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Origins: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?

20 May 01 - 01:02 PM (#466835)
Subject: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: Snuffy

The version recorded by the Oldham Tinkers in the 60s has only two verses, which are as given in the DT - A MON LIKE THEE.

But in a thread about 'Rawtenstall Annual Fair' in Oct-00 Bernard siad "Mike [Harding]had a habit of adding verses to songs, didn't he?! The Oldham Tinkers originally had only two verses when they first recorded 'A Mon Like Thee' (also on Deep Lancashire), and Mike added a third verse about St. Peter and the Pearly Gates".

I have heard a third verse where the tramp turns out to be the long lost brother who's been away and become a millionaire, and dressed as a tramp to "test" his brother. I can't remember any Pearly Gates in that, though.

Are these two separate last verses? Can anyone post either or both of them?

Wassail! V


20 May 01 - 01:19 PM (#466840)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: caz2ufolk

I've heard Bernard singing the verse about the tram at the door asking for a crust, tramp turns out to be rich lost brother offering all his wealth to..... a 'mon like thee!'Ask Bernard he has the words.

Carol


20 May 01 - 02:32 PM (#466885)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: GUEST,Raggytash

Third |Verse
When Jack he had lived long enough
time came for him to di (die)
he jumped upon the tram for one last ride
he paid up to the terminus
but got off at the sheds
an' knocked on golden gates an' went inside
he held his hat in both his hands
he ses I've come at last
St Peter ses ah Jack I see it's thee
an' he went and hung Jack's hat up
just behind the golden gates
an' then to Jack's surprise St Peter said


20 May 01 - 07:03 PM (#466977)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: Snuffy

Ok, that's the Mike Harding/Peary Gates 3rd verse. Thanks Raggytash.

Anybody got the millionaire brother 3rd verse (which could make Mike's the 4th verse)?

Wassail! V


20 May 01 - 07:58 PM (#466993)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: Stewie

Here you go, Bugsy - I don't know how the line structure is supposed to go; I just went by the pauses:

    Now that beggar did not eat a bit
    But down his pale face streamin'
    The tears came flowin' like a shower o' rain
    He cried, 'Jack, dost thou know me
    Dost thou know thee long lost brother
    These fifty years away, now back again?
    I've only put these clothes on just, me lad, to try thee
    For I'm not poor, but rich as any Jew
    And thou't welcome to it all, lad, thee wife and childer too
    And that's because, me lad, I've found thee true
    (Itchy-coo)
    Ee, I'm always glad to see …

Regards, Stewie.


20 May 01 - 08:02 PM (#466995)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: Stewie

Oops, second last line should read 'And that's because'.


21 May 01 - 02:19 AM (#467088)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: Stewie

My apologies, Snuffy, my posting should have been directed to you. I don't know why I put 'Bugsy' there - perhaps because I had been reading his thread about his photos. I apologise sincerely for mixing you up with that sandgroping reprobate.

Regards, Stewie.


21 May 01 - 08:29 AM (#467127)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: Snuffy

You can mix me up with anyone you like, as long as you post the lyrics, Stewie.

I take it you got this verse from a recording, but by whom? And is there any info on authorship? When Deep Lancashire appeared in 1968, it was 'anon'.


21 May 01 - 06:31 PM (#467400)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: Stewie

Snuffy,

I transcribed it from The Oldham Tinkers 'Best O'T' Bunch' Topic LP 12TS237 (1974). The note on the sleeve is:

The Oldham Tinkers recorded a version of this song on the album 'Deep Lancashire' (Topic 12T188) but they were dissatisfied with it as learnt from sundry singers in various Oldham pubs. Particularly the ending seemed unsatisfactory. However, the original ending was subsequently supplied by Jack Carey, and authority on local song, and his evidence was corroborated by the son of the song's author - Edmund Hill from St. Helens. So here is the song as it was meant to be.

Cheers, Stewie.


