The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #132949   Message #3053956
Posted By: GUEST,Don Day
15-Dec-10 - 08:52 AM
Thread Name: Martin Carthy workshop, 12 Dec Lewes
Subject: "The dowdy streets of Jarrow" Lyrics required.
This is a parody of Dowie dens of Yarrow if it is not obvious. Although the clan fever was stronger in Jarrow with the animosity with the nearby town of Felling the similarity with the Scottish situation is obvious (I lived in Hebburn, between the two, and was unfortunately caught up in the battles on occasion. Bollox kicked up in two incidents outside the Palais!) Written by Ed McIntyre of the said town, who was a prominent singer and composer at the Crown and Anchor club in the mid-sixties. I have forgotten most of the verses now and would like to revisit them.
Ed was a strong folk influence in the Tyneside area and wrote many now-classic songs. He ran the club with Tommy Cassidy and others and they performed mostly Irish music, very well, until 1969 when all sympathy with Irish Republicanism ceased and the club folded. Ed was still to be seen at peripheral clubs like Birtley and the Marsden Inn for some years after.
Please dredge your memories for a song that contained such classic verses as:-

"The Father sought her brothers out
In the Wheatsheaf they were boozin'
Saying "How can you sit here half slewed
When your sister we are losing".

I have Googled Ed for some time now and can find no trace.

Don Day