Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown

Subject: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 05:35 AM

Can't find this on Mudcat or elsewhere on the net. Does anyone remember this old song whose chorus starts:

Newcastle Brown, Newcastle Brown,
The finest old beer that's sold in this town

Any help appreciated.

Joan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Hrothgar
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 06:36 AM

There was one to the tune of "Cushie Butterfield" that had a chorus like this:

It's a big beer and a bonnie beer
With the North's largest sale
For complete satisfaction
Newcastle Brown Ale.

Had a couple of verses, I think, which I can't remember.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Little Robyn
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 07:11 AM

Wasn't that a TV commercial?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Snuffy
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 08:35 AM

Yes

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 01:26 PM

My wife (from up there) calls it 'Newkie Broon'

Subject: Lyr Add: NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE (from Hamish Imlach)
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 01:54 PM

How about this version?

NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE
(as sung by Hamish Imlach)
(Stan Arnold)
Tune: Five Hundred Miles


A hundred yards, a hundred yards
A hundred yards, a hundred yards
And I'm one hundred yards away from home

I've been out on the town, care of Newcastle Brown
And I don't think I'll get home this a-way
This a-way
The pub door is shut tight, I'm alone here in the night
And I'm one hundred yards away from home

I can't shout, speak or stutter as I lie here in the gutter
And the last bus flashes by over my tie
Over my tie
My foot's stuck down a drain and it's coming on to rain
And I'm one hundred yards away from home

I bet I look superb with my head propped on the kerb
I can see my home in the flash of a neon light
That split the night
Now I hear the steady beat of a policeman's hobnailed feet
And I'm one hundred yards away from home

So in this prison cell I lie with tyre-marks on my tie
Take a heed, young man, wherever you may roam
You may roam
If you think you're the wild rover make sure you don't fall over
When you're one hundred yards away from home

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Santa
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 02:05 PM

If you want a beer that's perfection indeed
I'll give you a guide to fulfilling your need
At home by your fireside, in pub or in bar
The sign of good taste is the famous Blue Star

It's a big beer, it's a bottled beer...is how I remember the chorus. With the last line repeated.

I don't remember any other verses.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 02:35 PM

MMario that song was written by Stan Arnold who was responsible for a host of humourous songs during the 70s. He used to claim the song was co-authored by Paul Simon, who contributed the flash of a neon light... bit.

Mick

correction made - joeclone

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 02:58 PM

There's a lot of songs there, and thanks to all who've contributed so far; but none of them is the one I'm looking for, I'm afraid! (see first part of chorus I've quoted.) It's definitely not to the tune of "Cushie Butterfield" or "Five Hundred Miles", it has a unique tune of its own.

The song is a humorous one, and the last verse involves an encounter with the devil. Does no one remember it? (from about late 60s / early 70s, I think.)

Joan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 02:02 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 05:18 PM

Thanks, Mick. A correction of the author's name is on the way for My Songbook, but it will take rather longer than on the Mudcat as my Joeclone (Henry) is on holiday ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 06:12 PM

Santa, if my memory serves it was sung by the great Owen Brannigan.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: CraigS
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 06:37 PM

I know of the song you want; the tune is Whit Jamboree. I can't remember much beyond something like
"On friday nights we take the cars
and we visit a few of the local bars
But there's nothing there which can compare
with the real Newcastle Brown,
Newcastle Brown, Newcastle Brown,
    ...... hanging on behind (obviously not pig-tailed sailors)
Newcastle Brown, Newcastle Brown,
Oh come and get your oats my son.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Dead Horse
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 06:02 AM

Whit Jamboree? As opposed to August Bank Holiday Jamboree?
Refreshing as we speak.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 06:33 AM

No, sorry, it's not to the tune of "Whip Jamboree", it does have a tune of its own which I've not heard used for any other song. Thanks for all the suggestions so far, I didn't know there were so many songs about Newcastle Brown!

Joan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 02:13 PM

I think the song you are thinking of was by Ted Edwards. I can only remember a few of the words but here goes

A long time ago in the land of the Tyne
The natives were all getting tired of wine
So they dredged up some muck from the Tyne river bed
Added gallons of nitro and then proudly said

Chorus
"Call it Newcastle Brown, Newcastle Brown,
It's the finest of beer that you'll find in this town
I'd walk many a mile to sit here in style
And drink of that Newcastle Brown."

