Lyr Req: The Digs in Birmingham

Subject: Lyr Req: Roll over Paddy
From: GUEST,Gord
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 04:18 PM

Just sitting and doodling at the keyboard and this tune all of a sudden appeared. I can't remember the name, or who performed it, although it would have been possibly back in the 60s. All I can remember of the chorus is "Roll over Paddy, Lie in a bit there Joe............... do not dislocate me toe".

Seems to be about living at a boarding house, packed several to a bed. Anyone remember it?. Tried the DB but no luck.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll over Paddy
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Nov 03 - 08:06 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll over Paddy
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Nov 03 - 09:36 PM

Aha! there's mention of it in this message (click) from BSeed:

Roll Over, Roll Over" ("Ten men slept in a boarding house bed...")

I'll e-mail him and see if he can post it.
-Joe Offer-

---

Could it be this one?

Ten in a Bed

There were ten in a bed
And the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out

etc., etc.

There were two in a bed
And the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out

There was one in a bed
And the little one said
"Good night!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll over Paddy
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Nov 03 - 11:43 PM

The one Joe posted has variants - when I was a kid many kids songs in Australia used "Niggers" - even though we didn't refer to the native ethnic types normally by that word - but these days PC has (I'm not necessarily aginst reducing racial hatred) sudbued such things.

Robin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll over Paddy
From: GUEST,Sheena
Date: 11 Jan 06 - 02:33 PM

It might be:

"Ten men slept in a boarding house bed,
roll over, roll over.
They'd all roll over when anyone said
'Roll over, roll over.'
One man thought it would be a great joke
not to roll over when anyone spoke
and in the great struggle he got his neck broke
roll over, roll over."

...and, of couse, the number goes down from 10. I didn't notice if anyone else had mentioned it, so I thought I would.

Subject: Lyr Add: KEEP YOUR FEET STILL, GEORDIE HINNY
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 11 Jan 06 - 03:16 PM

Might it have been a version of George Ridley's "Keep Your Feet Still" ?:

KEEP YOUR FEET STILL, GEORDIE HINNY

Wor Geordie and Bob Johnson
Both lay in one bed
In a little lodging hoose doon by the shore.
Before he'd been half an hour asleep
A kick from Geordie's foot
Made him waken up to roar instead of snore.

So keep your feet still Geordie, hinny
Let's be happy through the neet
For I may not be so happy through the day.
So give iz that bit comfort
Keep your feet still Geordie lad
And divvent drive me bonnie dreams away.

I dreamt there was a dancing held
And Mary Clark was there
And I thowt we tripped it lightly on the floor
And I pressed hor heaving breast to mine
Whilst waltzing roond the room
That's mait than I've dared ever dee before.

Keep your feet still Geordie, hinny
Let's be happy through the neet
For I may not be so happy through the day.
So give iz that bit comfort
Keep your feet still Geordie lad
And divvent drive me bonnie dreams away.

Do you know the lad she goes with?
They call him Jimmy Green'
And I thowt he'd try to spoil wor bit o' fun
But I dreamt I nailed him heavy
And I blacked the young fyul's eyes
If I'd slept it's hard to tell what I'd ha' dyun.

Keep your feet still Geordie, hinny
Let's be happy through the neet
For I may not be so happy through the day.
So give iz that bit comfort
Keep your feet still Geordie lad
And divvent drive me bonnie dreams away.

I dreamt Jim Green had left the toon
And left his love to me
And I thowt the hoose was fornished with the best
And I dreamt that I'd just left the chorch
With Mary by me side
When your clumsy feet completely spoiled the rest.

so Keep your feet still Geordie, hinny
Let's be happy through the neet
For I may not be so happy through the day.
So give iz that bit comfort
Keep your feet still Geordie lad
And divvent drive me bonnie dreams away.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll over Paddy
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 11 Jan 06 - 03:20 PM

Apologies - it was Joe Wilson wrote "Keep Your Feet Still"

mea culpa ... eee, aa darsent gan hyem

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll over Paddy
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 04:15 PM

When I Google with the phrase "slept in a boarding house bed" (in quotes) I find several references to a song called NINE MEN SLEPT IN A BOARDING HOUSE BED (not "ten"). It's in several books:

Lynn, Frank (ed.), "Songs for Swinging Housemothers," Fearon Publishers, San Francisco, 1963/1961, p120.

