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15 Nov 00 - 07:59 AM (#341002) Subject: Down the Dark Alley From: manitas_at_work Does any one know a song like this? I first learnt it at school and suspect it was a rugby song. It starts off as a bawdy song descibe how the singer meets a woman down a dark alley and each time he meets her she is wearing a different colour. It turns into a tragic song when she announces she's pregnant and then announces that the baby is dead. The next time I met her she was all dressed in blue All in blue, all in blue, She said "Your baby's due" Down the dark alley where nobody goes (knows?) The last time I met her she was all dressed in red All in red, all in red She said "Your baby's dead" Down the dark... The tune was similar to the Coppers' "The Week before Easter". |
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15 Nov 00 - 08:23 AM (#341016) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock I never thought of asking about that song here! I've been trying to find out how that finished for YEARS - anytime I heard it at school outings etc, it was censored after the first verse. All I can remember is: The first night I saw her she was dressed all in white All in white, all in white, I took her out that night Down the back alley where nobody goes I have a feeling the colour brown comes up next, providing a convenient rhyme for down, but I can't be sure as the teachers deemed us too innocent and fragile to hear it. |
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15 Nov 00 - 01:48 PM (#341218) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: Greyeyes I certainly know it as a rugby song from my wild and reckless youth. I don't know many verses but I know a few Rugby song web-sites so I'll have a look. The version I knew was absolutely filthy. |
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15 Nov 00 - 03:39 PM (#341272) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: nutty I know the song as ---Down the Back Alley and understand that originally it was a Liverpool Street Song athough many extra verses ( some incredibly crude ) have now been added The verses I remember are I met her in white - she said it's cold tonight blue - my baby's due red - my baby's dead check - I broke her pretty ( other words sometimes used ) neck black - she won't be coming back If I remember anymore i will post later |
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15 Nov 00 - 05:38 PM (#341348) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: nutty just remembered - between blue and red is - grey - you'll have to pay |
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11 May 03 - 05:12 AM (#950395) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: bradfordian Any advance on this one in the last 3 years? |
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11 May 03 - 07:58 PM (#950695) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: bradfordian Ok, well I found a quite crude version ( & hence got more than enuff of it, thanks!). Hope this jogs someones memory. I've picked up some bits from this thread for this. Just need someone to come in with some more of the less crude versions please. Add or delete colors as reg'd The first time I saw her she was all dressed in white All in white, all in white, I took her out that night Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next time I saw her she was all dressed in pink All in pink , all in pink, ?????????? Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next time I saw her she was all dressed in blue All in blue , all in blue, she said "your baby's due" Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next time I saw her she was all dressed in cream All in cream, all in cream, ???????????? Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next time I saw her she was all dressed in brown All in brown, all in all in brown, ??????????? Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next time I saw her she was all dressed in green All in green, all in green, ?????????????? Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next time I saw her she was all dressed in grey All in grey, all in grey, ????????????????? Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next time I saw her she was all dressed in rose All in rose, all in rose, ??????????????? Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next time I saw her she was all dressed in red All in red, all in red, she said "your baby's dead" Down the dark alley where nobody goes The last time I saw her she was all dressed in black All in black, all in black, she won't be coming back Down the dark alley where nobody goes Keep your ears open for this at a sing around or festival! Brad |
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22 Mar 11 - 05:19 PM (#3119296) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Richard I can add a tiny bit more from my school lunchtimes: All in white, all in white, she took me home that night. The song involved the singer speaking each line that went 'The next time I saw her...' then singing the verse. |
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16 May 11 - 07:32 PM (#3155429) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Mark from Oz I found this on http://www.odps.org/glossword/index.php?a=term&d=3&t=108 down in the valley / down the back alley This oddly unsympathetic little ditty has been sent in as the "Oak Park School Camp Song", but I'm sure the original title is "Down in the valley" etc: The first time I met her I met her in pink, All in pink all in pink. She made my finger stink. Down in the valley where I laid her down. The next time I met her I met her in white, All in white all in white. I shagged her all that night. Down in the valley where I laid her down. The next time I met her I met her in green, All in green all in green. She said the doctors been. Down in the valley where I laid her down. The next time I met her I met her in blue, All in blue all in blue. She said the twins were due. Down in the valley where I laid her down. The next time I met her I met her in red, All in red all in red. She said the twins were dead. Down in the valley where I laid her