Unfortunately I can't remember any other verses. If you find anyone who has the book that Ted published in the early seventies, the words are in there. My copy went west years ago but if you know any folkies from the Eccles area they might just have one lurking around.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 24 Aug 03 - 05:16 AM

Thank you, Guest! That is the one! I was beginning to think I was the only one who remembered hearing it. Now all we need are the other verses...

Joan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 05:16 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 11:05 PM

Guest, if you're still lurking, can you tell us anything more about this Ted Edwards?

Google gives hundreds of hits on that name, most of them unrelated to music. The usual music sites only come up with Teddy Edwards, a black jazz tenor-sax player.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 04:05 AM

Jim, Ted Edwards was very well known on the local folk scene (i.e.north-west England) until a few years ago, when he suffered a stroke and has been unable to give public performances since (although he usually attends the Swinton Folk Festival at the end of October). He wrote such classics as "Coal Hole Cavalry" and "The Coal and Albert Berry", amongst many others. I must admit I did't know he'd written the Newcastle Brown song, I thought it had been written by a Geordie, but I'll take Guest's word on that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 07:06 PM

Definitely written by Ted. I'd actually been told he was dead so I am very glad to hear that he isn't. At the time I knew him he was a regular at the Duke of York in Eccles (early seventies - that's the era, not my age!). Nice guy and a real character. He followed the Baha'i religion if I remember correctly. I think he had ceased performing before the web got going so you are unlikely to find much on the net.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 06:40 AM

I've never discussed religion with him, so don't know about that. But certainly a character. One summer trekked across the Sahara with a camel, then the following year (or the year after that, my memory isn't too clear) trekked across Greenland. He was also really miffed that he'd been just too old to be picked as one of the astronauts on Challenger - this was before the tragedy. And always a superbly professional performer, one of the greats I was privileged to book a number of times at folk clubs I was running at the time. Never a dull moment with Ted, and a great loss to the folk scene when his health deteriorated. I think the lyrics for his "Coal and Albert Berry" are on the web, but none of his early stuff. It would be good to get hold of much of his material, he never wrote a bad song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 17 Dec 05 - 10:21 AM

the thread requesting a song "one star" reminded me that Luke Killen (and/or John Roberts and Tony Barrand??)had a number about the Christmas and Newcastle Ale
can anyone resurrect it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: GUEST,Paul in Nottingham
Date: 14 Jul 12 - 01:21 PM

A japanese geordie went back to japan and when he was asked by the jap customs man,what have you to declare,he said six wedgewood plates a bottle of whiskey and 28 crates of that newcasle brown-newcastle browm it's the finest of ale you'll find in this town etc etc.
There is also a verse about a marriage but cannot remember all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 09:24 AM

It's " A Japanese TOURIST went back to Japan"

The marriage verse goes (I think)

A young lad from Eccles got marries quite quick
to a pretty young chic who he'd put up the stairs
on the night of their wedding his face went all red
for it wasn't a guzunder stuck under the bed

it were newcastle brown, newcastle brown etc

Subject: RE: ted edwards
From: GUEST,tony connolly
Date: 15 Mar 17 - 10:48 AM

Ted is a client of mine, so sad to see a great man like Ted become a shadow of his former self, lost none of his sense of humour, just hard to communicate now. Thank you Ted for some great tunes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Mar 17 - 03:37 PM

Ted sounds a fine man, but Newkie Broon is a shadow of its former self- think it's now brewed in the huge factory in Tadcaster, Yorkshire- Yorkshire!!! How are the mighty fallen!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Mar 17 - 02:56 PM

Yes it used to be brewed by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries up at Bath Lane, Newcastle. I went to college past there and what a lovely smell a brewery is.
The Scottish Brewery was closed, then Newcastle, leaving only the 'and'. First it went to Gateshead and now Tadcaster. How the law lets them keep the name I don't know. Foul stuff, as ever it was.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Mar 17 - 03:28 PM

Lunatic Broth or Journey into Space were two names applied to the old Newcastle brewed beer- there was little choice as to what beer to take to a party- there was an Amber Ale in bottles (suspect it was the same brew plus more water?
I preferred Vaux Double Maxim, now revived by a small modern brewery but IMHO the original was much better than NBA,. which I agree was foul stuff- mind you it was better than the new southern arrival in a giant tin- Watney's Party Seven- AAAAARGH!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 17 Mar 17 - 03:23 PM

the mention of Owen Brannigan singing the praises of Newcastle Brown Ale on Tyne Tees TV in the sixties brings to mind the fact that he was a lifelong teetotaller...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: GUEST,Steve Bassett
Date: 17 Mar 17 - 06:57 PM

