Songs about Yorkshire & Lancashire

Subject: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: selby
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 07:16 AM

For many years Saddleworth Folk Festival(that is in either Yorkshire or Lancashire dependent on the Boundary Commision) has hosted a Song Battle of the Roses the Question is what songs remind you of those 2 Fine counties

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 07:25 AM

I live in Yorkshire and I always think "Dalesman's Litany" would remind anybody of Yorkshire.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 07:28 AM

"Lancashire Lass" obviously for Lancashire.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 07:46 AM

The Weaver and the Factory Maid always make me think of Lancashire because my grandfather worked in the cotton mills there.

Talking Blackpool Blues

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 08:02 AM

Holmfirth Anthem for Yorkshire.

I'll try and get a few together before I post again. I keep running from the kitchen to the computer as I think of another one!

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: bubblyrat
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 08:03 AM

" On Ilkley Moor Without A Hat " seems pretty definitive to me !!

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 09:09 AM

"The Lyke Wake Dirge" is written in an old form of the Yorkshire dialect.
Years ago I managed to walk 32 miles (before I pulled a muscle) of the Lyke Wake walk which goes from Osmotherley to Ravenscar.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: CharleyO'Neill
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 09:09 AM

We're reight daahn int' coal oil wheret' muck slaps ont' windaes,
We've used all aar coil up an' wi reight daahn tut cinders,
If bum bailiff calls he won't know where to find us,
Cos, we're reight daahn int' coal oil where t' muck slaps ont' windaes !

- 'The Barnsley Anthem', a Yorkshire classic, as recorded by Yorkshire man, Dave Burland. However, has also been done by Lancashire's own Oldham Tinkers ! who also I believe changed the title of 'Fine Old Yorkshire gentleman' to 'fine old ENGLISH gentleman' !! Whatever would Ewan MacColl have thought !

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 09:18 AM

"Streets of Staithes" written by Barry Slater and often sung by Vin Garbutt - both Teesiders, but Staithes is a North Yorkshire coastal town.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 09:37 AM

"Oh The Grand Old Duke of York." I've just found this on the LP "My Very Favourite Nursery Rhyme Record" - Tim Hart and friends.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 10:26 AM

"Percy the Peeler from Potterton".
"I'm a Rambler, I'm a Rambler from Manchester Way".
"Old Molly Metcalfe" is a Jake Thackray song sung by Tony Capstick.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 10:37 AM

The White Hare of Howden is a traditional Irish folk song, but it always reminds me of Yorkshire because Howden is in Yorkshire.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: terrier
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 10:46 AM

###" On Ilkley Moor Without A Hat " seems pretty definitive to me !! ###

Bubblyrat, write out 100 times,"On Ilkley Moor 'BAHT 'AT". **BG**

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 10:47 AM

We took part in the War of the Roses last year, and i was really worried before that we wouldnt find enough songs, but once you start looking there are loads-I think the Holmfirth Anthem is my favourite

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: CharleyO'Neill
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 10:54 AM

In the 70's / 80's, the North West was full of 'Lanky' acts of the like of Houghton Weavers, Fivepenny Piece, Bluewater Folk, of course the rightly hallowed Oldham Tinkers, etc, etc - the remnants of which survive to this day.

I know many a fine performer originated on t'other side of the pennines, but were there any actual Yorkshire speciality type acts ? I can't think of any...

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: selby
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 12:13 PM

Keeping to the songs (sorry Charley) I started with much the same problem Linda.Although I live near Howden I can't for the life of me recollect hearing the song I hope some more come out of the woodwork for both sides. I know Steve Gardham & Ray Padgett are collecting Yorkshire songs I also know that Sid Calderbank is collecting Lancashire songs but this is about songs that remind you about these 2 fine counties

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: GUEST,Sufern Softy
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 12:17 PM

They're all miserable flat cap wearing tight fisted Northerners to me!

