Lyr Req: Geordie Broon (Ed Pickford)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Broon / Geordie Brown
From: GUEST,Ed Pickford
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 01:16 PM

Stumbled across this debate. Yes - I'm guilty - I wrote it. All I can really reember is the chorus and it was written around that old joke that was mentioned. I had someone at The George & Dragon Folk Club in Sunderland translate the chorus into Russian and I used to do that for the last chorus - so there is the story of Geordie Broon. Twice recently I've had to request words of songs that I've written from hearing someone singing them. Most recently it was from my friend Jim Bainbridge. He's singing a song called "It's Nee Bliddy Good Gettin' Aahd[old]". It was a more north east earthy version of my Oldest Swinger Song. Fascinating this songwriting lark isn't it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Broon / Geordie Brown
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 02:40 PM

It certainly was the folk process at work as the song is based on an old joke which I remember hearing as far back as 1958/59 when I only just understood it. It concerns a guy who claims that he knows everybody and his boast is put to the test as a series of people in ascending order of importance and fame come up to greet him culminating in the punch line when he appears on the balcony with the Pope. I still maintain that Ed Pickford wrote the song as I remember his performances of it pre - date The Northern Front by a number of years.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Broon / Geordie Brown
From: shepherdlass
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 05:09 PM

Sorry, me again ... the version DaveS quoted is definitely different, so I guess that's the Ed Pickford re-write? Re-writes, additions and adaptations ... looks like it's entered the tradition, then.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Broon / Geordie Brown
From: shepherdlass
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 05:07 PM

Yep, just checked the LP "Songs of Alex Glasgow/Now and Then" and it's credited to him.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Broon / Geordie Brown
From: shepherdlass
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 04:58 PM

I've heard an Alex Glasgow version - is the song not his? He was very topical.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Brown
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 11:21 PM

Gee, I didn't know it was possible to type in Geordie. Comes out sounding just like Bill Sables...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Brown
From: GUEST,LFF at Work
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 08:37 AM

Dave, that's fantastic, thanks ever so much.

LFF

Subject: Lyr Add: GEORDIE BROON (Ed Pickford)
From: GUEST,DaveS at Work
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 04:25 AM

I'll tell yes aall aboot a fellow I knaa he comes from Gatesheed toon,
He's a moulder in the Steelworks and his name is Geordie Broon,
He's knaan ta iveryboddy, aall tell ye it's nee lie,
Ye should hear the fowk all aboot the place shoot as Geordie he gans by,

Its Geordie Broon, Its Geordie Broon,
Its good old Geordie Broon,
He can drink his ale, he can tell a tale,
Well its good old Geordie Broon

Now as me and Geordie kicked aroond Newcastle one day,
By half past one we'd supped wa lot so I says "right let's away"
But Geordie he says"nowt the sort, we'll have money in a jiff,
We'll just nip roond and pay a caall on me old mate Danny Smith" 1

On the club trip doon te London, we had waselves a time,
Then Geordie Broon he says "let's gan and meet some friends of mine"
And as sure as I am standing here, we went te meet the Queen,
Well I didn't knaa where te put mesel, its the forst time that aa've been.

On the moulders tour of Moscow we landed in Red Square,
Then Geordie Broon he says te me "now my mate he works there"
And straight into the Kremlin, Kosygin for te see, 2
And the way that he kissed Geordie Broon, well it fair embarrassed me

The song end up in dialogue with the narrator saying he must tell you of the Sunday morning in St Peter's Square as they waited to see The Pope and he says to Geordie Broon "at last someone that you don't know" to which Geordie Broon replies "aa knaa nebody better" and promptly disappears only to re-emerge a few minutes later on the balcony in the company of The Pope. There then follows a long conversation between the narrator and an Italian standing next to him culminating in the narrator saying "up there on the balcony - my mate Geordie Broon from Gatesheed" to which the Italian replies "I know that! But who is the bloke standing next to him?"

And we all started to sing "It's Geordie Broon etc.,"

1The late T.Dan Smith was leader of Newcastle City Council at the time of the song being written and he was later caught up in the Poulson corruption scandal of the early seventies.

2 Updated as Russian Premiers are succeeded

Although in print the words look as dry as sticks the song blossomed as each verse was punctuated by a quick fire succession of jokes and observations regarding the people mentioned and what was topical at the time. You really need to hear someone sing/tell the tale to fully appreciate it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Brown
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 06:08 PM

A Google search shows that Johnny Handle has recorded Geordie Brown on a CD called The Land where the Fells Meet the Sky; I assume it's the same one, I can certainly imagine him singing it.

I've heard Nick Fenwick, who I understand was in Northern Front with Ed Pickford and Mike Elliott, sing it several times (but many years ago!)

Thanks for taking the time to help track this down, everyone - it won't be long before it's sorted, I'm sure!

LFF

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Brown
From: GUEST,Keith(pegleg Ferret)
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 04:47 PM

Talked to Benny Graham who thinks that the original words were performed by the Shiremoor Marras who were on the fringes of the folk scene. He thinks Ed Pickford may have written some topical verses to perform with his band Northern Front or the verses may have been written by Mike Elliot who was in the group at that time. I'll talk to Ed and see if he can throw any light on the subject. I think the Johnny Handle connection may be a red herring, but I do remember him singing it at the time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Brown
From: Peace
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 03:31 AM

I have just e-mailed a lady who runs a site for the "High Level Ranters" and asked if she knew who wrote the song. I will get back with the info, if/when.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Brown
From: GUEST,Keith(Pegleg Ferret)
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 07:56 AM

The memory fades as time goes by but I'm not sure it was an Ed Pickford song.....when I saw the excerpt you gave us Johnny Handle springs to mind as the composer. I may be wrong but I'll make further enquiries and post with the result.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Brown
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 02:26 PM

Dave, thanks very much for the info.

Some great songs on Ed's site, but as you suspected, Geordie Brown's not there.

I'd be very grateful if you could post your version.

LFF

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Brown
From: GUEST,DaveS at Work
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 02:39 AM

It was written by Ed Pickford so go to Ed's website and see if it is featured in his songbook. Possibly it is not as the song was written in the sixties and most of the verses are topical to that period. If you have no luck there get back and I'll post the version that I know.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Geordie Brown
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 05:02 PM

frefresh...

Subject: Lyr Req: Geordie Brown
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 04:30 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics for this, please?

The chorus goes:

It's Geordie Brown, it's Geordie Brown
It's good old Geordie Brown
He can drink his ale, he can tell a tale,
It's good old Geordie Brown

LFF