Lyr Req: Here come the navvies & Eight shillings

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here come the navvies & Eight shillings
From: Teribus
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 03:11 AM

Thanks for the link masato, hope VIN opens it up as that IS the whole thing - absolutely amazed at how much I did remember of it though, having only listened to it, never sung it, and as I warned VIN that was a long time ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here come the navvies & Eight shillings
From: masato sakurai
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 12:07 PM

Several editions are at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

present times or eight shillings a week [title]

present times or eight shillings a week! [title]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here come the navvies & Eight shillings
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 11:37 AM

see "Come all you bold Britons" in the DT

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here come the navvies & Eight shillings
From: VIN
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 11:18 AM

That's the one Teribu! Thanks a lot for that. Apparently it's based around or inspired by a peaceful farm labourers strike in the 19th century (i think?) in protest at where the end result was execution for some of the strikers!

Subject: Lyr Add: EIGHT SHILLINGS
From: Teribus
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 10:43 AM

Eight Shillings? is that the one that goes something like this. I say that because its been years (around forty) since I heard it, so I can only put down the jist:

Come all you bold Britons where'er ye may be
And pray give attention and listen to me
There once was good times but they gone by complete
For a poor man must live on eight shillings a week

The Nobs of old England of shameful renown
Are tryin' to drive a poor man to the ground
They beat down our wages and starve us complete
And a man now must live on eight shillings a week

Such times in old England there never was seen
As the present ones now how much better they've been
A labouring man is looked on as a thief
And compelled to work hard for eight shillings a week

For a poor man to labour believe me t'is so
To maintain his family is willing to go
Either hedging, or ditching, to plough or to reap
But how does he live on eight shillings a week

And so to conclude and to finish my song
May the times get better before too long
May each labouring man keep his family neat
And work for his hire for twelve shillings a week.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here come the navvies & Eight shillings
From: VIN
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 08:08 AM

Thanks masato, that's the navvies sorted. Now all i need is eight shillings.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here come the navvies & Eight shillings
From: masato sakurai
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 07:27 AM

The former has been posted.

Lyr/Chords Req: words for: The navies: Please

Subject: Lyr Req: Here come the navvies & Eight shillings
From: VIN
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 06:44 AM

Hiya

I'm trying to find the lyrics/info for 'Here Come The Navvies' and 'Eight Shillings A Week'. I have an old LP of Ian Campbell with these on but my old ears can't make out some of the words (sad innit)(I've got the words for Down In The Coalmine which i think may be same tune as Navvies?). Any ideas folks?