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: bubblyrat
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 12:21 PM

Dear TERRIER----Elsewhere on this site is a recent thread offering a tanslation of the "Baht ,at " in the song as meaning,presumably in Yorkshire dialect, "without a hat " . If you can prove otherwise,of course,then ( and only then !! ) will I do my punishment !!

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 12:25 PM

The Aspeys used to a terrific song which, I think, was called "Lankie Spoken Here".

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: bubblyrat
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 12:28 PM

No,"Sufern Softy" they are not all the same !! I cannot be intolerant of Lancashire folks, as my sister lives in Lancaster,where her children were born. However ,I was informed,about 5 years ago, by a man from the Lancashire Dialect Society, at the Sidmouth Festival, that "a Yorkshireman is a Scotsman stripped of his generosity !!"

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Alec
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 12:39 PM

I'd go with "Ilkley Moor" for Yorkshire & "Leaning on a Lamp post"
for Lancashire.
I'd say both counties had parity in music, but Lancashire has the best women.
This is because Lancastrian lasses all know the best way to Oldham.
I'll get me coat.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Bainbo
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 12:43 PM

And, if you're lucky, they know how to avoid Altrincham.



Pass me my coat, while you're there, Alec

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: GUEST,Ancient Briton
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 01:11 PM

There are huge cultural and linguistic differences within both counties, never mind between the two. It's still possible to identify a dialect to within a mile or two of its source in some of the valleys I know, either side of the hill. So identifying the essence of something as big as a county in a particular song or tune just isn't possible.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 02:20 PM

The Tour of the Dales
Willy went to Westerdale
The Yorkshire Tup
The Whitby Lad
Holbeck Moor Cock Fight

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 02:36 PM

Turpin Hero

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 02:49 PM

George Formby's got a lot to answer for! "Leaning on a Lamp post" indeed!
This was from the musical "Me and My Girl" based in and around Hareford Hall, Hampshire, Mayfair and Lambeth which in my book is in the saarrrfff. For Lancashire songs look no further than the works of Harry Boardman who looked into the written works of the last 200 years and found plenty of material that had lain forgotten but told of how we used to live in good times and bad. Writers such as Edwin Waugh, Sam Laycock, Sam Bamford, Sam Fitton, David Halstead, Randal Mundy, Joseph Burgess, Alexander Wilson, Michael Wilson...the list goes on. Not just songs but the stories and accounts of events such as the Cotton Famine are covered by these writers. There's a parallel universe up here that seems to think that to be "Lancastrian" you have to be a gormess idiot that says "ee by gum" every sentence. Like I said George Formby has a lot to answer for as well as people like Frank Randall and Danny Ross who played Jimmy Clitheroe's mate Alfie Hall in the long running radio series "The Clitheroe Kid".

Have a look HERE for more about Harry Boardman.

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Alec
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 02:54 PM

Ok, scrub "lamp post". Strawberry Fields Forever. (Just off Menlove Avenue,Woolton)

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 02:55 PM

Matchstick Men and Matchstick Cats and Dogs
Lancashire Lads
Manchester Canal
The Soldier's Farewell to Manchester
New Bayley Treadmill

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 03:34 PM

I'd go with "Strawberry Fields Forever" Alec! I'd also go with "Eleanor Rigby" - shame it's not about a real person but there were, and no doubt still are, plenty of Eleanor Rigby's about today.

Bowton's Yard
A Merry Little Doffer Lad
Our Sarah's Getting a Chap
Eaur Market Neet
Shurat Weaver's Song
Cotton Lords of Preston
Calico Printer' Clerk
Rawtenstall Annual Fair
(The last 2 songs were written by professional writers - Music Hall star Harry Clifton in the case of Calico... and Lee and Weston for Rawtenstall Fair. but the songs remind me of Lancashire)

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 04:25 PM

Charlie O'Neill - I always thought muck SLARTED on't'winders. Dunno why! Mine certainly does anyway!