Best, Dick & Beth (eds.), "New Song Fest Deluxe," Charles Hansen Music & Books, New York, 1971/1948, p 73.

Peterson, Meg, "Mel Bay's Complete Autoharp Songbook," Mel Bay Publications, Pacific, MO, 1981/82.

"The American Treasury of 1004 Folk Songs: A Musical History In Two Volumes, Volume 1," Miami Beach, FL, Shattinger International Music Corp., 1977.

It might also go by the title ROLL OVER.

I couldn't find any lyrics or evidence that it's been recorded.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll over Paddy
From: GEST
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 05:21 PM

I know "Wee" John Cameron would jump at the chance to reply to this thread, God rest his Scots soul. This bit of lyric comes from Digs In Birmingham which is track three on the ca.1970 Sons of Erin album, Sons Of Erin which coincidentally I am currently trying to transcribe from a copy of the album. Any help completing the words would be appreciated. Here's all I have so far....

######################

I left me home in Dublin not too many years ago,
I sailed away to Eng-a-land, that's where the paddies go,
To the capital of Warwickshire that's where me quest did end.
It's there I had to -----

Chorus: Roll over, Paddy, -----
I -----
Let go the blanket, Michael, don't -----
That's all you'll hear in Eng-a-land in the digs in Birmingham.

######################

That's also about all I hear so far, as "Little" John starts singing faster and his brogue gets in the way of me ear. :-)

Cheers,

GEST
GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll Over Paddy (Digs In Birmingham)
From: GEST
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 12:51 PM

Finally finished transcribing Digs In Birmingham by the Sons of Erin. There still may be a couple misunderstood words, so I'd appreciate any corrections for the archives at GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Subject: Lyr Add: DIGS IN BIRMINGHAM (from Sons of Erin)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 12:45 AM

DIGS IN BIRMINGHAM

I left me home in Dublin not too many years ago,
And sailed away to Eng-a-land, that's where the Patties go;
To the capital of Warwickshire, 'tis there me quest did end,
'Tis there I had to sleep with seven others in a bed.

Roll over, Paddy, lie in a wee bit, Joe,
And lift your elbow, Johnny, do not dislocate me toe;
Let go the blanket, Michael, don't let me carriage jam,
That's all you'll hear in Eng-a-land, in the digs in Birmingham.

I walked along in Birmingham till I was in a job,
I'm making pay from navvies and me pay was fifty bob;
To find a place to rest me bones it was me other plight,,
You'll fear the other lads your stay when tucked in a bed at night.

Roll over, Paddy, lie in a wee bit, Joe,
And lift your elbow, Johnny, do not dislocate me toe;
Let go the blanket, Michael, don't let me carriage jam,
That's all you'll hear in Eng-a-land, in the digs in Birmingham.

~ Instrumental ~

I slept in a manly place e'er since I left me mammie's knee,
Some place themselves, and God now says it was me place at sea;
But sadly we used to shove when seven in was crammed,
To share the boards and the lodgings in the digs in Birmingham.

Roll over, Paddy, lie in a wee bit, Joe,
And lift your elbow, Johnny, do not dislocate me toe;
Let go the blanket, Michael, don't let me carriage jam,
That's all you'll hear in Eng-a-land, in the digs in Birmingham.

from a Google of

Songs Listed By First Lines - I to J - GEST Songs Of Newfoundland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll Over Paddy
From: GUEST,paddy giles
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 11:41 AM

i left me home in irland not to many years ago
i came over to england cus that were all the irish go
to the capital of {worickshire}??? that were me quest did end
cus there i endid up with seven others in a bed
oh roll over paddy die in a we bit jo
ah lift you elbow jonny do not dislicate my toe
let go of the blanket spazam dont hit me paddy sham
and i endid up in the digs in bermingham

sorry about the spelling

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll Over Paddy
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Nov 10 - 03:39 PM

I found this version, of one verse only, in a blog:

*

Ah, put down your legs there, Paddy. Shove in a bit there, Joe.
Put down your elbow, Johnny, and don't dislocate my toe.
Let go the blankets, Mickey. Don't strip my perished hands.
That's what you'll hear in England, in the digs in Birmingham.

