The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #6275   Message #4202120
Posted By: GUEST,Bradfordian
06-May-24 - 05:18 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Owd Zither (from Eric Bogle)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Owd Zither (Eric Bogle)
Just to update. The proper title (from Colin Dryden) is SITHER not to be confused with a musical instrument.
( se’the is a north of England term on parting company meaning I’ll see you later (I’ll se’the(e))
Here are the lyrics from Colin’s singing:

SITHER. (Colin Dryden)
Forty years all in the Mill
Your day’s near done, but it's going still,
time to be thinking of making your will,
But you've nowhere to go, no intentions.
weft and the weave it was your game,
Ten thousand howers upon the frame.
Then walking home in the driving rain,
With a brand-new watch and a pension.

Time now to bide, to sit and to dream,
Think on owd man of the changes you've seen
In coal and in diesel, the power of steam,
Black shawls, coats, stockings and courting
Clogs on the frost an a cold winter's morn,
The smell of the grease and the oil on the loom.
And the wife with the kids by the gateway at noon,
Stand waiting for your wages on Friday.

six in the morn, it's time to rise,
Sleep on owd man you're weary and wise,
To the ways of the mill, aye and all of the tries,
For a part time job in the doffing
Puffing and panting past the mill,
Up to the local to get all your fill,
Though you've only got enough brass for a gill,
There might be a job in the offing.

But the shuttles have flown, it's time to roam,
Back to the armchair and fire at home
And Leave all the mill-hands and weavers alone
To their beer and laughter and joking.
But many’s the time you have stood wi' the best,
Although the looms they have near turned you deaf,
They've all got a few miles of weaving as yet
Before they'll have bested owd Sither

There is a YouTube video of this posted by his niece Naomi