My old mans a dustman

Subject: My old mans a dustman
From: DennisM
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 02:23 PM

He wears a dustmans hat and (sp) sounds like cor-blimey trousers - I always wondered what kind of trousers he wore and what the word means - is it english or irish.

Subject: Lyr Add: MY OLD MAN'S A DUSTMAN (from L Donegan)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 02:35 PM

Gee, I wish the forum search worked. I was sure this had been posted more than once. Oh, well. It's English - by Lonnie Donegan.

My Old Man's A Dustman
By Donegan/Buchannan/Thorn


(Piano intro)
(Spoken) Thank you Ada, thank you...

Now, 'ere's a little story. To tell it is a must
About an unsung hero that moves away your dust.
(Spoken) "Fair make that piano talk, you do."
Some people earn a fortune, others earn a mint.
(Tries to think of a rhyme for mint...I cant tell exactly what he says)
My old man don't earn much, in fact, he's flippin' skint.

Oh, my old man's a dustman, he wears a dustman's hat
He wears gor-blimey(?) trousers and lives in a gambrel flat.
He ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? boots
He ? ? ? to pull them up and he calls 'em daisy(?) roots

One day whilst in a hurry, he missed a lady's bin
He 'adn't gone but a few yards when she chased after him
"What game do you think you're playing?" she cried right from the heart.
"You missed me! Am I too late?" "No, jump up on the cart!"

Oh, my old man's a dustman, he wears a dustman's hat
He wears gor-blimey (?) trousers and he lives in a gambrel flat.
(Interruption.. something like) I say, I say, I say. 'ello,
'ello, 'ello. I say, I say, I say.)
How do you get milk from a coconut?
Use a very low stool.
Very funny! I say, I say...
How do you make a fruit cordial?
I don't know. How do you make a fruit cordial?
Be nice to me.

A nice old lady swore at Dad when he was on his rounds
She said' "You're drunk you awful man, you ought to be sent down(?)"
Dad said, "Well, you're so ugly, you ought to stand(?) a warning."
"One good thing about being drunk, I'll be sober in the morning!"

My old man's a dustman, he wears a dustman's hat
He wears gor-blimey (?) trousers and he lives in a gambrel flat.
I say, I say, I say, 'ello, ello, ello, I say, I say, I say,
'ello, 'ello, 'ello
I saw a Scotsman scr-r-r-aping off his wallpaper.
Oh, decorating?
Noooo, he was moving!
I say, I say, I say. And yet again, I say-
What's green, has eight legs and would kill you if it fell on you from out
of a tree?
I don't know, what's green, has eight legs and would kill you if
it fell on you from out of a tree?
A billiard table. He knows something...

A circus lady with a bear was moving from her digs
She put her rubbish in the bin, including several wigs.
She then chucked out the little bear, said "There, that ought to ?"
He said, " 'ere you win, I'll get it if you leave your bear behind."

My old man's a dustman, he wears a dustman's hat
He wears gor-blimey (?) trousers and he lives in a gambrel flat.
And if you see a dustman and 'e's lookin' all pale and sad
?pickin' up his dustbin, 'cause it might be my old dad


Transcribed from K-Tel Album, "Looney Tunes", 1976

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 02:42 PM

There is a better rendition of the lyrics in this thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Bert
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 03:37 PM

Gor Blimey is a Cockney expression. It is a corruption of the phrase "God Blind Me" and is usually an expression of amazement.

Oh My Ol' Man's a dustman, 'e wears a dutsmans 'at
'e wears Gor Blimey trouziz and 'e lives in a council flat.
'e looks a proper 'nana in 'is great big 'obnail boots
'e's got such a job to pull 'em up that 'e calls 'em daisy roots.

The song takes it's name from an earlier Music Hall song which went something like...

My Old Man's a dustman - Whadderya think of that
He wears a dustman's trousers and he wears a dustman's hat
He talks a dustman's language - Whadderya think of that.

The family of the author of the original song filed a copyright infringement suit against Lonnie Donnegan, which was settled out of court.

The trousers would usually have been grey woolen gaberdine and would have been worn with 'knee irons'. That's pieces of string tied around the leg at or above mid calf with the trousers pouched out a bit above the string somewhat like plus fours.

