Lyr Req: Tommy Toes (Albion Band)

Subject: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: maranjo
Date: 02 Dec 07 - 12:35 PM

I'm trying to piece together the lyrics of the song 'Red Tommytoes' from the Albion Band's Lark Rise to Candleford album.

Is this a traditional song or a relatively modern contruction? I can find no reference to it anywhere (ie even Google can't help). Before I post what I've identified, I just need to be sure I'm not causing a copyright offence.

The particular bit I'm struggling with is the line that sounds like 'lotus for the likes of you' - lotus? Does that make sense? And the final line that sounds like "And it's patience for the likes of you".

Any help gratefully received!

Martin J

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: Peace
Date: 02 Dec 07 - 02:06 PM

The title is "Tommy Toes". That might help lookers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: Peace
Date: 02 Dec 07 - 02:09 PM

Sound bite here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: gnomad
Date: 02 Dec 07 - 02:27 PM

Sleeve notes indicate written by John Tams, Keith Dewhurst, published by Mole Music Ltd/EMI Songs Ltd.

I can't make the word out for sure, sounds to me like loquats, but I don't think they would be sold in rural 1900's Oxfordshire, and certainly not at peasant prices.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: Peace
Date: 02 Dec 07 - 02:31 PM

info[at]johntams[dot]co[dot]uk

Try asking John.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: gnomad
Date: 02 Dec 07 - 03:00 PM

Good idea, Peace. J Tams website includes a lyrics page.

This song isn't up there yet, but the page admits to being incomplete, and says "any requests?" What more encouragement could one want?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: Peace
Date: 02 Dec 07 - 03:07 PM

Thanks for linking that, Gnomad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: nickp
Date: 03 Dec 07 - 10:45 AM

'lettuce'.....?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: IanC
Date: 03 Dec 07 - 10:54 AM

Written for the play, and the words are in the script. We did the band for it last year in the village production.

I'll look it up when I get home.

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Dec 07 - 11:07 AM

The word you're looking for is "bloaters". A bloater is a smoked herring, like a kipper but smoked whole (including the guts) rather than opened out flat. Not often found nowadays.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: nickp
Date: 03 Dec 07 - 11:31 AM

yuk!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: GUEST,baz parkes
Date: 04 Dec 07 - 05:50 AM

"bloaters"

A ref to the text of the play might help...it's sung by a hawker selling, amongst other things tomatoes and bloaters...the poor women of Larkrise can only afford bloaters

I seem to remember there's lots of business about wanting a nice fat one...oo er missus

Baz

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Tommytoes
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's Apprentice
Date: 04 Dec 07 - 11:12 AM

the chorus is :

"And red tommy toes for the gentry and bloaters for the likes of you"

if that helps...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tommy Toes (Albion Band)
From: maranjo
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 06:51 AM

Well thank you to all of you for your rapid, and helpful, responses. 'Bloaters' - makes much more sense than lotus. Duh.
All I need is the final missing word, and I've taken the advice from 'Peace' and sent an email to John Tams himself. I'll update this thread if I get a reply!

It's thanks to the likes of you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tommy Toes (Albion Band)
From: maranjo
Date: 10 Dec 07 - 07:14 AM

John Tams kindly replied to my email and confirmed the lines that I was seeking as:

"It's bloaters for the likes of you"
and
"And it's patience for the likes of you"

John also said that "To put the record straight, if you'll pardon the pun, the words are in fact by Keith Dewhurst. I merely set it to a tune."

Merely, indeed!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tommy Toes (Albion Band)
From: GUEST,Peace
Date: 10 Dec 07 - 02:15 PM

Now, I ask, how cool is THAT?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tommy Toes (Albion Band)
From: GUEST,time
Date: 17 Aug 25 - 06:36 AM

Just found my script from directing this play 25 years ago. The likes of you line is different in each verse, but reads bloaters, an orange, and be patient.
The lovely John Dory song follows this. In Cottesloe Pond, if anyone missed it.
Love the Albion Band.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tommy Toes (Albion Band)
From: RTim
Date: 17 Aug 25 - 01:19 PM

I sang the song myself when we performed the play in Banbury...around 1990, maybe even before then?? ....But I don't have the lyrics handy...I am sure I have them somewhere....but I moved to the US a couple of years later!! So who know...??

Tim Radford