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Bainbo
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 04:37 PM

Old Pendle; The Rise And Fall of Ghengis Ackroyd.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 05:33 PM

Blackburn Poachers
Wensleydale Lad
Scarborough Sands
Howden Town
The two lamplighters
Our Beck
A song of the Yorkshire Dales

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 05:48 PM

The Flowers of Knaresborough Forest is a song which lists villages around Knaresborough in North Yorkshire.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 07:35 PM

Boundary Commissions shouldn't be treated with any respect in this context.

So Liverpool is really in Lancashire.
And Middlesborough is really Yorkshire.

That should add quite a few songs to the total available for both counties.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 07:38 PM

I'm glad you said that because there are loads of Liverpool songs but I didn't know if they would count.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 09:17 AM

Yorkshire songs? there are loads of them, and plenty new ones being written.
Andy Sugdens 'The Hartshead Maid' and 'When Tommy came back to the Dale'.
Bob Pegg wrote quite a few such as 'Fiddlers Cross' 'The Gypsy' 'Leaving the Dales'and others.
My own stuff like 'The Wars of the Roses' (which I actually sang a few years ago at the aforementioned song contest at Saddleworth)'Ballad of the Assistant Banana Ripening Manager', and 'I sorta wish'.
'The Apprentice Diallers song' by Terry Armitage.
Any of Keith Marsdens stuff.
Tommy Daniels 'Poverty Knock'
'Words thro't shuttle 'ee' by Ben Turner
'Owd Moxy' by Ben Preston
'Bonny Hills of Yorkshire' by Barry Smith
Anything by F.W. Moorman.
'The wind blows cold at Jack o' Johnnies' and loads of others by James F. Jarratt of Mytholmroyd.
'Mrs Holroyd' (Can't remember who wrote that one!)
I could go on but I'd be here all day! ...Yorkshire songs? there are bleedin' loads of 'em if you know where to look!

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 09:31 AM

I'm with Zany Mouse.......... Being from across the big pond and in the middle of the USA (Missouri, to be exact), I probably wouldn't know a Lanky if one bit me(And Gary Aspey just might!), But Gary and Vera Aspey are as Lanky as can be to my ear. I think they are fantastic. I play some of their songs on my radio show.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: r.padgett
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 12:36 PM

Bruce apparently it should be Tommy Daniel and Poverty Knocks!

See the 's' I know I had it that way round until I went see Mick Haywood!

Young Simon John
T'Owd farmer and his Shrew (Mary O Mary)
Owd Jim Slack
Poverty Knocks

All Mick's Batley songs

Arthur Howard/Will Noble
such as:
Merry Mountain Child
Homfirth Anthem
Bright Shiny Morning
Bill Brown

Frank Hinchliffe (Sheffield) trad source singer some fine songs collected and sung by Frank over many years
such as:
Sheffield Park
Edward
Nobleman and Thresher
Old Wooden Rocker

Arthur Wood (Middlesborough)

John Greaves (to my mind a traditional singer with some recently recorded songs for TYG) many I have never heard before

John's at Saddleworth again for the War of the Roses

A number of Industrial songs from Sheffield area:
such as
Sheffield Grinders (see Paul Davenport's collection)

West Riding songs
Cropper Lads
Foster's Mill

All of Hudleston Collection
Ray

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 01:25 PM

all of Keith Marsdens songs!

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Folkiedave
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 01:50 PM

Two blokes went to the pub together every night for years at 9.00 pm. Alf always called at Joe's house.

One night when Alf went to Joe's house and his wife said " I have some bad news, he died in his sleep earlier today".

"Oh!" said Alf, "did he say owt about a tin of paint?".

If you can understand why that is funny - chances are you are from Yorkshire!!

Anything by the Watersons. Even if they sing their shopping list.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Alio
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 02:34 PM

We'll be having another War of the Roses this year - when you think about it, Saddleworth is the only place you CAN have it - and this year for the 1st time there'll be a tropy for the winning side!

Yorkshire will be represented by Hissyfit, Copper Kettle, Ray Padgett and Arthur Marsden (from the Shellbacks). The Lancashire side will include Stanley Accrington, Scowie, Sid, Scolds Bridle and Dave Molloy. Glad I'm not judging!!

