Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats

Subject: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: GUEST,Blowzabella at work
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 06:47 AM

Tim Laycock sings a song (which< i think, started out as a poem in about 1918) which is a conversation between somebody on the quayside at Grimsby and a trawler, who is going out to patrol the coast for U Boats.

Each verse starts with a question, beginning 'Little trawler, little trawler...'

and the chorus includes the lines 'I've got a job of work to do for England, and i won't be back in Grimsby till it's done'

Anybody know the words or able to direct me to them?

Thanks

Blowz

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: GUEST,North Wall Exile
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 07:37 AM

I don't know the answer off the top of my head but I think you could do a lot worse than contact John Connoly - writer of "Fiddler's Green" amongst others (you should be able to find his contact details by Google) who may have written it. It could be one of Dave Evardson's compositions - but I'm sure John would tell you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 08:55 AM

Blowz-

I was thinking this song might be based on one of C. Fox Smith's World War 1 poems but it's not "The North Sea Ground" nor "Admiral Dugout." Both of these feature armed trawlers and the former featured Grimsby. I've tried searching the titles in the 390 CFS poems that I and Shantyfreak have postd to the Oldpoetry website but haven't turned up the lines. Maybe it is one by Connoly.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 09:08 AM

Hi Charley and exile - no - it's not a John Conolly one - from the many many easter's I've spent at Lancaster, I'd have heard him do it if it was one of his! I know both him and Tim well and Tim is the only person I 've ever heard do it.

If you know Tim, at all, you'll know his research is spot on - he said it was a poem - but I think the tune he sang it to may come from some other song - it isn't one of his making....

I can ask Tim next time I see him but he's got enough on his plate without writing out song words for me! Just wondered if it might be up any where - it's a blloming good one so as and when I find it I'll point you in the right direction, cos it's worth a hearing!

Many thanks for your help

Blowz

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: Peace
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 10:11 AM

The site posted below is likely 'old hat' to you folks wot loves the sea.

oldpoetry.com/opoem/printall/Cicely+Fox+Smith/4

http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/printall/Cicely+Fox+Smith/4

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Bo
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 03:43 PM

Hi,
A quick GOOGLE for "Little Trawler" brought me the following info from this site :-

http://users.ev1.net/~homeville/fictionmag/t881.htm


"Trawler, Little Trawler by Ralph D. Paine"
published in the "Saturday Evening Post, v190 #34 Feb 23 1918"

I guess it was some story or poem. R D Paine seems to have written quite extensively in the last quarter of the 19th & first quarter of the 20th centuries. Mainly nautical subjects so far as I can see.

regards
Jake

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: Blowzabella
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 04:21 PM

That's brilliant, Jake - thanks very much - I did look but found nothing quite so useful!

I'll take it from there and see what I can find.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 07:50 PM

Jake-

Congratulations on nailing the poet and the issue of Saturday Evening Post that the poem was printed in. I'll also be interested in seeing the original words when they surface.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: Willa
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 06:04 PM

Interesting, particularly in view of the fact that John Conolly's name has already been mentioned, that the issue includes this item 9 • Fiddler's Green • Donn Byrne • ss; illus. E. F. Ward

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: Blowzabella
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 06:20 PM

No luck so far on finding the words - seeing Tim end of July so will pursue then if haven't done before.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jun 06 - 09:45 PM

When searching with Google, don't forget to click the link at the bottom of the results page:

Try your search again on Google Book Search

That brought up this quote:

Oh, Gott strafe England!
How it would have tickled Drake and Captain Hawkins!
For it's risky when it isn't full of fun.
Oh, I've got a job of work to do for England,
And I'll not be back at Grimsby till it's done.

It's from the chapter titled "We Hate as One: Poems of the First World War" in the book "Fighting Songs and Warring Words: Popular Lyrics of Two World Wars" by Brian Murdoch.

Unfortunately, the online content is restricted such that you can't see the poem's title or author.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: Blowzabella
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 03:14 AM

Jim - that's it! That's the one!!!! Big hug!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: Blowzabella
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 03:39 AM

Found the book on amazon.co.uk - for sale at £75+....bit beyond pocket, unfortunately!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 12:45 PM

Try searching for it at WorldCat. If you enter your location, you might find a library close to you that has it.

I see that my own University has it. I might be able to look it up for you. But let me know what you find first.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Grimsby Trawler after U-Boats
From: Blowzabella
Date: 04 Jul 06 - 01:00 PM

I'm seeing Tim at the end of the month and he's going to pass me the words then - he calls it The Auxilliary Song, interestingly enough ????