Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)

Subject: liverpool home
From:
Date: 21 Sep 98 - 02:42 PM

While knocking down a couple of songs with a guy from Liverpool (Hi Lenny!) in my favourite Irish pub last week we came along the song "In my Liverpool home" at five in the morning; the chorus is

In my Liverpool home, in my Liverpool home,
We speak with an accent exceedingly there,
Meet under a statue exceedingly bare,
And if you want a cathedral we've got one to spare,
In my Liverpool home.

Anybody know the rest of the song?
Thanks,

franz

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Bert
Date: 21 Sep 98 - 03:24 PM

From memory...

I was born in Liverpool, down by the docks
Me religion was catholic, occupation - hard knocks,
at stealing from lorries I was adept
and under old overcoats each night we slept

Chorus.

When I grew up I met Bridget McCann
She said you're not much, but I'm needing a man
for I want fifteen kids and a house out in Speke(?sp)
Me spirit was willing, but me flesh it was weak

Chorus

Way back in the forties the world went mad
Mr. Hitler threw at us everything that he had
When the dust and the smoke had all cleared from the air
"Thank God" said the Old Man, "The Pier Head's still there"


When I was a kid during the war, Dad was an air raid warden. When it got cold at night he would cover us with his Great Coat. Ah, Memories!

Bert.

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From:
Date: 21 Sep 98 - 07:03 PM

Is it to the tune of Liverpool Lu? It seems to fit.

Rick

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Moggie
Date: 21 Sep 98 - 07:33 PM

Chorus 2nd line is "We speak with an accent exceedingly rare" - not "there"

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Moggie
Date: 21 Sep 98 - 07:38 PM

Afterthought - wasn't this recorded by The Spinners late 60's/early 70's?

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: alison
Date: 22 Sep 98 - 12:47 AM

hi,

Yes I remember the Spinner's doing this, they did Liverpool Lu as well, but it wasn't the same tune.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Brack&
Date: 22 Sep 98 - 02:39 AM

What is the air of the verse? In Manchester we have an unkind version of the chorus that slags L'pool off.
In your Liverpool slums
In your Liverpool slums
You look in the dustbin for something to eat
You find a dead cat and you think it's a treat
When you come to Old Trafford you always get beat
In your Liverpool slums

Of course it's a football(soccer) song. Apologies to any Scousers out there.

Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Bert
Date: 22 Sep 98 - 03:56 PM

The tune is "Stawberry Roan".

Moggie, Who are you? Yonks ago I used to know someone called Moggie.

Bert.

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: O'Boyle
Date: 23 Sep 98 - 06:23 AM

Most of the moggies that I have known havee ended up like this NOBODY'S MOGGY NOW

Slainte

Rick

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: moggie
Date: 24 Sep 98 - 07:47 PM

Sorry all, I thought this was a serious thread, not a platform for a**hole infantile humour.

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From:
Date: 24 Sep 98 - 09:49 PM

But a moggy is just a UK term for a cat, isn't it? I seem to recall that "The Neighbour's Cat" uses the word. You never hear it over here.

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Sep 98 - 10:01 PM

It's OK, moggie. It's just a little friendly goofing off. The longer we goof off, the longer the thread stays visible - and that makes it more likely somebody will come up with a complete answer.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: ketida
Date: 25 Sep 98 - 05:51 AM

I have an album with Brian Jaques singing "In my Liverpool Home."...."Liverpool Lu," is most definitely a different melody.

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Banjoman
Date: 25 Sep 98 - 03:35 PM

This song was written by Pete McGovern, a well known figure on the Liverpool scene for many years.

Some of the rest of the words:

Back in the forties the world it went mad
Mr Hitler threw at us everything that he had
When the dust and the smoke had all cleared from the air
Thank God said me old man the pier head’s still there

Chorus - In my Liverpool home.......

One day out walking I met Rosie McCann
She said you’re not much but I'm needing a man
I want fourteen kids and a flat out in Speke
Well the spirit was willing but the flesh it was weak

Chorus ....