Geoff's already thinking about the categories. In case you want to get there, it'll be in the Civic Hall on the Saturday afternoon - it's outgrown all the other venues!!

Ali

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: yrlancslad
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 11:36 PM

As an exile from Lancashire ( suffering the terrible life here in California) I always find myself singing "I wish I was in Lancashire" when I'm homesick. It's a Cicely Fox Smith poem set to music, I think, by the Aspeys-it's on their album "From the North"

There's gradely hounds in Lancashire as such there always were
Theres gradely hills in Lancashire although they're bleak and bare
There's gradely lads in Lancashire and that I'll tell you true
And I wish I was in Lancashire a-huntin' o'er the dew.

I long to be in Lancashire......

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 01:07 AM

...Ray, I stand corrected!
Folkie Dave, wonderful story

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Alec
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 03:05 AM

Singing "Bring me Sunshine" immediately brings to mind a particularly fine Yorkshire man & a particularly fine Lancastrian.

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: selby
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 05:11 AM

Paddy on the railway (Right Title?)as I remember it had him working on the Leeds to Selby railway. Therefore another Yorkshire song

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 06:37 AM

Well I didn't know Cicely Fox Smith was a Lancastrian!!

She was I believe in Canada and retired in England somewhere!

I wont say anymore as I dunt want to upset Danny and Joyce

But Lancashire was she born there??

Gary and Vera nice singers, but he does go on abit!! (joking honest)

Ray

Cheers
Bruce

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Scrump
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 07:38 AM

Here's some I've not seen mentioned (apologies if they have):

Lancs:
Ashton Mashers
Rochdale Mashers
City of Manchester
The Leaving of Liverpool
I Wish I Was Back in Liverpool
Liverpool Lullaby
Wigan Pier
In Me Little Wigan Garden
Sitting on the Top of Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Belle
With Me Little Stick Of Blackpool Rock
Bonny Brid (Lancs cotton famine)
Black Pud Stud
Hear All, See All, Say Nowt
Where There's Muck There's Brass
Mi Gronny
Brown Photographs
King Cotton (2 different songs)
I'm Powfagged
Lancashire Lyne
Lancashire My Lancashire
Lancashire Leads The Way Me Lads
Royton Sands
Nowt So Queer As Folk
Our Sarah's Getten A Chap
A Mon Like Thee
Pete Was A Lonely Mongrel Dog Who Lived In Central Wigan
Straightforward Lancashire Lad
The Martians Have Landed In Wigan
Uncle Joe's Mint Balls
Howfen Wakes
Sit Thi Deawn
Lancashire Fusiliers
Matchstalk Men & Matchstalk Cats & Dogs (about L S Lowry)
Owdham Edge
Toddlin' Whoam
Whoam Brewed
Lancashire Toreador

Yorks:
The Hair of the Widow of Bridlington
Scarborough Fair

On that basis, I reckons Lancs are the winners :-)

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: GUEST,HughM
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 08:24 AM

Yorkshire:
Threescore and Ten
The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
The Settle-to-Carlisle Railway, Land of the Pennine God, Fish Finger Armada, More Like Blackpool Each Day and many other songs by Mike Donald.

Can't remember who wrote Simon John - was it Walter Greaves?

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: r.padgett
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 09:20 AM

No No No Simon John is Tommy Daniel

Walter was a one armed blacksmith from Dewsbury!!

he travelled on a bike (cycle) a good bit too

he was story teller too

Ken Johnson (Stainsby) keeps on about him so if anyone knows any more about WG post here!!

Some story about his house being marooned when they built a motorway slip road to the M62 or some road leaving Yorkshire and Dave Brady helping him relocate

Ray

Subject: RE: Origins: Yorkshire / Lancashire
From: Scrump
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 09:54 AM

A Gradely Prayer is one (of the many, no doubt) I forgot earlier.

(Add one to the Lanky score).