21 May 01 - 07:09 PM (#467423)
Subject: Lyr Add: A MON LIKE THEE (Edmund Hill)
From: Snuffy

Brilliant Stewie. So we now have not the whole of the original song, plus the authorship, plus an extra verse from Mike Harding. For the sake of completeness, here's the whole thing. A Miditext/abc can be found in this thread

A MON LIKE THEE
(Edmund Hill)

There's an owd chap lives down our street, in a cosy cottage green house,
And on a Sunday morning when its fine,
I often goes an' sits wi' 'im to 'ave a smoke an' chat,
Because ee is a dear owd friend o' mine.
And when its gettin' dinner time, and dinner's ready then,
I think it must be time fer me to go.
But ee goes an 'angs mi 'at up, just behind the owd front door,
And then to my surprise I hear him say:

CHORUS:
"Ee Ahm allus glad to see a mon like thee.
Tha's as welcome lad, as welcome as can be.
Fotch thi chair up to't table,
Stop as long as thou art able,
Fer Ahm allus glad to see a mon like thee."

One day when I were sat wi' 'im, there came a loud "rat-tat",
There came a loud rat-tat" on Jack's front door.
He hurries o'er to open it and there to 'is surprise,
An 'ungry tattered beggar stood outside.
He asked Jack fer a crust of bread, Jack looked 'im through and through,
an' then said "bless thi 'art lad, come inside"
An' ee went and 'ung 'is 'at up, just behind the owd front door,
An' to the tramp's surprise, ee 'eard Jack say:

CHORUS

Now that beggar did not eat a bit, but down his pale face streamin'
The tears came flowin' like a shower o' rain
He cried, 'Jack, dost thou know me, dost thou know thee long lost brother
These fifty years away, now back again?
I've only put these clothes on just, me lad, to try thee
For I'm not poor, but rich as any Jew
And thou'rt welcome to it all, lad, thee wife and childer too
And that because, me lad, I've found thee true


CHORUS
Additional Verse by Mike Harding
When Jack he had lived long enough, time came for him to dee
He jumped upon the tram for one last ride
He paid up to the terminus, but got off at the sheds
An' knocked on golden gates an' went inside
He held his hat in both his hands, he ses 'I've come at last'
St Peter ses 'ah Jack I see it's thee'
An' he went and hung Jack's hat up just behind the golden gates
An' then to Jack's surprise St Peter said

CHORUS

Recorded (Verses 1 & 2) by Oldham Tinkers on Deep Lancashire, Topic 12T188 (1968) and (Verses 1-3) on Best O't' Bunch Topic 12TS237 (1974).

Wassail! V


18 Oct 04 - 02:07 PM (#1299890)
Subject: Lyr Req: a mon like thee
From: GUEST,wigan

anyone remember the last verse about jack going to heaven?
searched the lyric section but this verse isn't in. can someone help PLEASE


18 Oct 04 - 02:40 PM (#1299944)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a mon like thee
From: Sorcha

Try here.... Seems truncated though.....


19 Oct 04 - 12:27 PM (#1300734)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a mon like thee
From: GUEST

thanks sorcha. i know the missing words,it just goes into the chorus.
atb
wigan


20 Oct 04 - 12:22 PM (#1301872)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a mon like thee
From: Flash Company

Norman Prince in his time with The Auld Triangle always used to dedicate the last verse to the organiser of the club, changing the name from Jack to whatever was appropriate and ending:-

And the to his surprise St Peter said,
(Pointing downwards) SOD OFF!

FC


20 Oct 04 - 08:59 PM (#1302360)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a mon like thee
From: Mr Happy

EEEE!


21 Oct 04 - 09:54 PM (#1303447)
Subject: Lyr Add: A MON LIKE THEE
From: Jim Dixon

Copied from http://www.houghtonweavers.com/words_020.htm

A MON LIKE THEE

There's an owd chap lives down our street
In a cosy cottage greenhouse,
And every Sunday morning when it's fine,
Well, I often goes and sits with him to have a smoke and chat
Because he is a dear owd friend of mine.
And when it's getting dinnertime and dinner's ready then,
I think it must be time for me to go,
But he goes and hangs me hat up
Reight behind the owd front door,
And then to my surprise I hear him say:

CHORUS: Ee I'm allus glad to see a mon like thee.
Thet as welcome, lad, as welcome as can be.
Fotch thi cheer reight up t'table.
Stop as long as thow art able,
Fer am allus glad to see a mon like thee.