Now the orange and the green they have battled for years
Gave us some laughter and gave us some tears
But your docker don’t want any heavenly rewards
All he wants is a green card to get into Fords

Chorus

When the good Lord looks down and to me he says
Sup your last Guinness its the end of your days
I'll say to him that I don’t want to roam
I'd much rather stay in my Liverpool home


Probably are some more verses. That’s all I can think of for now.

best of luck

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Bert
Date: 01 Oct 98 - 05:03 PM

Well Moggie, My request was serious. I used to dance with this girl who called herself Moggie in the early sixties. She lived in Westcliff (Essex, UK) if my memory serves my correctly.

If it is you then send me some email at [e-mail]

If not, never mind, it was nice talking to you.

Bert.

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Shaneo
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 10:17 AM

There is a Dublin version of this song with only a few lyric changes, anybody know it ? Also is the tune an original air ? as mentioned above as 'Strawberry Roan' , but I dont think it's the same.

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 12:44 PM

The story goes is that Pete got the tune from a Marty Robbins recording of "Strawberry Roan".

Subject: Lyr Add: IN MY LIVERPOOL HOME
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 01:31 PM

I've always thought that this was written by Stan Kelly (in a pub, but you could probably say that about most Stan Kelly songs). There are now hundreds of verses, some more singable in public than others.

These are the ones Bob Webb and I sing:

I was born in Liverpool, down by the docks,
Me religion was Catholic, occupation hard knocks;
At stealin' from lorries, I was adept
And under old overcoats each night we slept.

CHORUS: In my Liverpool home,
In my Liverpool home,
We speak with an accent exceedingly rare
Meet under a statue exceedingly bare
And if you want a cathedral we've got one to spare
In my Liverpool home.

Old Sam Cunard had the ships and the means
To carry the emigrants, people with dreams;
They sailed from the Mersey their fortunes to find,
But my dad always said the best ones stayed behind.

CHORUS

'What's your religion?' a fellow once said.
So I climbed in me wellies and I kung-fu'd his head.
'Don't be angry!' he cried. 'I'm not starting a nark.
Do you worship at Anfield or Goodison Park?'

CHORUS

And when I grew up I met Bridget McCann
She said, 'you're not much but I'm needin' a man,
'Cos I want fifteen kids and a house out in Speke'.
Well the spirit was willin'
But the flesh it was weak.

CHORUS

Way back in the forties the world it went mad,
Mr Hitler threw at us everything that he had,
When the smoke and the dust had all cleared from the air
'Thank God!' said the old man,'the pier-head's still there'.

CHORUS

- close to the Spinners' version but with a verse or two we found elsewhere

BTW The 'exceedingly bare' statue stands outside Lewis's department store in Liverpool. It's very...er... detailed.

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 02:44 PM

The information I had Way Back Then , is that the statue is of Adam , before the Fall , and it was where you would meet the lass you had pulled at last Saturdays dance .
   "Where shall we meet ?"   " Under The Wackers Knackers ?"

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 03:10 PM

Football verses: (Score 1 - 1)!!

Way down at Anfield the shirts they are red
and the players that play in them look they're dead
But way down at Goodison the shirts they are blue
and the football they play is so lovely to view


Now, when I die no great funeral I crave
No costly tomb stone to put on my grave
Just take me to Goodison and spread me around...............
.........And they won't win a bloody home match while I'm haunting their ground!

(Years ago we actually used to sing these verses around the Liverpool area and lived to tell the tale)!! I don't think Peter McGovern wrote them either - think they must have been added somewhere along the road in the 'folk process'.

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:34 PM

"Where shall we meet ?"   " Under The Wackers Knackers ?"

When I was lived Liverpool, (making reference to the statue's very obvious appendage and the department store), we used to meet under Dicky Lewis.

DC

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 06:41 PM

When I lived in.... or When I was living in...., take your choice, but not, of course, When I was lived.....

That's what happens when Mudcat's playing up. I start editing my posts off-line while I'm waiting for the 'Cat to come back and then mess things up.

DC

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Toobusybee
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 09:19 AM

The statue is Jacob Epstein's Adam - my brother and his mates always said that there should have been a statue of a woman on the Adelphi reaching out towards Adam.

I was born in Liverpool, not far from the docks and definitely catholic; never did the stealing from lorries though -

Subject: RE: liverpool home
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Oct 07 - 03:32 AM

I was born in Overpool, down by the baths
Women were free and the living for laughs
Two Folk Clubs The Jug and The Rest
And on a Wednesday the Jug was the best

Crap, but inspired by Pete McGovern in the wash House Folk Club on London Road. It was like discovering an underground culture, which I guess it was

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: GUEST,Rob in Belfast
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 05:43 PM

I remember The Spinners singing "In my Liverpool home" in an advert promoting blood donation.