Bert.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Robin McG
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 06:31 PM

Thanks Bert, I am constantly amazed by what I learn from these threads.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Alex
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 07:25 PM

In Scotland, the "knee irons" were known as "nicky-tams" (there is a song about them) and they were used to keep the bottom of the pants out of the mud.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 11:37 PM

Aha! Now I know where the Smothers Brothers got their song:

My old man's a fireman, now what d'you think about that?
He wears a fireman's suit, he wears a fireman's hat
He wears a fireman's raincoat, he wears fireman's shoes
And every Sunday morning, he reads the Fireman's News
And someday, if I can
I'm gonna be a fireman, just like my old man

Then they go through several more occupations, ending up with "My old man's a cotton-pickin' finger-licking' chicken plucker" who, after all the tongue twisting, "reads the New York Post." Isn't the folk process wonderful!

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From:
Date: 28 Apr 99 - 02:44 PM

I'm not so sure about "knee-irons" (or "nicky-tams") being used to keep the bottom of the trousers out of the mud (after all, one could simply roll up the leg), I seem to recall seeing the same technique being used in old photographs of harvesting. I was told, when I was a lot younger, that it was used to stop startled vermin (rats etc) running up the trouer leg (of couse, the uncle who told me could have been winding me up).

Good Luck

Tom

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 29 Apr 99 - 07:39 AM

I've heard the "vermin" version too, in a few places. Someone also told me he didn't know "whether it was to stop rabbits running up your leg or weasels running up your leg, but anything that stops 'em meeting in the middle has to be a good thing!"

Steve

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Ian
Date: 29 Apr 99 - 08:06 AM

Leather straps or bits of bootlace called "Lallygags" were used in Cambridgeshire up until about WW2 to stop mice running up the trouser legs when working on the (corn) stacks. I've never seen a rabbit going up anyone's trousers though I'd think a rat might manage it (very nasty).

As far as I know, ferrets are put down the trouser legs (but only during competitions).

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Bert
Date: 29 Apr 99 - 09:24 AM

Actually mice are a lot more prone to biting than rats. I used to keep both, and have been bitten many times by mice but NEVER by a rat. Rats are friendly, just like little puppy dogs.

Bert.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 29 Apr 99 - 12:14 PM

Bert, what were you doing letting mice into your trousers?
Ian, that shows how effective it is against rabbits, doesn't it?
Anyone remember the bloke in The Fosdyke Saga whose dogs were trained to attack weekday trouser strings but ignore Sunday trouser strings, thus engendering a proper sense of respect in his underlings?

Steve

Subject: why is this site so crap?
From: GUEST,rachael
Date: 31 May 03 - 05:20 AM

hi i hate this site its boring but ive got some tips give it some colour games and exciting things thats just a few suggestions!

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 31 May 03 - 06:54 AM

Downunder (Aus/NZ) the 'knee-irons' were called 'bowyangs'. Just a bit of string, not the 'half-chap' you'll get as 2nd hit on a Google search on "bowyang". They were used by shearers and bushmen (lumberjacks). The primary function was to stop various beasties shinning up your shin - there's nothing worse than a WETA in your crutch - they have spiny legs - so it gets wetter and wetter as the blood drips!

i'm not sure abou Aus, but in NZ the term "Bowyanger" reffered to any of us 'country hicks'.

Anyway, back to the tune! In 1960'ish, when NZ thrahed the Aussies at RUGBY, the Howard Morrison Quartet had a fine parody of the Donnie Lonnigan song called 'My Old Man's an All Black.

Umm.. I'll leave it there!

Bowyangers of the world UNITE!

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 31 May 03 - 07:18 AM

Aw shucks - GUEST Rachael snuck in first, with suggestions of livening up the Mudcat site with 'colour games' (she's not American) - sorry to be boring, talking of Rugby (which I never bother watching anymore) - AND the most colourless Rugby Team (ALL BLACKS)...

Take me back to 1958 - I'm lost!

Y'know what I did then?

Right on topic! When Lonnie sang his song - I was a 'Dustman'!

Ummm...

There's some yarns to be told!

