Origins:Jeelie Piece Song (Skyscraper Wean)-McNaug

Subject: The Jelly Piece song
From: GUEST,JulieF (someones's lost the cookie)
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 03:48 PM

Has anyone got the words to the Jelly piece song. I had them at some point and I've lost them. I think Billy Connoly sang it and its about when people in Glasgow were moved from the tennaments to high rise flats.

It begins :-

Oh you canny throw a jelly piece froma twenty storey flat 20 thousand Glasgow Wains will testify to that.

I've said to someone that i would try and sing something funny as opposed to just sounding funny when I sing

Thanks

Julie

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 04:23 PM

THE JEELIE PIECE SONG (SKYSCRAPER WEAN)

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 05:52 PM

There's also lots of discussion in the associated "threads" which you may find worth raking over. Great song!

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: GUEST,JulieF (Cookie still adrift at home)
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 09:22 AM

Thanks Malcolm, much appreciated

Julie

Subject: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: GUEST,Barry
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 09:28 AM

Hello All
I was wondering if you could help me with this wee song as I heard it years ago in a junior talent contest. I'm not sure who wrote it or anything but it was a dead catschy tune. Can you please help me with the chords.
It Goes
oh yae cannae fling peices oot a twenty story flat
700 hungry weans will testify tae that

and so on
Thanking you
Baz

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 10:27 AM

In the DT.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 11:29 AM

we (well, my wife, Ferrara) learned it from Ed Miller a number of years ago. Cute song.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 05:52 PM

It's by Adam McNaughtan. the same canny Scot that wrote Oor Hamlet. You can hear him sing it on the double CD "The Words I Used to Know"--$13.98 at CAMSCO.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: GUEST,scabby doug
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 03:48 AM

And also "Yellow on the Broom" and "Where is the Glasgow" and "Cholesterol", "Thomas Muir of Huntershill" and much much more.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: GUEST,Barry
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 04:24 AM

Thanks Scorcha .
I was looking for the chords though as I have the lyrics
if any one can help then it would be appreciated
Barry

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From:
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 05:16 PM

Found it. However, someone's picking me up in 5 minutes, so I'll post it later tonight!

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: GUEST,Barry
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 05:27 PM

Cheers George
thats great
Baz

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: Jim McLean
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 05:36 PM

I wrote 'Where is the Glasow' in answer to Adam's 'The Glasgow I used to Know'.
Jim Mclean

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: GUEST,Scabby Douglas
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 08:35 PM

My apologies, Jim. I mis-named Adam's song, because of the first line. I know your song and Adam's and they are both crackers.

I regularly hear your song at sessions.

(Threadcreep) And another one of yours turned up at Girvan Folk fest in the "Traditional singing Competition" - "Smile In Your Sleep" - did I get that title right? :)
I din't have the heart to tell the girl who sang it that it not traditional.

Back to "Where is the Glasgow?". I remember reading - probably in Ewan McVicar's book - that Adam will follow his song with yours. To my shame, I can't remember whether he did that or not when I saw him
a couple of years ago.

Once again - my apologies for inadvertently confounding the songs.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: Jim McLean
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 05:24 AM

No problems, scabbydoug, it's probably my fault in naming my song so close to Adam's. Smile in your Sleep is correct although it's sometimes called Hush, Hush or even Don't Cry in your Sleep'!
Cheers,
Jim

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From:
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 07:28 AM

[D]     I'm a [D]skyscraper wean; I live [A7]on the nineteenth flair.
But I'm no' gaun cot tae [D]play ony mair,
'Cause [G]since we moved to Castlemilk, I'm [D]wastin' away
'Cause [A7]I'm getting wan meal [A7]less every [D]day: Oh ye

 

Hope that helps.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 06:56 PM

Iain MacKintosh also used to sing Adam's and Jim's songs 'back-to-back' and recorded them on one of his earlier albums. They're both great, though Adam's song is soaked in a nostalgia notably absent from Jim's obviously less fond memories ...

