Lyr Req: Suitcase of Paper

Subject: Lyr Req: Suitcase of Paper
From: GUEST,Beachcomber
Date: 26 Feb 23 - 07:03 AM

I have only recently heard the song by Jennifer Byrne called SUITCASE OF PAPER. The song resonates very strongly with me as I was one of the 50,000 people who emigrated from Ireland to the UK in 1959. I do not see the lyric in our Mudcat records and I hope that some kind 'Catter will be able to provide them here ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Suitcase of Paper
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Feb 23 - 03:45 PM

Here's the Jennifer Byrne recording. Anybody got time to transcribe it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSZSjkLpg_k

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Suitcase of Paper
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Feb 23 - 04:38 PM

I've just been reading a novel set in the early 20th century where the rich folk had beautifully polished LEATHER suitcases & the poor had very worn cardboard suitcases held together by string & good luck.

Sydney's Martime Museum has a collection of suitcases used by post-war immigrants

I also look forward to the words.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Suitcase of Paper
From: GUEST,Beachcomber
Date: 27 Feb 23 - 07:18 AM

Thanks Joe, I have managed to detect most of Byrne's lyrics since, but there are a few bits with which I would appreciate some help. A Google search just gave me the recording so if anybody knows or can make out the missing pieces and post them, I will be so grateful

Suitcase of Paper (Jennifer Byrne)

My suitcase of paper and emerald daydreams,
packed tight with delusions of promise and ...??
My mother said nothing but stared hard in to me,
It was as if for the first time, the very last time.
On a grey misty morning the crossing was dirty,
and the train to the city was loaded with shame(?)
The signs on the doors of the bars and the hostels,
soon set me to wonderin' why ever I came.

So don't think that you know me, or how I might be,
I came here as green as the next woman's son,
and I landed with nothing but a head full of fortune,
as many came with me that year as were born.

But I rose up the next day and every day after,
and I worked and I laboured 'till nothing remained.
I stood on the Broadway, no matter the weather,
just another young buck (?) for the Ganger to break.
"We'll be back home soon," was the song we loved singing,
They call us ....??...... boys, we won't be here long.
The dark early mornings kept coming fr ever,
and letters and ...???.... in the end came too ..??

This is an important song to be added to those written at the time, about the Irish men and women who arrived in London in the 1950s and 60s, and the discrimination that many had to endure.
It has echoes in it of the truth that Ralph McTell chronicled in his "From Clare to here", and I hope that will be heard more often. Fair play to Mike Harding but he hardly understood what he was introducing as merely another song rendered in the folk style. However I, for one, have to thank him for bringing it to my attention.

PS. I must get my "cookie" reinstated ! :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Suitcase of Paper
From: cnd
Date: 27 Feb 23 - 09:00 AM

packed tight with delusions of promise and pride

So don't think that you know me for how I might speak

They call out to can boys, "we won't be here long"

and letters and cards, in the end, came to ????

The line about the train being loaded with shame sounds correct to me, as does the one on another young buck.

The can boys line could possibly be an Irish/Gaelic expression, I'm not sure. Maybe toicneáil? I suspect the last word afetr came to is a town/place name (sounds like Stall?) but I'm not confident.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Suitcase of Paper
From: GUEST,Beachcomber
Date: 27 Feb 23 - 11:42 AM

Thanks so much CND for your help. I will go along with your insertion of "PRIDE" in the second line of the first stanza.

"FOR HOW I MIGHT SPEAK" in the first line of the chorus makes sense because I can well remember the difficulties I sometimes had in making myself understood to Londoners in 1959.

The sixth line of the second stanza I have (on good authority - my young daughter) as, "MAKE ALL THAT YOU CAN BOYS, we won't be here long."

The last line I'm told is, "AND THE LETTERS AND CARDS IN THE END CAME TO A STOP"

Thanks again mate. (See, I can speak London-ish still !) :-)