Lyr Add: Arky's Toast/Downfall of Tyrants

Subject: Lyr Add: ARKY'S TOAST
From: nutty
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 12:52 PM

Has anyone, PLEASE, got any background or source information on the song below and also, can anyone tell me who were the members of the group Arky's Toast and where they might be contacted?


ARKY'S TOAST

We'll drink to the down fall of tyrants;
We'll drink to Christ the Lord,
We'll drink to the twelve Apostles,
Who preached his holy word.
We'll drink to the saints and martyrs,
In the dismal days of yore.
And whenever our glasses are empty,
We'll remember one saint more.
And whenever our glasses are empty,
We'll remember one saint more.

We'll drink to the king, me boys,
We'll drink a health to the queen,
And all the royal family,
Wherever they are seen.
We'll drink to the Dukes and Duchesses,
And all their loyal men.
And whenever our glasses are empty,
We will fill them up again.
And whenever our glasses are empty,
We will fill them up again.

We'll drink a heath to the ladies,
We'll drink to all their charms,
We'll drink to all the pleasures that we find,
When we are in their arms.
We'll hold them very tight, me boys,
But we'll make it clear.
It's good-by on the day that they say,
They will keep us from our beer.
It's good-by on the day that they say,
They will keep us from our beer.

We'll drink a health to the landlord,
Of this Harvest feast,
We'll raise our glasses high, me boys,
To the strength of malt and yeast.
We'll drink a health to the landlord,
With his ale strong and fine.
And we're hoping that he'll forget to shout,
When it comes to closing time.
And we're hoping that he'll forget to shout,
When it comes to closing time.

We'll drink to John O'Gaunt, me boys,
We'll drink to Jinkey Wells.
We'll drink to William Kimber,
Who was buried in his bells.
We'll drink to all the Morris folk,
Wherever they may be.
And we're hoping that they dance as well,
When they're half as drunk as we.
And we're hoping that they dance as well,
When they're half as drunk as we.

Subject: RE: Help Arky's Toast
From: Snuffy
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 06:41 PM

It's obviously about Morris dancing and excuses for drinking. Jinky Wells was the fiddler for Bampton Morris from about 1900 to 1950, and William Kimber (Jr) played concertina for Headington Quarry MM from about 1900 and died about 1961. He was one of Cecil Sharp's main informants.

I believe Morris men have occasionally been known to indulge in the odd libation.

Subject: RE: Help Arky's Toast
From: Stewie
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 07:30 PM

Reading from the sleeve of Martyn Wyndham-Read's 'Maypoles to Mistletoe'(Trailer LER 2092), Aky's Toast seems to have been Colin Cater, Andrew Brown and Greg Trice.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Help Arky's Toast
From: Anglo
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 08:18 PM

Arky's Toast were/are Colin Gates, Jim James, and Trevor Notton. Their eponymous LP (the only one I know of) from 1979 was a tribute to the late "Arky" Standing of Charlwood on the Surrey/Sussex border, and, as well as songs, incorporated field recordings of his recollections. The "toast" song above was put together by the group based on Arky's verse:

We'll drink to Christ our Lord,
And to each of the twelve apostles
Who preached his holy word.
We'll drink to those saints and martyrs
In the dismal days of yore
And whenever our glasses are empty
We'll remember one saint more.

(This from the liner notes, as the first verse above).

I presume the rest of the song was theirs, in the spirit of this verse. The LP was on Sweet Folk All, produced by Joe Stead. Hope this helps. Colin Gates was credited as a native of Charlwood, you might start there.

Subject: RE: Help Arky's Toast
From: Stewie
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 08:42 PM

Anglo, thanks for clearing that up for me. I wrote 'seems to have been' because it is not clear on the record sleeve whether the 3 I mentioned constituted Arky's Toast or were additional musicians - given that they played melodeon, concertina and fiddle and no other personnel mentioned, I thought it likely they were Arky's Toast. Wrong again! The songs they were involved in, alone or with MWR and Geoff and Penny Harris, on the 'Maypoles to Mistletoe' album are: 'Wait's Carol', 'April Song', Furry Day Carol', 'Moon to the Sun', 'Arky's Toast', 'Guy Fawkes' and 'The Rose of Sharon'.