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 04:34 AM

it is on google

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 04:42 AM

The writer's name is Adam McNaughtAn (not McNaughton).

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: akenaton
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:05 AM

It's "jeelie" not (jelly).....Ake

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: akenaton
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:10 AM

Diane dear,(not a patronising dear)....you and I are right in line for folk music "pedant of the year".....

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:15 AM

Dunno about you, Ake dahling, but I wouldn't want to be the one to cross Mr McNaughtan . . .

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: GUEST,AR
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:24 AM

I met him the other day - nice guy.

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: GUEST,Charley O'Neill
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 02:03 PM

I had this on a cracking comedy lp by Matt McGinn, I think recorded in a police club ! Anyone remember him,I believe was an influence on the young billy Connolly

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 02:44 PM

Diane-

Thanks for the correction!

It's best to credit the proper person for a great song.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: akenaton
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:38 PM

Knew Matt pretty well and sunk a few jars with him back then.

Never heard him sing any material other than his own.

As a writer and perfomer...excellent
As a human...one of the very best...Ake

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: GUEST,Boab guest
Date: 15 Jun 09 - 03:14 PM

Adam MacNaughtan is playing Irvine, North Ayrshire in August as part of the Marymass celebrations.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Jun 09 - 03:30 PM

Adam sings his entire repertoire unaccompanied. I'm not sure he even owns a guitar.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Jun 09 - 05:29 PM

Give Adam our best!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 15 Jun 09 - 05:48 PM

From me too! Wish I was there ...

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Skyscraper wean(jeely peice)song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Jun 09 - 09:28 PM

I believe Celia Fisher also did a cover of the "Jeely Piece Song." What is the proper spelling of this song?

Here are some of my old notes:

Words by Adam McNaughtan ©
Recorded on The Words that I Used to Know
Greentrax CD TRAX 195D
Tune: English Music Hall "My Old Man's a Dustman"

Skyscraper Wean

I'm a skyscraper wean, I live on the nineteenth flair,
But I'm no' gaun oot tae play ony mair;
Since we moved tae Castlemilk, I'm wastin' away,
'Cause I'm getting' wan less meal every day.

Chorus:

Oh, ye cannae fling pieces oot a twinty-storey flat;
Seven-hundred hungry weans will testify tae that;
If it's butter, cheese or jeely, if the breid be plain or pan,
The odds against it reachin' earth are ninty-nine tae wan.

On the first day my maw flung oot a piece o' Hovis broon;
It came skytin' oot the windae and went up insteid o' doon,
Noo every twinty-seven 'oors it comes back intae sight,
'Cos my piece went intae orbit and became a satellite. (CHO)

On the second day ma maw flung me a piece oot wance again;
It went and hut the pilot in a fast, low-flyin' plane;
He scraped it aff his goggles, shoutin' through the intercom:
"The Clydeside Reds huv goat me wi' a breid-and-jeely bomb!" (CHO)

On the third day ma maw thought she would try another throw;
The Salvation Army band was staunin' doon below;
"Onward, Christain Soldiers" was the piece they should have played,
But the oompah-man was playin' a piece an' marmalade. (CHO)

We've wrote awa' tae Oxfam to try and get some aid,
And a' the weans in Castlemilk have formed a "Piece" brigade;
We're gonnae march tae George's Square, demandin' civil rights,
Like "Nae Mair Hooses Ower Piece-Flingin' Height!" (CHO)

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Jeelie Piece Song (Skyscraper Wean)
From: GUEST,Hugh Shaw
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 10:16 AM

D                                     A
I'm a skyscarper wean I live oan the 19th flair and I'm no gaun oot tae
D                  G                               D         Bm
play ony mair coz since we moved tae Castlemilk I'm wastin' away for
A                               D
I'm gettin' wan less meal every day.


D                              A
O ye cannae fling pieces oot a twenty storey flat 700 hungry waens'll
D                        G                            D
testify tae that if it's butter cheese or jeely if yer breid is plain
   Bm      A                                        D
or pan the odds against it reachin' earth are 99 tae wan.

