New Bell Wake

10 Jul 01 - 02:52 PM (#503288)
Subject: New Bell Wake
From: GUEST,Liz

As sung by Roy Bailey 2nd verse They kicked up one continuous roar ------------------------------------- The guns did shoot

5th verse 1st line.

And------------------------------- and what a sight 5th verse 6th line -------the devil--seemed but civil had come to New Bell Wake.

Thanks

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10 Jul 01 - 09:00 PM (#503587)
Subject: RE: New Bell Wake
From: Stewie

Hi Liz,

I see what you mean. I have had a few listens and I reckon the first line of the second stanza is:

'Was slam, round, change and fire'

The fifth stanza is difficult to decipher, but my best shot at it is:

At length one lies and what a sight
Was then on Norton Green
And what a squall at Osborne Stall
When they fired a magazine
The crackers flew and serpents too
Made all the neighbours quake
Folks thought the devil, obscene but civil
Had come to New Bell Wake

In the sleeve notes to the original vinyl issue, Bailey says his source was 'Room for Company' edited by Roy Palmer. Someone may have this and be able to correct or confirm.

--Stewie.

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10 Jul 01 - 09:22 PM (#503605)
Subject: RE: New Bell Wake
From: Stewie

Sorry, third line of the stanza should be 'neighbourhood' not 'neighbours'.

I thought I heard 'obscene' in the second last line but, listening again, it sounds like 'as seen but civil' - but that doesn't seem to make any sense. I am intrigued to know what he is actually singing. Good luck.

--Stewie.

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11 Jul 01 - 06:09 PM (#504471)
Subject: RE: New Bell Wake
From: Dita

Nearly right Stewie,

verse two OK but no , between slam and round

v5
At length one night and what a sight
was then on Norton Green
And what a squall at Osburn's stall
when they fired her magazine.
The crackers flew and serpents, too,
made all the neighbourhood quake.
Folks thought the devil, as seemed but civil
had come to the new bell wake.

King'a Norton was a village in Worcestwrshire until 1911 and since then has been part of Birmingham. New bells were hung in the chuech tower in 1783 and in 1826 and the song refers to one of those occasions, when there was a tremendous celebration on the village green. -Roy Palmer, Room for Company.

love, john.

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11 Jul 01 - 08:07 PM (#504562)
Subject: RE: New Bell Wake
From: Stewie

Thanks, John. It's good to know what it should have been.

Cheers, Stewie.

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12 Jul 01 - 08:57 PM (#505436)
Subject: RE: New Bell Wake
From: GUEST,Liz

Thanks Stewie and John I shall be singing this soon. Love liz

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