Lyr Req: Songs about boxing or prizefighting

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about boxing or prizefighting
From: Gda Music
Date: 05 Nov 16 - 03:55 PM

"A few names to conjure with"
Two great boxing personalities dubbed from the many recordings made
by Lord Kitchener whilst he was living in England during the late 1950s.

MELODISC 1480   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPo-ok9O9XI&feature=youtu.be

Side 1 Dick Tiger.
Side 2 Hogan "Kid" Bassey.

GJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about boxing or prizefighting
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 06 Nov 16 - 05:13 PM

The Rigs of the Times - edited by Roy Palmer and Jon Raven - contains songs and accounts of popular sports and pastimes in the nineteenth century.

It includes a song about prize-fighting - Sayer's and Heenan's great fight - which was considered the last great prize fight.

It took place on 17 April, 1860, for the championship of the world. Spectators took a train to a mystery destination, which turned out to be Farnborough. The fight was declared a draw.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about boxing or prizefighting
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 07:54 AM

Susanne, back in 2005, mentioned briefly (and provided lyrics) for "Benny Lynch" by Matt McGinn. Here now is a YouTube of it, with Matt singing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr-H4oBhe7g
Benny is now also commemorated, along with other Glasgow characters of note, in a large mural on the outer wall of The Clutha Bar, since it was restored after the terrible helicopter crash there in November 2013.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about boxing or prizefighting
From: GUEST,Some bloke
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 08:08 AM

I notice Battle is done with by MacColl & Seeger for the BBC radio ballad The Fight Game is printed above. I love that song. I used to sing another song from the same stable "When you're a fighter you're different." Excellent if dated song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about boxing or prizefighting
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 12:09 PM

This one came to mind so I researched it and found this.



It was in merry England, the home of Johnnie Bull,
Where Britons fill their glasses, they fill them brimming full,
And of the toast they drank it was to Britain's brave,
And it is long may our champion bring victories o'er the wave.

Then up jumps Uncle Sammy, and he looks across the main,
Saying, "Is that your English bully I hear bellowing again?
Oh, has he not forgotten the giant o'er the pond,
Who used to juggle cannon balls when his day's work was done?

"Remember, Uncle Johnnie, the giant stronger grows,
He is always on his muscle and ready for his foes;
When but a boy at Yorktown I caused youfor to sigh,
So when e'er youboast of fighting, Johnnie Bull, mind your eye."

It was in merry England, all in the blooming spring,
When this burly English champion he stripped off in the ring,
He striopped to fight young Heenan, our gallant son of Troy,
And to try his English muscle on our bold Benicia Boy.

There were two brilliant flags, my boy, a-floating o'er the ring,
The British were a lion all ready for a spring,
The Yankee was an eagle, and an awful bird she was,
For she carried a bunch of thunderbolds well fastened in her claws.

The coppers they were tossed, me boys, the fighting did begin,
It was two to one on Sayers, the bets came rolling in;
They fought like loyal heroes, until one received a blow,
An the red crimson torrent from our Yankee's nose did flow.

"First blood, first blood, my Tommy boy," the English cried with joy,
The English cheer their hero whille thebold Benicia boy,
The tiger rose within him, like lightning flare his eye,
Saying, "Mark away, old England, but Tommy, mind your eye."

The last grand round of all, my boys, this world has ne'er seen beat,
When the son of Uncle Sammy raised the Champion from his feet,
His followers did smile while he held him in the air,
An from his grasp he flung him, which caused the English men to stare.

Come, all you sporting Americans, wherever youhave strayed,
Look on this glorious eagle and never be afraid.
May our Union last forever an our flag the world defy,
So wherenver you boast of fighting, Johnny Bull, mind your eye.



Traditional songs about sports are relatively rare. This is probably partly because last year's sporting events are old news and partly because most of today's popular sports are relatively recent inventions. So most of the sports songs we do have are about horse racing, or hunting, or (in Ireland) hurling — or about boxing. The fight described in this ballad was amazingly popular in song; there were at least eight printed broadsides about it! The fight took place on April 17, 1860, between John C. Heenan (called "the Benicia Boy" because he grew up in Benicia, California, though he was born in New York) and British champion Tom Sayers (1826-1865). The contest was fought in Farnborough, Hampshire, England. It is said to have been the last official bare-knuckle fight. It was also quite a battle, according to Rickaby: After 37 rounds, the watchers attacked the ring (perhaps to affect the outcome). The police ended up being called, and the boxers fought five more rounds. After more than two hours in the ring, they finally gave up; the match is considered a draw.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about boxing or prizefighting
From: GUEST,Jo old folksinger
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 06:09 PM

I don't know if you are still looking for the lyrics but I heard it sung quite a bit in the 60s and 70s when I was in a folk group. It was sung to advertise the fight between Tom Cribb and Tom Molinineaux at Thistleton Gap, here in Rutland. It was a return fight and took place on 28th September 1811. Grubb knocked out Molineaux in the eleventh round. I know the first verse:
To Rutlandshire, to Rutlandshire,
All roads in England lead,
For Cribb is fighting Molineaux,
And there is sport indeed.

As it was illegle the match was publicised by singing this song in pubs etc.
Molineaux was a former African American slave.