Hope this is helps you. The Bm chord is optional you'll get away with just carrying on with the D chord. Regards Hugh Shaw

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Jeelie Piece Song (Skyscraper Wean)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Mar 11 - 10:24 AM

Whose chords are those? (Not Adam Macnaughtan's, obviously).

The tune is a variant of "John Brown's Body", I assume that's where somebody got the chords from.

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 09:28 AM

where can i listen to it

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 12:30 PM

Here -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U8HtzXZiUg

Alistair Macdonald singing the well known Skyscraper wean song AKA the jeely piece song - well illustrated by BigTimProductions.
Ross

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: Allan Conn
Date: 30 Jan 13 - 02:31 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A7SAPmcwXA

Matt Mcginn's version

Subject: RE: The Jelly Piece song
From: Jim McLean
Date: 30 Jan 13 - 05:00 AM

Matt also recorded my Lady Chat.

Subject: RE: Origins:Jeelie Piece Song (Skyscraper Wean)-McNaug
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Feb 19 - 10:03 PM

These are the words in the Digital Tradition, but I understand they are not quite correct. Can somebody post a full, corrected version?
Thanks.
-Joe-

---

THE JEELIE PIECE SONG (SKYSCRAPER WEAN)
(Adam McNaughton)

I'm a skyscraper wean, I live on the nineteenth flair,
But I'm no gaun oot to play ony mair,
Since we moved to Castlemilk, I'm wasting away,
'Cause I'm getting one less meal every day.

O ye cannae fling pieces oot a twenty-story flat,
Seven-hundred hungry weans will testify to that,
If it's butter, cheese or jeely, if the breid is plain or pan,
The odds against it reaching earth and ninety-nine to one.

On the first day my maw flung out a piece o' Hovis brown.
It came skyting oot the winda and went up insteid o' doon,
But every twenty-seven hours it comes back into sight,
'Cause my piece went into orbit and became a satellite.

One the second day my maw flung me a piece oot once again.
It went and hit the pilot in a fast, low-flying plane.
He scraped it off his goggles, shouting through the intercom:
`The Clydeside Reds have got me wi' a breid-and-jeely bomb!'

One the third day my maw thought she would try another throw.
The Salvation Army band was staunin' doon below.
`ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS' was the piece they should have played,
But the oompah-man was playing a piece-on-marmalade.

We've wrote away tae Oxfam to try and get some aid,
And a' the weans in Castlemilk have formed a ``Piece'' brigade;
We're going to march to George's Square, demanding civil rights,
Like `Nae Mair Hooses Over Piece-Flinging Height!'

@Scottish @food
filename[ JEELIEPC
TUNE FILE: JEELIEPC
CLICK TO PLAY
BR

Popup Midi Player

Subject: RE: Origins:Jeelie Piece Song (Skyscraper Wean)-McNaug
From: nigelgatherer
Date: 18 Feb 19 - 04:29 AM

Finlay Allison, who has performed with Adam MacNaughtan for many years, recently corrected me when I was talking about this song, saying that Adam called it "The Height Deprivation Song". In practice, of course, most know it as "The Jeely Piece Song".

Subject: RE: Origins:Jeelie Piece Song (Skyscraper Wean)-McNaug
From: Anne Neilson
Date: 18 Feb 19 - 03:32 PM

Actually, Nigel, Adam's alternative title was "The Height Starvation Song" -- a passing reference to something that was advertised at the time as helping with night starvation (whatever that was, and I'm now scared to imagine....).

Subject: RE: Origins:Jeelie Piece Song (Skyscraper Wean)-McNaug
From: nigelgatherer
Date: 19 Feb 19 - 02:38 AM

Ah - thanks, Anne! As I get older I find myself saying more and more "It was before my time." (and fewer and fewer people believe me).

I find that some performers - perhaps especially in Glasgow - groan when TJPS comes up; a victim of its own popularity I guess. However, I still sing it because it brings a smile to audiences' faces and there's a good chance they'll join in.