Cliff Hall exclaims "It's red, folks!" and one of the other lads shouts, "Cliffy's blood's red!" in a mock attempt at humour - as if Cliff's blood would be any other colour.

And Cliff says at the end "Where's that cup of tea they promised me?"

Those were the good old days...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 03:12 AM

It was written by Pete McGovern as so many have asserted. Stan Kelly, who's real name was Stan Bootle I think, wrote another:

I wish I was back in Liverpool, Liverpool town where I was born
Where their aint no trees or scented breeze or fields of waiving corn
But lots of girls with peroxide curls and the black and tan flows free
It's six in the bd by the old Peer Head and it's Liverpool town for me.

Tune by one Leon Rosselson.
Awarded the SING prize for 1960.

A great song - sung by Rob at The Saracen's Head in Warburton the other Sunday. Rob runs the Lymm Folk Club.

He also wrote Liverpool Lullaby a big hit for Cilla Black

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: GUEST,Noreen
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 08:52 AM

Les, thread about that song at I wish I was back in Liverpool - lyrics req

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: GUEST,MV
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 09:18 AM

Here is a great Liverpool folk song lyric and info page that includes In My Liverpool Home. Other interesting information here includes what is a Liverpool song and what isn't ie such as Liverpool Lou is not a Liverpool song it's an Irish folk song because it's written by an Irishman etc:-

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gerry.jones/lpllyrics1.html


MV

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 12:20 PM

I'm pretty sure the verse about haunting Everton's ground was written by Pete McGovern - at least, I've heard him sing it, and if my memory serves me correctly, he did lay claim to having written it, albeit at a later date than he wrote the original verses.

I always understood Liverpool Lullaby was adapted by Stan Kelly from a traditional song from the north-east, but I'm willing to be corrected.

Oh, and I thought Stewart Lever ran the Lymm Folk Club...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 12:27 PM

Joan,

the north east connection does ring a bell - I am sure somebody will pop up with the song soon.

True enough not Rob but Stuart runs Lymm - I think Rob sings there a lot - will check small print for details

Les

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 01:48 PM

Here's the video of In My Liverpool Home from youtube, well most of the song gets sung.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: GUEST,scouse
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 02:09 PM

I knew Pete well back when. There was only three original verses. For Charity Pete and a load of his friends came into Radio Merseyside and did a show with as many verses of his song they could find or maybe even write. A cassette was made and sold to help some Charity or other. I'm so lucky to have a copy.

As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: BB
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 02:11 PM

Joan from Wigan said: "I always understood Liverpool Lullaby was adapted by Stan Kelly from a traditional song from the north-east, but I'm willing to be corrected."

No need to - you are correct. The North-East song is 'Sandgate Dandling Song'.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 01:02 PM

Thanks, Barbara. My memory lets me down sometimes, and I can't always be certain if I've remembered something correctly.

And I too have a copy of the cassette mentioned by Phil (GUEST,scouse). An hour of splendid performance.

Joan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: GUEST,Gerry Jones.
Date: 30 May 18 - 06:56 AM

Hi Phil, only just come across this old thread. I too got that cassette, and even Transcribed all 67 verses - and made that into a booklet along with any other verses that came my way. Now, in 2018, the total verses has now passed ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY. and is in the process of being made into a book! You sound like thew kind of person who may well know of even more gems and may be able to fill in some blanks,
Would you message me on FB as Gerry Jones Liverpool Musician. Thanks, ( Might well be a free copy for you !)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: Tunesmith
Date: 01 Jun 18 - 05:49 AM

Amazingly, I can't find a version of Pete McGovern singing "In My Liverpool Home" on Youtube. If,indeed, it is not there, maybe somebody could upload it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 04 Jun 18 - 03:35 AM

According to my copy of the Stan Kelly Song Book, priced at 3s 6d in 1964, he attributes the words of Liverpool Lullaby to himself and the tune the traditional Dollia. It also includes I Wish I was Back in Liverpool, with words by him and the tune by Leon Rosselson