*

On listening to the Sons of Erin version, I think I hear the word "perish" where GEST has "carriage" but I can't say what the nearby words are.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll Over Paddy? / Digs in Birmingham
From: GUEST
Date: 29 May 11 - 07:07 AM

you tube ........ http://youtu.be/lNjwqYhqWYQ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll Over Paddy? / Digs in Birmingham
From: GEST
Date: 31 May 11 - 02:40 PM

@ Jim Dixon: I agree with the word "perish" and, after listening to it a dozen times, have changed the phrase to "don't strip me perished hand". Thanks Jim. :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll Over Paddy? / Digs in Birmingham
From: GEST
Date: 31 May 11 - 02:46 PM

Perished, transitive verb, def2: Weaken, Benumb.
Benumb: to make numb especially by cold.

Makes sense to me. :-)

Subject: Lyr Add: DIGS IN BIRMINGHAM (Sons of Erin)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 02:07 PM

I listened several times to the recording at YouTube (thanks for drawing my attention to it, guest) and I think I can now make a few more corrections:


DIGS IN BIRMINGHAM
As recorded by the Sons of Erin.

1. I left me home in Dublin not too many years ago,
And sailed away to Eng-a-land; that's where the Paddies go.
To the capital of Warwickshire, 'tis there me quest did end.
'Tis there I had to sleep with seven others in a bed.

CHORUS: Roll over, Paddy; lie in a wee bit, Joe.
Ah, lift your elbow, Johnny; do not dislocate me toe.
Let go the blankets, Michael; don't strip me perished gam(?).
That's all you'll hear in Eng-a-land, in the digs in Birmingham.

2. I washed(?) along in Birmingham till I was in a job,
A-makin' tay for navvies and me pay was fifty bob.
To find a place to rest me bones it was me other plight,
You could hear the other lads all say(?) when tucked in their beds at night:

CHORUS; INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

3. I slept in a manly place e'er since I left me mammy's knee,
Saw prison cells and doss-houses; it was me life at sea.
But sad dreams we used to show(?) when seven in would cram,
To share the board and lodgin's in the digs in Birmingham.

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll Over Paddy? / Digs in Birmingham
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 02:18 PM

Yeah, I reckon that's "Strip me perished gam" alright. Partridge gives "gam"/gamb as "leg" pointing out that "gamb" is a heraldic term for "leg"! I think I've heard it used in the fairly specific sense of arse or thigh. Related to gammon and ham, presumably.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll Over Paddy? / Digs in Birmingham
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 02:22 PM

Tune is a slight variant on one we know as "Hello Patsy Fagan!"

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll Over Paddy? / Digs in Birmingham
From: MartinRyan
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 01:28 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roll Over Paddy? / Digs in Birmingham
From: GEST
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 01:58 PM

Thanks to Jim Dixon and all other contributors, I'm calling this song finished with this page:
http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/22/digs.htm

Cheers, GEST

Subject: Lyr Add: DIGS IN BIRMINGHAM (Curly Sullivan)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 12:36 AM

Another version that I transcribed from Spotify:


THE DIGS IN BIRMINGHAM
As sung by Curly Sullivan on "Classic Irish Songs" (2005)

1. I left my home in Dublin not so many days ago.
I paid my fare to England, where all o' the Irish go.
To the capital of Warwickshire, my quest for riches led.
That's where I had to sleep with seven others in a bed.

CHORUS: Oh, pull down your legs there, Paddy; shove in a bit there, Joe.
Let go the blankets, Michael, and don't dislocate my toe.
Let go the blankets, Johnny, and don't strip my perished gam.
That's what you'll hear in England in the digs in Birmingham.

2. I wasn't long in Birmingham till I was in a job.
I got the digs to share the bed and pay my fifty bob.
Like sardines used to feel the crush as seven in did cram,
That's what you'll hear in England in the digs in Birmingham.

CHORUS; INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

3. Oh, I slept in many places since I left my mother's knee.
Some casual wards and doss-houses it was my plight to see;
But since I left old Ireland, it's always been my plan
To let the people see that I'm a decent Irish man. CHORUS