down. The next time I met her I met her check, All in check all in check. I'll break her fucking neck. Down in the valley where I laid her down. The next time I met her I met her in black, All in black all in black. I want my money back. Down in the valley where I laid her down. Version 2: The first time I met her I met her in white. All in white, all in white, She was a fucking good sight. Down a dark alley where nobody goes. The next time I met her, I met her in pink. All in pink, all in pink, She made my fingers stink. Down the back alley where nobody goes. The next time I met her, I met her in red. All in red, all in red, She was so good in bed<.br> Down the back alley where nobody goes. The next time I met her, I met her in green, All in green, all in green. She said 'The doctor's been'! Down the back alley where nobody goes. The next time I met her I met her in blue. All in blue, all in blue, She said the baby's due. Down the back alley where nobody goes. The next time I met her, I met her in fawn, All in fawn, all in fawn, She said 'The baby's born'. Down the back alley where nobody goes. The next time I met her I met her in red. All in red, all in red, She said 'The baby's dead'. Down the back alley where nobody goes. The next time I met her, I met her in yellow, All in yellow, all in yellow, She said 'I've got another fella'. Down the back alley where nobody goes. The next time I met her, I met her in CHECK. All in check, all in check, I BROKE HER FUCKING NECK! Down the back alley where nobody goes. Source: circa current, UK hope this helps a tad Mark from OZ |
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07 Mar 12 - 02:31 PM (#3318814) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST I remember this song from (Boarding) School (80's) I too, have wondered what the full lyrics were, as because over time you kind of forget them. I remember that it was "All in pink - she made my finger stink" "All in green, i filled her up with cream (or my cream) "All in black, i filled up her crack" It's amazing what we remember as kids.. well i'm glad someone else remembers Many of my mates were "forces kids" so, they may have heard it via their parents All the best to the armed services (but i don't reckon unless otherwise told, that their singing this in Afghanistan) |
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07 Apr 12 - 12:45 AM (#3334817) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST I learned the song in elementary school in Queens, NY. I remember the first verse as: The first night I met her, I met her in white All in white, all in white, I took her out that night down the back alley where nobody goes Insert other verses here that I have forgotten The next night I met her, I met her in green All in green, all in green, She said the doctor's been down the back alley where nobody goes. Other verse? Brown or blue? The next night I met her, I met her in red all in red, all in red she said the baby's dead down the back alley where nobody goes Last night I met her, I met her in check All in check, all in check, I wrung her bleeding neck down the back alley where nobody goes! |
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08 Apr 12 - 06:08 AM (#3335288) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Bob Coltman As so often with camp and children's songs, "Down the Dark Alley" derives from a bawdy song sung by soldiers. I don't know its origin, but the first I have found it printed is in "Mess Hall Songs of the RAAF," a 1945 collection of airmen's songs during World War II. You can find the songbook at: http://www.horntip.com/html/books_%26_MSS/1940s/1945-09-00--1961_mess_songs_and_rhymes_of_the_RAAF_(mimeo)/index.htm It next turns up in Korea as sung by members of the Royal Australian Air Force during the Korean War: http://www.horntip.com/html/books_&_MSS/1970s/1971ca_songs_my_mother_taught_me_(mimeo)/index.htm and after that seems to have entered children's tradition in the UK and Oz at least. Anyone know any versions from the US, Canada, or other different locales? I don't find it in a hasty survey of Cray's The Erotic Muse, the Vance Randolph collection or Logsdon's The Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing, three good sources of such songs. Bob |
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08 Apr 12 - 06:17 AM (#3335291) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Bob Coltman In asking "Anyone know any versions from the US," etc. I should have added: apart from the Queens, NY one posted by Guest immediately above. Thanks for that ... it's the first evidence I've seen of the song being sung in the US. Bob |
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08 Apr 12 - 08:38 AM (#3335325) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Lighter Bob, there are five full stanzas in Conrad Aiken's novel "Blue Voyage" (1927). Eleven presumably bowdlerized stanzas, plus a tune, are in Lt. F. T. Nettleingham's collection of British army songs, "Tommy's Tunes" (1917). |
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11 Apr 12 - 06:08 AM (#3336639) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Bob Coltman Nice work, Lighter, as always ... That places this as a definite WWI song, if not earlier. Thanks, Bob |
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29 Jun 12 - 09:53 PM (#3369884) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Me I was always tolk this was a song to be passed down in the folk style of never writing any of it down ...as in, it was "forbidden" to do so... Perhaps this was because my friend who taught it to me is a rennie who learned it in amtgard... And it took me years to find any bit of it online. That said, my favorite verse was "all in orange, all in orange ::dramatic pause:: I f*cked her up one side and down the other cos nothing rhymes with orange..." I know there were scads of other colors, including plaid and check, and others mentioned here. |
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04 Mar 14 - 07:00 AM (#3607041) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Ed Beasant Astonishing. - I learned this in tha back of a 4-tonner in about 1996 from a couple of lads from 2 Para ... It was rude but not as rude as some versions.... I think it's a mess hall standard still :-) |