The team on the rubbish truck loved the song. Within a couple of weeks of MOMaD hitting the Hit Parade, we did have a lady screaming out "Am I too late?"

Being good Kiwi refuse disposal operaters, my mate and I chorused out...

"Nah, Jump up on the Cart!"

TRUE!

Sam

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 31 May 03 - 08:15 AM

You can sing this song to the tune of 'Sweet Nancy' if you feel that way inclined!

Sal

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 May 03 - 10:21 AM

I remember the Smothers Brothers version quite well:

My old man's a sailor, now waddaya think about that?
He wears a sailor's collar, he wears a sailor's hat
He wears a sailor's raincoat, he wears a sailor's shoes,
And every Saturday evening
He reads the Sunday news.
And some day, if I can,
I'M gonna be a sailr, the same as my old man.

Tossing in, of course, other occupations for "sailor. I've always liked Dick Smothers singing the first line with the "chicken plucker" occupation and Tom saying, "You'd better not make a mistake!"

Try singing it with the occupation

My old man works at the World's Fair: he's in the Provision Division of the Brazilian Pavilion.

I think that this occupation was in "Broadside" or "Sing Out" back in the '60s.

The Irish Rovers also recorded MOMaD.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Snuffy
Date: 05 Jun 03 - 08:40 AM

Sal, I frequently do. Haven't you heard me?

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 05 Jun 03 - 10:51 AM

Not yet, can you do it at Bishop's Castke Folkweekend? It's only a week or so away now...eeek!

Sal

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 05 Jun 03 - 10:52 AM

Tch,tch, That should read 'Bishop's Castle', sorry Sir!

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Gurney
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 02:56 AM

Rat-strings are called Bowyangs in Warwickshire, too.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Micca
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 07:45 AM

and you can sing this song to the tune of "The British Grenadiers" as I have been known to do!!... I'll get me coat...

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Schantieman
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 11:16 AM

I have a record at home (an old "45") of Lonnie Donnegan singing exactly this song. What's more, it's got his version of The Golden Vanity on the other side!

It's got some verses that aren't given above - if anyone's interested, I could post them.

Steve

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: RobinL
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 03:28 PM

I remember seeing the Lonnie perform this on stage. I think it was at the New Theatre in Cardiff, late 50's. At the time his bass player was Mickey Ashman, and they went through this routine where Mickey would lay down his double bass and storm off the stage in a huff, when he heard the opening bars of the song. (Ashman/Dustman - get it?)

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: RobinL
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 04:31 PM

Now I think more about it, I don't think they ever got past the first couple of bars while Ashman was with the Skiffle Group. Lonnie didn't record it until a couple of years after Mickey had moved on.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Gurney
Date: 07 Jun 03 - 03:12 AM

Schantieman, I had that record too, and it was a good one. I wore it out, but it helped the folk revival along.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 07 Jun 03 - 05:42 PM

Ms Lemon and Micca

The correct tune is of course, the White Cockade. But only after you've already sung the White Cockade, followed by Pinball Wizard....

There probably ought to be a song that starts, "Ever since I was a folkie I've drunk Sal's lemonade..."

Kitty

Subject: Lyr Add: MY OLD MAN'S A DUSTMAN (Lonnie Donegan)
From: clansfolk
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 05:09 AM

now this is the version we do - anyone noticed how "Uncle Joe's Mint balls" sound VERY similar? - Michael!

My Old Man's A Dustman Lonnie Donegan


Now here's a little story to tell it is a must
About an unsung hero that moves away your dust
Some people make a fortune other's earn a mint
My old man don't earn much
In fact....he's flippin'.....skint

Oh! my old man's a dustman he wears a dustman's hat
He wears cor blimey trousers and he lives in a council flat
He looks a proper narner in his great big hob nailed boots
He's got such a job to pull em up that he calls them daisy roots

Some folks give tips at Christmas and some of them forget
So when he picks their bins up he spills some on the steps
Now one old man got nasty and to the council wrote
Next time my old man went 'round there he punched him up the throat

chorus
(Spoken) I say I say Duncan! I 'er...I found a police dog in my dustbin
(How do you know he's a police dog?) He had a policeman with him

