishing, which doesn't seem to fit with the first part. I'm wondering if it was added to the original song to fit with the play, and come to that what the origin of the song is? The CD I've got doesn't give the source. I don't know if posting the lyrics here would be welcomed since I don't know the origins. Cheers Jennifer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: LyrReq (and explanation)The Deckie
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 15 Sep 02 - 10:51 AM

You can contact Chris Coe via the Ryburn 3 Step website, if you want to ask her about it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: LyrReq (and explanation)The Deckie
From: Micca
Date: 15 Sep 02 - 11:01 AM

A "Deckie" was Merchant Navy slang (and widespread elsewhere) for a Deckhand (often Board of Trade certificated) (as opposed to those "down below" i.e. Engineers and Firemen and stokers etc.) that is a man who worked on deck, and had wheelman and other duties as well, so in the context, I would say it was a deckhand on the trawler.

I would also surmise that the line "they'll go a courting with yon owner's lass" the "going a courting" is going away on a trip and the "owners lass" is a reference to the boat or ship. Lovely line that!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: LyrReq (and explanation)The Deckie
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 04:32 PM

Here's an ad for the soundtrack album:

http://www.geocities.com/gtaylorpage/Goodhope.htm

(But does a play have a soundtrack? Oh, well, you know what I mean.)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DECKIE
From: GUEST,jennifer thorp
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 05:19 PM

Thanks for the link to the soundtrack ad. Anyone who saw the play or thought this was a trad song might be interested I have been unravelling it a bit
The words go as follows:
I went down to dig some taties
Dig some taties for me tea
I tripped up and dropped me bucket
Deckie lad come a-kissing me

My mother said if I marry a deckie
He will surely break my heart
I don't care what me mother tells me
I'll have a deckie for my sweetheart

Scarborough lads earn gold and silver
Whitby lads earn nowt but brass
Filey lads are ne'er so choosy
They'll go a-courting with yon owner's lass

Tell me skipper is it right
Oh tell me skipper is it true
You're not going out tonight
'Cos no bugger wants to sail with you

Further information from Chris Coe:
The original was about a collier lad. The last verse comes from a different song in order to suit the story of the play (I thought it didn't follow on), while the action of the play was tailored to suit the song (Jo dropping her potatoes) The line about the owner's lass which someone commented on earlier is in fact probably a bit of John Tams tinkering
Thank you, I'll go away again now
Jennifer
www.johntams.info

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: LyrReq (and explanation)The Deckie
From: Declan
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 08:53 AM

This song is of interest to me given that I'm generally known as "Deckie" to a lot of friends and family for obvious reasons. It would proably get a giggle if I was to add it to my repertoire.

Has anyone else recorded it (other than the play soundtrack?).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: LyrReq (and explanation)The Deckie
From: Harry Basnett
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 03:32 PM

There is a version of this song known as 'The Fisher Lad'...it also relates to 'The Sailor Laddie' which may well be the original source, having been heard sung at Gosport in 1781.

All the best.............Harry Basnett.