Cheers, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Help Arky's Toast
From: Stewie
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 08:49 PM

Anglo, looking at the sticker on the record itself, 'Arky's Toast' is attributed to 'Standing, James, Gates, Notton' - thus it seems your presumption that the rest of the song is their composition is correct.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Help Arky's Toast
From: Anglo
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 09:17 PM

Couldn't find my copy of Maypoles to Mistletoe, or I would have checked that. I'm not sure if they re-recorded it, or licensed the original. If that LP turns up, I'll compare the two. (I really ought to sort my LPs - but I'm afraid it's not high on the priority list).

Subject: RE: Help Arky's Toast
From: GUEST,Jim James of Arkys Toast
Date: 28 Jan 06 - 07:35 AM

The first 4 verses were written by COLIN GATES, one of Arkys Toast. The tune was written by JIM JAMES, also of Arkys. The trird member was TREVOR NOTTON

Subject: RE: Help Arky's Toast
From: Alan Day
Date: 28 Jan 06 - 08:22 AM

Hallo Jim
Alan Day

Subject: RE: Help Arky's Toast
From: GUEST,MJH
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 07:43 AM

Colin Gates, Jim James and Trevor Notton were all Metropolitan Police Officers. Colin can be found still the Old Half Moon pub in Charlwood Surrey. The pub featured heavily in old 'Arky's' life. The album by Arky's Toast has recordings of old Arky giving views of village life. Their songs feature many of his thoughts as a basis for the lyrics. Colin Gates has just written a song for Wyndham-Reads new album.

Subject: RE: Help Arky's Toast
From: The Doctor
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 08:24 AM

The LP is currently on eBay.co.uk, starting price £4.99, no bids so far.

Subject: RE: Help Arky's Toast
From: Saro
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 11:10 AM

I have fond memories of the times when we booked Arkies Toast for Bracknell Folk Club. It was occasionally in the recital room, and they were the only group who had members tall enough to put their drinks on the very high mantel above the fireplace. Good times and good singing!!
saro

Subject: RE: Help Arky's Toast
From: Alan Day
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 07:19 PM

I was appearing with Arky's Toast for a Gig somewhere up North many years ago and we all travelled up together. It was a laugh from start to finish and I still remember Trevor making out he was an undercover detective and arresting me in a busy High Street with my hands on the bonnet of a car spreadeagled and him pulling my trousers down so I could not get away and saying loudly "Anything you say etc ".
Colin and his Wife Sue run a singaround still at The Half Moon in Charlwood,which I had an enjoyable evening at on their last evening
the Second Monday in the Month
Al

Subject: Lyr Add: APRIL SONG
From: GUEST,guittern
Date: 11 Apr 11 - 02:46 PM

APRIL SONG

So here we are in April, in showy blowy April
In frowzy blowzy April, the rowdy dowdy time
    In soppy sloppy April; in wheezy breezy April
    In ringing singing April with a singing swinging rhyme
The smiling sun of April on the violets is focal
The sudden showers for April seek the dandelions out
The tender airs of April make the local yokel vocal
And he raises rustic ditties with a most melodious shout
    So here we are in April, in tipsy gypsy April;
    In showery flowery April--the twinkly sprinkly days
    In tingly jingly April; in wheezy breezy April--
    In mighty flighty April with its highty-tighty ways.
The duck is fond of April (quack) and the clucking chick-a-biddy (squawk)
While other barnyard creatures (grunt) have a try at caroling (moo)
There's something in the air to make a city biddy giddy
And even I am forced to raise my croaking voice and sing!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Arky's Toast
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 11 Apr 11 - 07:13 PM

There was a previous thread, here !

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Arky's Toast
From: GUEST,ash miles
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 10:49 AM

There is a song iv heard about I think by arckys toast calld "From the old half moon to the rising sun" wich is about the jeorny between two pubs in charlwood. I grew up there and lived in the rising sun for years. I love charlwood history.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Arky's Toast
From: Splott Man
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 11:24 AM

They were certainly the tallest group in folk at the time, although hotly challenged by Isca Fayre.