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18 Jun 14 - 01:48 PM (#3634347) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: Q (Frank Staplin) Anyone know how old this "old standard" is? |
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18 Jun 14 - 02:57 PM (#3634366) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: Lighter See my post of April 8, 2012. Almost surely it antedates 1914. |
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18 Jun 14 - 05:41 PM (#3634405) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: Steve Gardham Splicing! |
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18 Jun 14 - 07:03 PM (#3634419) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: Q (Frank Staplin) And I put in a post thanking Lighter, but it disappeared. Thanks, Lighter! |
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20 Jun 14 - 03:21 PM (#3635023) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: Steve Gardham Refresh for merger, Joe. |
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09 Sep 15 - 08:18 PM (#3736526) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST i thought it was up the dark aly were no bdy goes the parts i rem were i met her in blu she said the twins were due the next nite i met her i met her in red she said the twins were dead up the dark ally were n/body goes brn was she took her knickers dn up and so on green was i stk it inbtween up the dk allie |
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09 Sep 15 - 08:36 PM (#3736528) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,to cassidt snr white i took her out that nite next brown i took her knickers dn pink she made my fingers stink green i stuck it inbetween grey run away check she said she,d take me bk blue twins r due red twins r dead blk i i broke her fkn neck . parts i still rem ime now 59. end still rem bits |
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10 Sep 15 - 01:34 PM (#3736640) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: Steve Gardham The tune I knew was very close to that sung in the folk clubs as 'Maids when you're young never wed an old man' which also has a similar structure. There are lots of versions (Roud 210) Here's the first verse of the version in Marrow Bones. An old man came courting me Heigh down derry down An old man came courting me Heigh derry down An old man came courting me All for to ruin me Girls, for your sake never wed an old man. |
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11 Sep 15 - 06:46 AM (#3736734) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Desi C I'm havig to laugh at this, everyone seems to remember a clean verse when anyone who kn ows this song knows that most veres are n fact very blue lol! |
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24 Jul 18 - 12:44 PM (#3939187) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Sean The next I saw she was all in pink she made my finger stink down the ally where nobody goes |
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20 Sep 18 - 05:05 AM (#3951729) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Guest - elwill My recollection is as follows as a UK rugby song The first time I met her she was all dressed in green All in green, all in green she was a virgin queen down in the valley where she followed me then the clour sequence brown - I had her pantied down pink - she made my fingers stink blue - i fucked her though and through fawn - one litle bastard born red - one little bastard dead check - I wrung her fucking neck there may be other colours I've missed |
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14 May 19 - 05:15 AM (#3992286) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Aaron Smith The one colour I remember is black and that was the next night I met her I met her in black I layed her on her back |
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23 Jun 19 - 05:44 AM (#3997478) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Rugby Man Might not be the original but try this: The first night I met her I met he in white All in white all in white She said tomorrow night Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next night I met her I met her in grey All in grey all in grey She said it is today Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next night I met her I met her in pink All in pink all in pink She made my finger stink Down the dark alley Where nobody goes The next night I met her I met her in red All in red all in red She laid upon the bed Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next night I met her I met her in green All in green all in free I filled her up with cream Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next night I met her I met her in blue All in blue all in blue We had another screw Down the dark alley where nobody goes The next night I met her I met her in blue All in blue all in blue She said your baby’s due Down the dark alley where nobody goes. |
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31 Aug 19 - 07:26 PM (#4006717) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST Was a day boy at a boarding school and played club rugby after only the filthy lyrics seem familiar |
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14 Dec 20 - 05:34 AM (#4083355) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,elwill I knew it as down in the valley where she followed me The verses I remember started off with green - she was a virgin queen brown - I had her panties down pink - she made my fingers stink blue - I fucked her through and through grey - I had ten quid to pay fawn - one little bastard born red - one little bastard dead check - I wrung her fucking neck Not necessarily in that order and there may have been some other verses |
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10 Jun 21 - 12:00 PM (#4109581) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST Captainocd All in pink, she made my fingers stink And there was All in checks - I wrung the bastard's neck. |
