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Lyr Add: Burke & Hare (by Robin Laing)

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Kenny B (inactive) 17 Nov 02 - 03:20 PM
Susanne (skw) 17 Nov 02 - 09:13 PM
Mark Cohen 18 Nov 02 - 04:32 AM
Scabby Douglas 18 Nov 02 - 11:05 AM
Mark Cohen 19 Nov 02 - 12:07 AM
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Subject: Lyr Add: Burke & Hare (by Robin Laing)
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 17 Nov 02 - 03:20 PM

BURKE & HARE
(Robin Laing)

Chorus
Burke & Hare were a terrible pair, their deeds were beyond belief
They worked underground in Edinburgh town, the cruellest kind of thief,

1. For they stole the life from the city's poor, the city's waifs & strays
They got them drunk, laid them on a bunk, And smothered their lives away,

2. Doon Tannoch's Close in the old West port, the rottens had their lair,
And many poor wretch, the pair would fetch, in a box to surgeon's square

3 Ten Pounds each was the deal they'd reached for the contents of every box
And denied folks' life to satisfy the knife o' anatomist Dr Knox, ....Chorus

4. Sixteen souls departed this life, at the hands of the villainous crew
"Sure beats work", said lazy bugger Burke, and Hare took a similar view,

5.   But their evil ways and their drunken days, in nine months were cut short,
For they grew too smart, in their devilish art, and they very soon were caught, .... Chorus

6. William Hare got a terrible scare, turned supergrass with glee,
Snitched on his mate, left him to his fate and he got away scot free,

7. William Burke dangled an jerked, as the hangman ended his life,
As a final twist, the town anatomist, cut him up with his surgeons knife, .... Chorus +

For they stole the life from the city's poor, the city's waifs & strays
They got them drunk, laid them on a bunk, And smothered their lives away,

The swine, ...... they smothered their lives away,

Robin Laing Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIH91SoRMNs


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Burke & Hare (by Robin Laing)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 17 Nov 02 - 09:13 PM

Thanks Kenny! A sliver of info:

[1989:] Written at a time when I was living in Cornwall and missing my home town. It is my personal and biased opinion that Edinburgh is one of the world's most beautiful and interesting cities. I had to live away from it for years to find that out. (Notes Robin Laing, 'Edinburgh Skyline')

Certainly a nice comment, but a strange subject to choose for celebrating Edinburgh, I'd think! I have more on Burke and Hare's crimes in a book, but copying it into the PC will take till Christmas at least.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Burke & Hare (by Robin Laing)
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 04:32 AM

Dylan Thomas wrote a television screenplay about Burke and Hare, called "The Doctor and the Devils." I don't know if it was ever produced.

Aloha,
Mark


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Burke & Hare (by Robin Laing)
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 11:05 AM

Apparently it did.

But it sounds like a stinker...

Click here....


I just typed "The Doctor and the Devils" into Google (with the quotes)
And it brought back loads of hits...


Cheers


Steven


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Burke & Hare (by Robin Laing)
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 12:07 AM

Interesting that it says "based on a story by Dylan Thomas." In fact, Thomas wrote it as a teleplay. Maybe somebody else took credit for the script. Or, more likely, modified it to meet current Hollywood standards for gore. But really, Twiggy???

Of course, on that same horror movie website is:

Visiting Hours (1982)
In this hospital, your next visit may be your last. A female news commentator is stalked by a psychotic killer. When she goes into the hospital--look out! Lee Grant, William Shatner. 105 min.

Don't tell Little Hawk. (Wait, what am I saying? He probably owns three copies.)

Aloha,
Mark


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