One day when I were set wi him,
There came a loud rat tat.
There came a loud rat tat on Jack's front door.
He hurried oer to oppen it and there to his surprise,
A hungry tattered beggar stood outside.
He asked Jack fer a crust of bread.
Jack looked him through and through,
And then said, "Bless thi heart, lad. Come inside,"
And he went and hung tramp's hat up
Reight behind the owd front door,
And to the tramps surpise he heard Jack say: CHORUS

That beggar did not eat a bit
But down his pale face streaming,
The tears were flowing like a shower of rain.
He cried, "Lad, dust not know mi?
Dust not know thi long lost brother,
These fifty years again, lad, back again?
I've only put these clothes on just, mi lad, to try thi,
Fer I'm not poor but rich as honeydew;
And thet welcome to it all, lad,
Thi wife and childther too,
And that's because mi lad I've found thi true." CHORUS

When Jack he had lived long enough,
There came his time to dee;
So he booked upon the tram for his last ride.
He paid reight up t'terminus
And then got off at sheds.
He knocked upon the door and went inside.
Well, he stood with his cap in both his hands
And said, "I've come at last.
Saint Peter said, "Ey, lad, I see it's thee."
An' he went and hung Jack's cap up
Reight behind the pearly gates,
And then to Jack's surprise Saint Peter said: CHORUS


07 Jan 08 - 10:36 PM (#2230851)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee
From: dilly daly of Adelaide

Has anyone got suggested chords for this great song please ?


08 Jan 08 - 05:21 PM (#2231498)
Subject: Chords Add: A MON LIKE THEE
From: The Vulgar Boatman

Sorry about racial stereotypes, but in the interest of accuracy, the line in the third verse should read:

"For I'm not poor but rich as any Jew..."

          D                  
There's an owd chap lives down our street
      G   
In a cosy cottage greenhouse,
    A                              D - A
And every Sunday morning when it's fine,
       D                               G   
Well, I often goes and sits with him to have a smoke and chat
   A                               D
Because he is a dear owd friend of mine.
    A                                 D               
And when it's getting dinnertime and dinner's ready then,
E                               A
I think it must be time for me to go,
       D                        
But he goes and hangs me hat up
       G                        
Reight behind the owd front door,
    A                                 
And then to my surprise I hear him say:
                D                            G      
CHORUS: Ee I'm allus glad to see a mon like thee.
       A                               D -A
Thet as welcome, lad, as welcome as can be.
          D                        
Fotch thi cheer reight up t'table.
         G                  
Stop as long as thow art able,
       A                           D
Fer am allus glad to see a mon like thee.


Transpose as required to suit voice
KYBTTS


02 Mar 08 - 01:00 AM (#2277112)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee
From: dilly daly of Adelaide

to Vulgar Boatman,
         thanks for chords.


22 May 09 - 10:03 PM (#2638993)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: Joe Offer

Snuffy's post has four verses, and attributes the song to Edmund Hill. The Digital Tradition has only two verses, and no attribution. I've rarely known Snuffy to be wrong. Is Snuffy's post correct with regards to verses and attribution? When was the song written?
-Joe-


26 May 09 - 09:42 AM (#2641135)
Subject: ADD: A Man Like Thee
From: Snuffy

The picture may not be as clear as we thought: Veteran's album VT147CD Yon Green Banks (Songs Sung in South Yorkshire) by Will Noble & John Cocking, has information about Edmund Hill, and a completely different version of the song! This may (or may not) be what Hill wrote. This is what appears in the sleeve notes (scroll down - it's the 14th of the 16 tracks):

A MAN LIKE THEE

There's an old man lives down our street,
In a cosy cottage with a greenhouse,
And on a Sunday morning when it's fine,
I often goes an' sits with him and have a smoke and chat,
Because he is a dear old friend of mine.

(Chorus) He says "I'm always glad to see a man like thee.
Th'ar as welcome lad, as welcome as can be.
Draw the chair right up to table,
Stop as long as thou art able,
For I'm always glad to see a man like thee."

There's a pub just down our village street that's where I like to roam
I go and meet my pals there every night.
The landlord's he's a pal of mine, each other we know well,
And when we meet he greets me with delight.

