Lyr Req: Song of the Leaders (Brian Pearson)

Subject: Lyr Req: Song of Leaders by Geoff Pearson
From: GUEST,Puck
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 09:22 PM

This is a terrific track on a Roy Bailey Cd - Past Masters - and I would really love to get the lyrics if anyone has them. I saw roy last Sunday in Southampton Fc where he was joined by John Kirkpatrick. What a terrific night!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of Leaders by Geoff Pearson
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 01:51 AM

Roy has his email addy listed at the bottom of this page, if no one comes in with the lyrics, maybe he would share them. In searching for them on google, I had a couple of good reads on the CD you mention and also on Geoff Pearson's songs. Thanks!

kat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of Leaders by Geoff Pearson
From: GUEST,puck
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 05:39 PM

to Kalaughing, Many thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of Leaders by Geoff Pearson
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 07:46 PM

You're welcome.:-)

Refresh just in case someone else comes in and knows them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of the Leaders by Geoff Pearson
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 12:24 AM

According to Roy Bailey's web site, the song is SONG OF THE LEADERS and it was written by Brian Pearson. It's on Roy Bailey's album "Past Masters," which is a "new compilation [of] 18 tracks originally recorded between 1975 & 1988." Other sources say it's about the betrayal and suppression of Wat Tyler's rebellion.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of the Leaders by Geoff Pearson
From: GUEST,puck
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 10:05 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of the Leaders by Geoff Pearson
From: GUEST,puck
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 10:18 PM

The chorus to this appears to be
...'Ball, and Tyler, Orr, and Lister, Grind-cobb and jack Straw'

Ball= John Ball - the preacher
Tyler= at Tyler - the rebel leader
Orr =   ?????
Lister = ?????
Grind-cobb =????
Jack Straw = ????

Anyone offer any info on queried characters please

Puck

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of the Leaders (Brian Pearson)
From: GUEST,CB
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 05:53 PM

Bump, because I'd love to know the answer to this too. Jack Straw was another one of the rebellion's leaders, although I have no idea who the other figures are (or if those are even accurate transcriptions of their names in the OP). I semi-sort-of-kind-of hear "Ball and Tyler, all in Leicester, grind-command Jack Straw" but that doesn't make any sense. Any ideas?

Here are the rest of the lyrics:

The men of Kent have met today to put oppression down
And joined with Essex's valiant sons to march on London Town
With Surrey and with Middlesex, with Suffolk, Norfolk too
And gallant lads from Hartfordshire to see the struggle through

With Ball and Tyler...
???????? Jack Straw

From miles around unto Blackheath, the people made there way
And John the priest of Colchester unto us he did say,
"When Adam toiled to win his bread and Mother Eve she spun
All folk were equal one and all and masters there were none"

Say Ball and Tyler...

On Corpus Christi in the morn we gathered at Bankside
Then boldly entered London Town, the gates were opened wide
Oh John of Gaunt that traitor, we burnt his palace down
Threw all his treasure in the flood, yet never took one crown

For Ball and Tyler...

Then to the temple off we went, to flush the lawyers out
We burnt their charters and their books and put them to the rout
They all went scuttling for their lives a-squeaking out with fright
Like imps of hell or sewer rats, it was a wondrous sight

To Ball and Tyler...

Upon the fourteenth day of June the king rode to Mile End
And he spoke softly to us all, "I am the poor man's friend
Your wrongs shall all be righted, all bondsmen be made free"
Oh curse the day we trusted him, for he lied wickedly

To Ball and Tyler...

At Smithfield next we met the King, the nobles gathered round
The Lord Mayor struck a killing blow, Wat Tyler struck the ground
Our masters bared their teeth and smiled to see our hero slain
"You have been slaves since you were born, and slaves you'll now remain"

Ball and Tyler...

The men of England rose to demand their rights
Though they've been dead six hundred years remember them tonight
They raised a flag of liberty, they fought the battle well
They died but others will arise to ring the freedom bell

Like Ball and Tyler...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of the Leaders (Brian Pearson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 11:13 PM

This is maddening. I too have listened to that refrain line maybe a dozen times and I can't make any more sense of it than what has already been posted.

Anyone else who wants to listen, go to this page at Roy Bailey's web site, click on the song title Song of the Leaders and you will hear a very short (maybe 10-second) sample that includes the 4th line of verse 1 plus the refrain.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of the Leaders (Brian Pearson)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 12:45 PM

I think it says BAll and Tyler all , Mr Grindcobbe and JAck Straw
Grindcobbe was an organiser of the Revolt in St Albans,
Veronica Grant

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of the Leaders (Brian Pearson)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 06:32 PM

"John the priest" is John Ball

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of the Leaders (Brian Pearson)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 03:56 AM

It's :

With Ball and Tyler, Waugh and Lister, Grindcobbe and Jack Straw.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of the Leaders (Brian Pearson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 01:44 AM

Thanks, Guest, but I can't find anyone named Waugh associated with the Peasants' Revolt. Maybe it's

"Ball and Tyler, Wraw and Lister, Grindcobbe and Jack Straw"

That would be:

John Ball
Wat Tyler
John Wraw
Geoffrey Lister
William Grindcobbe
Jack Straw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of the Leaders (Brian Pearson)
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jul 11 - 07:59 AM

Hi Jim,

It could be Wraw - I was given the lyrics by Roy Bailey and he had it down as Waugh (pronounced "War")but I didn't do any research to confirm a link.