Though my old man's a dustman he's got a heart of gold
He got married recently though he's 86 years old
We said 'Ear! Hang on Dad you're getting past your prime'
He said 'Well when you get to my age it helps to pass the time'

chorus
(Spoken)I say I say I say! My dustbins full of lillies
(Well throw 'em away then) I can't Lilly's wearing them

Now one day while in a hurry he missed a lady's bin
He hadn't gone but a few yards when she chased after him
'What game do you think you're playing' she cried right from the heart
'You've missed me...am I too late?' 'No... jump up on the cart'

chorus
(Spoken)I say I say I say (What you again!) My dustbin's absolutely full with toadstools
(How do you know it's full) 'Cos there's not much room inside

He found a tiger's head one day, nailed to a piece of wood
The tiger looked quite miserable but I suppose it should
Just then from out a window, a voice began to wail
He said (Oi! Where's me tiger head) Four foot from it's tail

Oh! my old man's a dustman he wears a dustman's hat
He wears cor blimey trousers and he lives in a council flat
So next time you see a dustman looking all pale and sad
Don't kick him in the dustbin it might be my old dad

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Mr Happy
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 09:44 AM

in my local area, momad is sung traditionally with the tune of 'black velcet band'

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: BanjoRay
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 11:25 AM

I've always thought, and still think, that MOMAD is the worse thing Lonnie Donegan did, and probably did nearly as much to kill off skiffle as the Beatles - along with the Chewing Gum atrocity. His older stuff that he recorded for the love of it had a lot of soul and feeling, whereas the stuff he recorded purely with an eye to selling more records was total crap.
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: clansfolk
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 12:35 PM

Banjo Ray - crap it may be...... but they are two of the most requested songs at skiffle nights..... and people enjoy them!!

sometimes I think it's good enough just to enjoy the songs even if they don't have any deep meaning.....    look at "wild Rover!"

As a professional musician I have to give the public what they want - I can be self indulgent when I'm at home or slip the odd one on a CD!!! (they can always skip that track :-) )


the things we do for money

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 02:24 PM

"nana" - means "banana". Which is rhyming slang for "twit" - "banana split". ("Twit" is a worn down version of "half-wit", I think.) Another example of rhyming slang which most users never think of as rhyming slang. We had a thread about that fairly recently.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 03:32 AM

BanjoRay, surely "World Cup Willie" was Lonnie's worst recording?

His comedy and cabaret stuff kept him performing long enough for his skiffle stuff to come back into fashion and his latter years' performances were closer to his roots. Whatever he did, he did 100%.

RtS

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Schantieman
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 06:33 AM

Clansfolk's version above is exactly the same as the one on the record except that the verse about him getting married is the last full verse (but before the 'coda' bit)

How about a MOMAD revival? We could all sing it at a club in the same week!

;-)

Steve

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: BanjoRay
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 06:49 AM

Schantieman, I could just about stand it if you sang it instead of Wild Rover, but if the two were sung the same evening, it would be the last time I ever went to a folkclub!
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: clansfolk
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 09:27 AM

what about...........................



My old man's a Wild Rover???

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 12:08 PM

you think you got problems....my old mans a DUSTBIN

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Schantieman
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 12:18 PM

One of my old Cub Scout Leaders (now sadly, deceased) was generally known as 'Dustbin' - he used to finish off everyone's leftovers.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: DonD
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 03:51 PM

My old man drives a dusty Land Rover.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 10:58 AM

now we are just being silly

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Schantieman
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 11:47 AM

My boss drives a Land Rover and gets very boring talking about all the different models.

Steve

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Phot
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 03:22 PM

Well actually I've got a prototype 110 V8 CSW, BLAHBLAHBLAHZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!

Time for a new thread??!!!

Cheers all, Chris:>]

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 12:27 PM

"Ever since I was a folkie I've drunk Sal's lemonade..."

Thanks Herga Kitty, maybe someone can work on some more words to that!