The song 'Newcastle Brown' is often preceded by a short poem called 'Ma's Constipation':

Me Granny told me a story once all about the day Ma Firkin caught constipation and it wouldn't go away,
So they sent for Dr Firkin, now he came from Wallsend,   
But when pills and potions didn't work they thought they'd best try tother end,   
So they sent for Uncle Firkin, now he was a building wrecker, not a man of medicine its true but he had a black and decker,
So they drilled away for a week and a day with Ma rolled on her belly, but all they found was two half crowns, three candles and a welly.
So then they sent for cousin Firkin and he came from Geordie town and with him he did bring six crates of Newcastle Brown!
After only 18 pints Ma wept tears of joy. Said the cousin see I told you it'll cure any firkin man, woman or boy.
They started a bed pan service out into the yard, where the drains all filled up rapidly and the rhubarb grew like mad.
There's a happy ending to all of this, if it's to be believed. Cos the next day's papers headlines were: Ma Firkins been relieved.

You then go straight into the song: Newcastle Brown


A long time ago in the land of the Tyne,
The natives were all getting tired of wine,
So they dredged up some mud from the Tyne river bed,
Added a gallon of nitro, and then proudly said:

CHORUS: "Call it Newcastle Brown, Newcastle Brown.
It's the finest old beer that you'll find in this town.
I'd walk many a mile, to sit here in style
And drink of the Newcastle Brown."

A drunken young Geordie got married quite quick
To a pretty young lass that he'd put up the – stairs.
On the night of the wedding her face was quite red
For it wasn't a jerry stuck under the bed.

CHORUS: It was Newcastle Brown....

A Japanese tourist went back to Japan,
And when he was asked by the Jap customs man,
"What have you to declare?" he said, "Six Wedgwood plates,
A bottle of whiskey and twenty six crates—

CHORUS: "Of Newcastle Brown...."

A wayward young climber who fell from a fell
Parted body from soul and went down to hell.
As he entered the furnace, what did he find?
There was the Devil p***** out of his mind—

Chorus: "On Newcastle Brown...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Leadfingers
Date: 17 Mar 17 - 08:20 PM

I understand there is a CD of Ted Edward's songs available - I recall somewhere a thread in here on that subject "!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Leadfingers
Date: 17 Mar 17 - 08:25 PM

Try http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=88853#1670088

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Mar 17 - 08:46 PM

Thread #131779   Message #2978158
Posted By: Jim Dixon
01-Sep-10 - 11:32 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Newcastle Brown (Ted Edwards)
Subject: Lyr Add: NEWCASTLE BROWN (Ted Edwards)

This was posted on 27-Apr-2009 by a Mudcat member called Greenm who only posted 9 times (under that name, anyway)—the last time was on 07-Oct-09. The thread was called Beer drinking song suggestion needed:

[I have reformatted the lyrics a bit.]

Back in the sixties a young chap from Manchester who played a five string guitar (Ted Edwards) produced the following about an iconic North East beer, Newcastle Brown. I left Manchester in 1974 to live in the North East and found out first hand about "Newkie Brown" - it's all true. I don't know if Ted is still around or if he is still touring the world.

1. A long time ago in the land of the Tyne,
The natives were all getting tired of wine,
So they dredged up some mud from the Tyne river bed,
Added gallons of nitro, and then proudly said:

CHORUS: "Call it Newcastle Brown, Newcastle Brown.
It's the finest old beer that you'll find in this town.
I'd walk many a mile
To sit here in style
And drink of the Newcastle Brown."

2. A drunken young Geordie got married quite quick
To a pretty young lass that he'd put up the – stairs.
On the night of the wedding her face was quite red
For it wasn't a jerry stuck under the bed.

CHORUS: It was Newcastle Brown....

3. A Japanese tourist went back to Japan,
And when he was asked by the Jap customs man,
"What have you to declare?" he said, "Six Wedgwood plates,
A bottle of whiskey and twenty six crates—

CHORUS: "Of Newcastle Brown...."

4. A wayward young climber who fell from a fell
Parted soul from his body and went down to hell.
As he entered the furnace, what did he find?
There was the Devil out of his mind—

CHORUS: Drinking Newcastle Brown....