Lyr Req: On the Beach at Portobello (Matt McGinn)

Subject: On the streets of Portobello
From: GUEST,Paulo
Date: 15 Sep 02 - 07:42 AM

Lyrics please for the above song. I think this is the title and that the first verse goes as follows -

On the streets of Portobello Sally fell in with a fellow His hair was black, his teeth were yellow Down by the Portobello pier

The only person I've ever heard singing it was a bloke called Geordie Keith in Cleveland (England) a lot of years ago.

Cheers

Paulo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: On the streets of Portobello
From: georgeward
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 02:24 AM

I believe this was one of Matt McGinn's parodies. I certainly heard it from him, though he might have had it from someone else. My memory is that there was no more to it than what you've posted, but it was a long time ago...

If you don't know about Matt, you might check out Nick Kelly's Matt McGinn site:

http://www.theballadeers.com/Matt_01.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: On the streets of Portobello
From: GUEST,Paulo
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 09:57 AM

Now you mention it, I think it was a Matt McGuinn song.

But there was at least two if not more verses song by Geordie Kieth.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: On the streets of Portobello
From: GUEST,Paulo
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 11:03 AM

On checking Nick Kelly's site and Matts discography he has a song called

On the BEACH at Portobello

Maybe thats the one I want

Subject: Lyr Add: ON THE BEACH AT PORTOBELLO (Matt McGinn)
From: GUEST,Pat Darlington
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 01:01 PM

ON THE BEACH AT PORTOBELLO
As recorded by Matt McGinn on “The Best of Matt McGinn, Vol. 2,” 2003.
Tune: Torna a Surriento (Come Back to Sorrento—Italian song in the Neapolitan dialect)

On the beach at Portobello,
Maggie fell in with a fellow.
His hair was black and his teeth was yellow,
Down by the Portobello pier.

He was balding; he was hen-toed,
Singing: “Come Back to Sorrento.”
Made her feel quite sentimento
Down by the Portobello pier.

His shoes was worn intae the upper,
But he bought her a big pie supper.
She thought he was tryin to get—acquainted,
Down by the Portobello pier.

He got fresh wi Maggie gemmo(?).
She says: “Here, you, what’s your game-o?”
He says: “Wait, an I'll gie ye a demo”
Down by the Portobello pier.

It’s a day she’ll aye remembra,
Though it was ten year last Novembra
Since she took that train to Embra [Edinburgh]
And a bus to the Portobello pier.

He told her his name was Larry,
Asked her if she’d like to marry.
She says: “Yes, Tom, Dick and Harry”
Down by the Portobello pier.

On the beach at Portobello,
Maggie fell in with a fellow.
His hair was black an his teeth was yellow,
Down by the Portobello pier.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: On the Beach at Portobello (Matt McGinn)
From: GUEST,Clarky
Date: 20 Feb 13 - 03:26 PM

Could you tell me the name of the group Geordie kieth was in. I performed with him at the Redcar folk festival in 1996 when I was 13.

Subject: Lyr Add: ON THE BEACH AT PORTOBELLO (Matt McGinn)
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 20 Feb 13 - 04:52 PM

Pat, this is the version I had years ago from Barrie Roberts (who knew Matt). The first & last verse go to the minor part of Come back to Sorrento, and the rest go to the second part of the major-ish part.

On the beach at Portobello,
Our Maggie fell in with a fellow.
His hair was black and his teeth were yellow,
Down by the Portobello pier.

He was balding, he was hen-toed,
Singing 'Come back to Sorrento',
Made her feel quite sentimento,
Down by the Portobello pier.

His shoes were worn down to the upper,
But he bough her a big pie supper.
She thought he was trying to get ... acquainted,
Down by the Portobello pier.

Told her that his name was Larry,
Axed [asked] her if she'd like to marry:
She said, "Yes -- Tom, Dick or Harry!"
Down by the Portobello pier.

It's anight shall I remembra,
Though 'twas ten years last Novembra
Our Maggie caught the train to Embra [Edinburgh!]
And a bus to the Portobello pier.

On the beach at Portobello,
Our Maggie fell in with a fellow.
His hair was black and his teeth were yellow,
Down by the Portobello pier.

This is Spike Milligan's 'Return to Sorrento (2nd Class)':
I must go down to the sea again,
To the lonely sea and the sky:
I left my vest and socks there --
I wonder if they're dry?