Sal

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: GUEST,bill
Date: 14 Apr 06 - 10:02 AM

anybody got chords for this song, and others. cheers

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Old Man's a Dustman (Lonnie Donegan)
From: GUEST,Louise
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 01:03 PM

I think y version is better

My old mans a dustman
He wears a dustmans cap
He sold it for a shillin
too see a football match
Fatty past to skinny
Skinny past it back
Fatty took the final shot
And knocked the goaly flat
Were was the goaly the ball was in the net
Half way round the corner post
With his around his neck
Out came the stretcher
They put him on the bed
They rubbed his belly with a lump of jelly
but the poor ol' soul was dead

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 10:43 AM

MY old man's a dustman, he wears a dustman's hat, h e wears cor-blimey trousers, and he lives in a council flat, he looks a proper na na, in his great big cock nail boots, he's got such a job to pull them up that he calls them daisy roots!

some folks get tips at xmas, and some of them forget, so when he picks their bins up, he spills them on the steps, now one old man got nasty, and to the council wrote, next time my old man went round there, he punched him in the throat

oh, my old man's a dustman, he wears a dustman's hat..........

come on guys, i'm 19 years old and i know better

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Scrump
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 10:50 AM

"cock nail" should be "hob nail", unless I'm behind the times :-)

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 11:02 AM

If you go to the BBC website and 'listen again' option for Radio 2, you can hear Alan Dedicoat and Johnnie Walker singing along to this on Tuesdays 'Wake up to Wogan' show (6th March).

The Togmeister is on holiday again, and JW is sitting in. It's available until next Monday.

LTS

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Scrump
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 11:06 AM

Adge Cutler's song "Champion Dung Spreader" was a riposte to "My Old Man's A Dustman" (this was confirmed by Adge in his introduction to his song on his first album, recorded live at the Royal Oak in Nailsea, Somerset, England, on 2nd November 1966).

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 12:01 PM

I always thought it was originally:

My old man's a dustman, he fought at the battle of Mons
He killed ten thousand Germans with only fifty bombs....

Can't remember the rest!

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 12:37 PM

Ah, that Lonnie Donnegan goin' on 'bout izz faather bein' a dustman or zommat....

Was listening to it only this morning - gets you funny looks when you sing along on the Tube train though!

LTS

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Bainbo
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 12:54 PM

Sunderland football fans used to sing (and occasionally still do) one to the same tune about the erstwhile captain of their deadliest rivals"

"Shearer is a w*nker
"He wears a w*nker's hat ..."

No one's ever been able to explain to me, though, what a w*nker's hat looks like.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 01:04 PM

It's probably shaped like a policeman's pointy headgear, and purple.

LTS

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Darowyn
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 03:24 PM

I've always assumed that Cor-blimey trousers was a classic piece of English malapropism, corblimey for corduroy.
Such things are common and are mostly deliberate attempts to be funny. Steve Wright on Radio 2 does them all the time "skellington" and "champio" for example.
Occasionally they are funny!
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Girl Friday
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 07:37 PM

When this record came out I was about ten years old. We used to have a family party at Christmas with music and games and drink (mine was a snowball- hate the stuff now). We used to play Forfeits. This always involved taking the metal dustbin lid and marching out into the back garden, singing" My old man's a dustman", usually extremely loudly, and always after 11 p.m. If you lived on St Helier Estate, Carshalton, accept my apologies.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Scrump
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 05:32 AM

Was listening to it only this morning

Champion Dung Spreader, LTS? or My Old Man's A Dustman?

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 06:23 AM

Now some folks like to sing,
Of their father's occupation,
Dustman and the like,

Clear evidence of influence by the earlier work.
Perhaps it was heard once at a pub but Adge could not remember the details.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Scrump
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 06:28 AM

Perhaps it was heard once at a pub but Adge could not remember the details.

Yes, Keith, of course you are right - the lyrics themselves acknowledge the influence of "My Old Man's A Dustman".

But as to your comment I quoted above, I don't think the lyrics of Adge's song indicate either way. He could have known the lyrics of "Dustman" off by heart and still written that - it's a different song so there is no attempt to parody the original.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 06:53 AM

True, and in composing his agricultural aria he was moving away from the urban angst of the earlier piece.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 08:18 AM

Scrump - both... I've got that sort of eclectic stuff on my MP3 and just happened to catch the radio in between.

