Lyr Req: Wroxham Broads (Allan Smethurst)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wroxham broads by Alan Smethurst
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 10:13 AM

some of his songs [not all]are well written, mind your head bor, my little miss from diss, was the bottom dropped out[imo]are the best

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wroxham broads by Alan Smethurst
From: folkwaller
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 03:32 PM

What a star you are. I have now acquired an old vinyl titled 'Sound Barrier' on which Alan sings Wroxam Broads. To me a superbly constructed song.
Wroxham Broad is indeed an area of wetland to the west of Gt Yarmouth, a superb area of natural beauty and very popular with holiday makers. Go there if you can.
Alan Smethurst ( the singing postman ) deserves more recognition than he has at present. Some say his songs are twee but have a listen and make your own judgement.
I will search your other links to see what they have in store.

Many thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wroxham broads by Alan Smethurst
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 02:32 PM

I found this quote in an article "Sonic Geography in a Nature Region" by David Matless, in Social & Cultural Geography, Vol. 6, No. 5, October 2005:

In 'Wroxham Broads' Smethurst sang:

'Fare thee well my friend, I'll tell yew by an' by,
Cors now I go to where the bittern fly, . . .
Carry my bones ter Wroxham Broads an' put them down right there'
(Skipper 2001: 90–91).

--line breaks added.


There is an album advertised here called "Thas a lot a squit he say: Andrew Stannard sings the Norfolk songs of Allan Smethurst" where the song title is given as CARRY ME BONES TO WROXHAM BROAD. (I assume it's the same song.)

At Anglian Music, the title is WROXHAM BROAD and it's being offered on an album called "The Devil's Hoofprints."

According to Wikipedia, Wroxham Broad (note: no "s") is a wide portion of the River Bure, and one of bodies of water that make up the The Broads in Norfolk and Suffolk.

See this map, from Bing.

I wasn't able to find any more lyrics than the above quote. However, I found a reference to this book:

Skipper, K. (2001) Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy?: The Life and Lyrics of Allan Smethurst 'The Singing Postman'. Newbury: Countryside Books.

Subject: Lyr Req: Wroxham broads by Alan Smethurst
From: folkwaller
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 08:36 AM

The superb Norfolk singer Alan Smethurst wrote a song called Wroxham Broads. Can anyone help with the lyrics please. Thanks