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27 Jun 21 - 01:29 PM (#4111605) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Rosie Hi, I know this is an old thread, and lord knows how I came across it, but my 1st husband played rugby, and I have to say I know a lot of rugby songs, (I played too, in the ladies team, I must have been mad!!!), anyway, the lyrics I know are rather more filthy and I cannot think of all the colours, as we'd sing the verse and someone would jump in with a colour and rhymn that they made up, It started withe the first time I met her I maet her in white, All in white all in white she was a bit of alright, Down a dark alley where nobody goes. Then there was all in pink, she made my fingers stink, All in red, I f"*'ed her til she bled All in black, I f"*'ed her on her back, All in green was til she screamed, It went on and on in the same sort of filthy way, as we also did with the "department store" song, which was entertaining when we were drunk, thinking of some new things to buy, and nit getting, and also the piano song song, that was another that we all loved, and when very drunk, which was every Saturday night, the engineers song!!! I can't believe that I even remember them, it was years ago |
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27 Jun 21 - 02:22 PM (#4111614) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: RunrigFan https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=97513 Similar song |
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08 Jan 22 - 06:45 PM (#4131604) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST Green - she was my every dream Tan - I want to be your man White - I took her out that night Pink - she made my fingers stink Brown - I took her panties down Black - I laid her on her back Plaid - she said you’ll be a Dad Red - I said we have to wed Blue - she said the baby’s due Grey - we lost our twins that day Yellow - I saw her with some fellow Check - I broke her fucking neck The last time I saw her I saw her stone dead… |
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21 Feb 23 - 07:21 AM (#4165731) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: bradfordian Here is a sanitised version: ·DOWN THE BACK ALLEY The first time I met her, I met her in white All in white , all in white She said “it’s cold tonight” Down the back alley where nobody goes The next time I met her, I met her in green All in green , all in green She’s something to be seen Down the back alley where nobody goes The next time I met her, I met her in blue All in blue , all in blue She said “My baby’s due” Down the back alley where nobody goes The next time I met her, I met her in grey All in grey , all in grey She said “You’ll have to pay” Down the back alley where nobody goes The next time I met her, I met her in red All in red, all in red She said “My baby’s dead” Down the back alley where nobody goes The last time I met her, I met her in black All in black , all in black She won’t be coming back Down the back alley where nobody goes |
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21 Feb 23 - 08:11 PM (#4165792) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Julia L Found a version of this from Maine listed as "The Dark Orchard" in the Flanders collection. The actual song seems to be "The Dark Arches" and refers to a lady of the evening purveying her wares in a train station. Still working on the trancription J |
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21 Feb 23 - 08:15 PM (#4165793) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Julia L found this https://songsfromtheageofsteam.uk/railways/77-station-life/201-bar090 |
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21 Feb 23 - 08:20 PM (#4165794) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: GUEST,Julia L Down by the Dark Arches- circa 1836 As I walked out one day in the month of July A pretty young damsel I chanced for to spy, Singing Villikens and Dinah, so blithe and so gay, Down by the dark arches under the railway. Then I stepped up to her so gay and so free, And for the same ballad I paid one halfpenny, Will you be my sweetheart to her I did say? Down by the dark arches under the railway. Oh no, my gay young man that cannot be, There is a chap here in blue and he is a-watching of me, And if he should see me, what would he say, Down by the dark arches under the railway. At last she consented, away we both went, Five shillings in lobsters and oysters I spent, Six drops of brandy for her I did pay, Down by the dark arches under the railway. Then in came a chap with a black eye and a stick, He drunk up my brandy and broke my Pickwick Pop goes the weasel to me he did say, Down by the dark arches under the railway. Then he squared up to me and pulled my watch out, He spoiled my new beaver and damaged my snout, He kicked me in the gutter and there I lay, Down by the dark arches under the railway I lay in the gutter till four in the morn As naked as ever a poor creature was born, And when I awakened quite still there I lay, Down by the dark arches under the railway. Four bobbies came up and to my surprise I found I had no shirt on to cover my thighs, They put me on a stretcher and bore me away From beneath the dark arches under the railway. I sent to my mother for money and clothes, Likewise to a doctor to patch up my nose, You have not had fair play to me he did say Down by the dark arches under the railway Now all you young chaps take a warning by me, And never go a-courting when you are on the spree, And never take those young ladies out of their way Down by the dark arches under the railway. |
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21 Feb 23 - 08:29 PM (#4165795) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down the Dark Alley From: Lighter In some versions, possibly the most violently nihilistic, misogynist song in English. Except for meeting a young woman (happens all the time in folksongs) and the phrase "down in the dark," there's little similarity between the songs. The misogynist song is at best a parodic offshoot of the other. |
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27 Feb 23 - 05:33 PM (#4166325) Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Down the Dark Alley / Down the Back Alley From: Joe Offer Joe - check |