Lyr Req: A Working Chap (Mike Waterson)

Subject: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: GUEST,andymac
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 06:31 PM

I heard Louis Killen sing this at the Auchtermuchty weekend last month and thought "wow". He gave me the lyrics but I've mislaid them at home. Now I'm at work and not home for a few weeks I wondered if anyone could tell me where to find them then maybe I could start learning them...

Andy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: GUEST,Andymac
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 06:35 PM

I forgot to add, I don't mean "I'm a working chap as you can see..." by Enoch Kent. Fine song (and and well sung) though it is. It's not the one I'm after.

Andy

ps- my work pc doesn't allow cookies either, so I'm a guest for now...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 06:52 PM

There's a really good recording of Working Chap (What a Crime) on the Patterson Jordan Dipper CD Flat Earth .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 08:57 PM

Thanks, but I know that and have just ordered the album (today!) I was looking for the lyrics if possible to start going over them with a view to thinking of singing it... As I'm abroad at work right now, I only have access to here and not to the album
Andy

Subject: Lyr Req: WORKING CHAP (WHAT A CRIME) (M Waterson)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 12:54 PM

THE WORKING CHAP (WHAT A CRIME)

1st and last line of fisrt verse repeated in each verse
Words I'm not sure of are in italics

When I was a working chap, once upon a time
I was a tailor bold and I made these goods so fine
We cut the suits to fit the cloth, it was sometimes neat but most times rough
We quickly learned our caps to doff
Sweet Jesus, what a crime

verse 2

I was a fisherman and I fished the foaming brine
And there were good fish in the sea but could we catch them?
No, not we, god bless the EEC

verse 3

I was a collier bold and I worked deep down the mine
They gave me my redundancy, they could by coal cheaper overseas
From Columbian pits in slavery

verse 4

I made tools of Sheffield steel and kept their edge so fine
And when redundancy came round, on me bike a job I found
Pulling other factories down

verse 5

I was a farmer's boy and I worked rain, hail and shine
They gave the gaffer a big fat sum, for setting aside on his big fat bum
Christ, this was all he'd ever done

verse 6

I kept me head well down and I wasted me prime
Don't be like me, do what you can, join the union leave the band
Before they crucify the working man

(Mike Waterson)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: GUEST,andymac
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 05:10 PM

Thanks, that's exactly what I was chasing after. Now all I have to do is learn the lyrics and tune and I can then do my normal butchering job...
Andy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: Reinhard
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 03:26 PM

I finally got the Patterson Jordan Dipper CD Flat Earth today - thanks for pointing to it. However, I think the words in the first verse are a bit different than Countess Richard transcribed:

When I was a working chap once upon a time,
I was a tailor bold and I made these goods of mine.
We cut the suits to fit the cloth, it was sometimes meat but most times broth.
We quickly learned our caps to doff
Sweet Jesus, what a crime.

I've added this to my Watersons website as Working Chap.

Reinhard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 03:34 PM

I bow to your superior ears. Since posting I have listened live to James Patterson twice and Mike Waterson himself once and still could not make tthe lyrics out for certain.

This, however, is a song which lends itself to endless improvisation. Listen out for verses about the call centre worker and the website scripter...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: Ralphie
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 05:20 PM

Hello Chaps..
Cue material incoming...

I recorded Mike W back in 1992? (ish) whilst working on a sampler CD fo "No Masters" record label...

Working Chap was one of several songs recorded unaccompanied that night..(Claret was involved)

None of the songs recorded that night has seen the light of day since then.
When PJD started in 2000, Mike kindly gave us permission to recorde it. (I actually think he couldn't remember it!!...Ho Hum!)

To correct the redoubtable Countess...You got some of it wrong kid!!!

Verse 3

From Columbian Kids in slavery

Verse 6

Join the Union, Lead the Van (Vanguard...geddit!)

Nice to know that the song is still remembered..

Looks like a perfect vehicle for disenfranchised workers throughout the world..Get working on new lyrics chaps..and send them to Mike. It might remind him of the original

Cheers to all Ralphie (PJD)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: Ralphie
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 05:24 PM

Blimey...Just noticed Verse 1

"Made these DUDS so fine"

I Think duds are clothing of some sort (Trousers?)...Yorkshire folk, prepare your shotguns!!

Getting under the duvet

Ralphie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 12:02 PM

The Scots Dialect Dictionary compiled by Alexander Warrack, has

dud² n 1 a rag. 2 a soft, spiritless person. 3 (in pl) clothes. 4 dirty, shabby clothes.

My father (born in Kentucky) occasionally used "duds" as a slang or jocular term for clothes of any kind. I have also heard the phrase "all dudded up" meaning dressed in fine or fancy clothes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: Ralphie
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 02:37 PM

Thanks for that Jim
Didn't know that Mike W was Scottish!
Regards R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: Folkiedave
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 03:14 PM

Just a thought - he might have got duds from the Geordie as in the penultimate verse of Blackleg Miner......

They'll tak your duds and tools as well
and hoy em down the pit of hell

And what is this claret stuff you were drinking Ralph? - I thought Mike only drank red wine.....


Dave Eyre

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: Ralphie
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 03:53 PM

Dave..
With Respect, it was years ago!!
But, Listening to the tapes again, whatever colour of wine,
It produced the right result.
Cheers R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: Les from Hull
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 04:51 PM

No, we wear duds in 'ull as well, although it's a bit old-fashioned. Maybe Michael's not been back here for a bit.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 06:27 PM

In Australia 'duds' is an uncommonly used term for clothes, "I've been dudded" is moderately common and means to lose something through trickery or being 'ripped off'. Perhaps this really means that you've 'de-dudded' as was once the infamous experience of an august Australian Prime Minister - a bit like the victim's experience in Black Velvet Band and many similar songs.

I don't own a Macquarie Dictionary, but I would expect that 'dudded' would be in there.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: Bassic
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 08:49 PM

I always understood "duds" as being clothes as I was growing up in Hull. I have always assumed it came from Cowboy Films in the 50`s, which was a very strong influence in the fishing comunity in Hull back then. As in "Where d`ya git them fancy duds pardner!".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A working chap - mike waterson
From: Bassic
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 10:05 PM

"Say, Mag," he said, "put on yer bes' duds Friday night an' I'll take yehs teh deh show.
    Maggie: A Girl of the Streets by Crane, Stephen   
The duds are a little mixed in style, but I reckon they're clean and whole, and a man might face a lady in 'em.
    Devil's Ford by Harte, Bret   
The king's duds was all black, and he did look real swell and starchy.
    Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Twain, Mark

found on http://www.thefreedictionary.com/duds