It is a separate song and Adge himself announces it as the South West version of it.

Usually back announced by 'I usually squirt some Airwick (substitue Oust these days) around aafter thick un', or 'Phroar, zumbody got 'en on thur boots!'

Should we not link this thread with the 'liquefied manure truck' now??

LTS

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Scrump
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 08:21 AM

Quite so, Keith. The evident pleasure of Adge's father in his work, making the "gurt brown lumps... fly for miles... with his gurt big blackthorn stick" in the then pastoral setting of North Somerset in the pre-M5 days, contrasts with the relatively stressful and difficult problems, not to mention violent conflict, faced by the central character in Lonnie's song.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Scrump
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 08:23 AM

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who listens to Adge on the train, LTS - I don't usually sing along out loud to it though, I don't think it would go down too well with the commuters :-)

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Scrump
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 08:25 AM

Btw LTS - I forgot to add: you can still get Airwick - see here

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: The Walrus
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 09:51 AM

Girl Friday,

"...If you lived on St Helier Estate, Carshalton, accept my apologies..."

Apology accepted.

Where on the estate were you?

Walrus
(Still on the St. Helier Estate)

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 11:45 AM

Scrump - it doesn't... leastways, not with the po-faced buggers I was travelling with yesterday!

LTS

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Scrump
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 11:53 AM

LTS, once the Folkie Party get to rule the country, we'll make singarounds compulsory on trains :-)

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Girl Friday
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 06:55 PM

to the walrus >>> please excuse the silly arrows and no caps>> accidentally engaged filter keys and have no idea how to return to normal>>>>>this incident took place at my aunt@s parents house in johnsons close >>>>i lived in buckfast road>>>> some thirty years on i found one of the orpington thursday residents lived in canterbury road< and his mate in malmesbury road>>>>>then i found that two of my residents lived on the carshalton side also in their childhood>>>>so where are you?

sue

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: The Walrus
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 05:17 AM

"...to the walrus >>> please excuse the silly arrows and no caps>> accidentally engaged filter keys and have no idea how to return to normal>>>>>this incident took place at my aunt@s parents house in johnsons close >>>>i lived in buckfast road>>>> some thirty years on i found one of the orpington thursday residents lived in canterbury road< and his mate in malmesbury road>>>>>then i found that two of my residents lived on the carshalton side also in their childhood>>>>where are you?

sue ..."


Sue,

I'm in Peterborough Road on the Mitcham side of the Estate, and thirty years ago I was living at the Poulter Park end of Shaftesbuty Road.

Best Wishes.

Tom

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Girl Friday
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 09:50 PM

Tom. My thirty years is probably more like 50 actually. I don't know either of those areas. I was born in St Helier Hospitalin 1948. Not expected to survive, christened in hospital, placed in one of the first oxygen tents and here to tell the tale. In 1954 or 5 moved from Morden to South Wimbledon's High Path Esatate, built on a dissused cemetry behind the tube station.Lived there until 1962 when I returned to Morden. Time to apologise again folks, as this has nothing at all to do with Lonnie Donegan. I'll get me coat.

Sue

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: GUEST,Jaz
Date: 25 Aug 10 - 05:34 PM

Sadly, the author of the song, Peter Buchanan, passed away on 15th Aug 2010.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 01:30 AM

As this thread has been thus revived, it might not be out of place to revert to the interesting "Nicky-Tams' drift above —

to point out that one of their functions at least, in the eponymous song, appears indeed to be to prevent the incursion of vermin. Those who know the song will recall that, in the last two stanzas, the narrator is unwillingly dissuaded by his girlfriend from wearing his nicky-tams to church as being inappropriate for the Sabbath ~~

"And a rat crawled up my trouser-leg in the middle o' the Psalm ~
Heuch! Never again will I rig the kirk wi'oot my nicky-tams!"

~Michael~

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 01:47 AM

... also, adverting to another bit of drift somewhere above, the bit about 'the plucker', the version I know is ~~

I'm not the pheasant plucker
I'm the pheasant plucker's son
And I'm only plucking pheasants
Till the pheasant plucker comes.