One day I went and fell in love with a bonny village lass.
I thought of nought but her both night and day.
And every time I took a stroll her cottage I would pass,
She'd come to door and these words she would say.

Then one night I dreamt that I was dead and went straight down to hell,
Old Nick himself received me on the spot.
He said "Come reet inside lad all thee pals are here as well."
You should have seen the welcome that I got.

       This is a song that has crept over the border from Lancashire to Will and John, although they got it from Frank Hinchliffe (Lodge Moor). It was written by Edmund Hill who was actually a Kentish miner who moved to St. Helens a century ago. He apparently fell in love with the heavy northern dialect that prevailed in that area then. The song was popular in the First World War trenches and became a theme song for many of the folk revival's 'Lancashire' acts in the 1960s and 70s, although the last verse seems to be unique to Hinchcliffe.

Song transcribed by John Howson

Song notes: John Howson, Will Noble & John Cocking


There is another mention of Hill in a local newspaper article from 2004, which basically repeats (or provides) the information in the Noble/Cocking sleevenotes.


03 Aug 09 - 10:29 AM (#2692765)
Subject: RE: ADD: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: GUEST,Fred

I don't know where the 'green house' comes from, it should be..."in a cosy cottage clean",   Then in the third verse I understand it to be.."that old tramp", not beggar.


03 Aug 09 - 11:09 AM (#2692785)
Subject: RE: ADD: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: sid

Such is the fate of popular songs, passed from singer to singer for a century or more, scribbled on the back of old fag packets, and still going strong. - REJOICE!! (and sing it when you can). SID.


07 Aug 09 - 10:45 AM (#2695462)
Subject: RE: ADD: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: MMario

the debatable line I have heard sung as "Fer I'm not poor but as rich a mun as you"


07 Aug 09 - 04:07 PM (#2695681)
Subject: RE: ADD: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: Fidjit

Nice one Snuffy. Stay well.

Chas


07 Aug 09 - 06:27 PM (#2695806)
Subject: RE: ADD: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Looking for words to another poem by Edmund Hill, "Down in the Engine Room," published in "Poems," 1913, Edmund Hill.


24 Aug 09 - 06:52 PM (#2707689)
Subject: RE: ADD: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: Celtaddict

MMario, that sounds like a much better substitute than the 'honey dew' by far.
I do not like slurs in song or tale, and think rewording them for performance for general public (as opposed to scholarly presentation when of course they should be as authentic as possible) makes sense. I understand the stereotype of the Jewish moneylender, but it does seem interesting to me that the assumption of riches is in itself seen as a slur.


11 Sep 10 - 06:59 PM (#2984780)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: GUEST,Paul Brown

Hey guys,
         I am performing this song, and have transcribed it to midi with all 4 verses, and added my own rhythms and harmonies from the Deep Lancashire recording. You can hea the midi here, along with others I have written and am writing: HERE...


23 Dec 18 - 04:40 PM (#3968071)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: Paul Reade

I’ve never been happy with the “... rich as ony Jew” verse and prefer to sing “I’m not poor, I’ve made a bob or two”. A bit of Lancashire understatement that fits in well with the rest of the song.


04 Nov 19 - 07:20 PM (#4017243)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: GUEST,Pete

Does anyone out there remember a spoof of this song with references to Mabel on the table and a cat up a tree I seem to remember.


07 May 24 - 06:30 AM (#4202201)
Subject: RE:: A Mon Like Thee
From: GUEST

Edmund Hill was my great grandfather. He was certainly not a Kentish miner who moved to St Helens He was Lancashire through and through as were his parents and grandparents. My grandfather was born in St Helens too but lived in Australia and he read his father's poems to me in the Lancashire dialect when I was little and we have still some of his handwritten poems. He was known as the Bard of St Helens at the time and poems of his were published for each special occasion or event that was happening in St Helens. My favourite was about the church picnic. I recall my grandfather telling me that Edmund did a concert for 9,000 soldiers on the eve before they all went to France to fight.


13 Jun 24 - 08:39 PM (#4203879)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Mon Like Thee - extra verses?
From: GUEST,J

Would that spoof version be by bob williamson?