I learnt it without a tune, but always find myself singing it to the air of "Annie Laurie' for some reason.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Micca
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 02:56 AM

MtheGM, while on the "different tunes" subject, "My old mans a Dustman" fits the "British Grenadiers" tune very well

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 04:29 AM

Indeed, Micca.

BUT a general caveat if I may. Many songs, folk or otherwise, CAN be sung to the tunes of others, as so many are in 'common' or 'ballad' metre. So, to take one familiar example, 'Willie o' Winsbury' is now always sung to the tune of some other ballad [I forget offhand which] because some group [I forget offhand who] recorded it that way ~~ whether or not deliberately or mistakenly is, I believe, still a matter of dispute or conjecture. And indeed pretty well any ballad CAN be sung to any ballad tune.

But there is no denying that certain tunes belong in popular [indeed, universal] conception to certain songs [which is not to deny that several tunes like 'Villikins' or 'John Brown's Body' carry several, or even many, songs; which is a separate question, I should say]. And once we begin to confuse or play about with them, chaos or worse can possibly ensue. I don't want to be a party-pooper or spoil anyone's innocent fun; but I don't think it wise that this game should be played to excess.

I would point out that I was not confusing the tune of my 'pheasant-plucker' rhyme with any other [it was simply a recitation and didn't have a tune], but simply remarking what tune came to my mind when I recited it to myself.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Sailor Ron
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 04:39 AM

I once, in my former seafaring life, heard "My old man's a fireman with the Elder Dempster line"

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Howard Jones
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 04:44 AM

A former acquaintance used to sing the words of a Guinness bottle label to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy".

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 05:21 AM

Well if no-one else is, I am sorry to hear of his passing

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 05:20 PM

Thank you Rafflesbear, he has been both an inspiration and a good friend, he will be sadly missed. This song was played at his service today. Lets not forget all his other achievements, 7 singles in the top 10 plus all of his TV scripts. He also gave up much of his time to help inspire so many younger people achieve their talents. He will live on in his work.

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: GUEST,He fought in the battle of mons
Date: 09 Jun 12 - 11:16 AM

My recollection of this song goes like this....

My old mans a dustman
He fought in the battle of mons
He killed 10,000 germans
With only 18 bombs

One fell here, one fell there
One fell round the corner
One poor chap with a bullet in his hat
Was crying out for water

Water, water, water
Water came at last
I don't want your water
So stick it up your....

Ask old man to tea
With all his family,
If you don't come
I'll tickle your bum
With a lump of celery

Bernie was a bulldog
He swallowed a blade of grass
One grew out of his earole
The other grew out of his arse

That's how I remember it anyway.. Can anyone add to that?

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: GUEST,Lee (UK)
Date: 14 Jun 15 - 01:09 PM

The East Sussex version went like this

My Old Man's a dustman
He fought at battle of Mons
Killed a thousand Germans
with only 15 bombs

One went here
One went there
One went round the corner
My Old Soul with a bullet up his hole
Was cryin' out for water

Water, water, water, water
Water a penny a glass
If you don't want our water
You can stick it up your arse

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 14 Jun 15 - 03:31 PM

Here's a slightly longer version of what Louise posted 21 April 06.

My old man's a dustman, he lives in a council flat
He took me round the corner, to watch a football match
Fatty passed to Skinny, Skinny and Skinny passed it back,
Fatty took a rotten shot and knocked the goalie flat.
Singing where was the goalie when the ball was in the net,
Halfway round the goalpost with his trousers round his neck.
They laid him on a stretcher, they laid him on a bed,
They rubbed his belly with a lump of jelly and this is what he said:

Rule Britannia, two monkeys up a tree,   (Rule Brit tune)
One fell down and paralysed his....

(Back to My old man tune)
Willy was a bulldog sitting in the grass
Up came a bumblebee and stung him on his....
Ask no questions, tell no lies
I saw a copper buttoning up his....
Flies are a nuisance, fleas are worse,
That is the end of my silly little verse.

Hull, Yorkshire, late 50s?

Subject: RE: My old mans a dustman
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 14 Jun 15 - 04:05 PM

Line 3 should read
'Fatty passed to Skinny, Skinny passed it back'