Lyr Req: A Glasgow Song / They're Pullin' Doon...

Subject: Lyr Req: A Glasgow Song
From: Teribus
Date: 12 Feb 06 - 05:41 AM

Can anyone help me with the lyrics of a Glasgow Song about the Gorbels. I think the title of the song was "Tearin'Doon The Buildin' Next Tae Oors"

What I can remember of it goes something like this:

Well I am a City Gent, I live in a Tenement
In the heart of one of Glasgow's biggest slums
Well they're going to improve, so we've been told to move
By those mansion dwellin' Corporation Bums

Chorus:
And they're tearin' doon the buildin'next tae oors
And they're sendin' us tae greenfields, trees and flooers
But we do not want tae go and we daily tell them so
While they're tearin' doon the buildin'next tae oors

They say they'll realise our dreams in some lovely housin' scheme
Where the air out there is always fresh and sweet
But we're happy where we are, think we're better off by far
Wi' a pub on every corner of the street

Can't remember the other verses but the last verse goes like this

Well they've order us tae quit, and Jings we had tae flit
It took six removal vans tae shift the load
Aye we moved just yesterday, but its no sae far away
Its the buildin' facin' oors across the road

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Glasgow Song
From: NH Dave
Date: 12 Feb 06 - 02:05 PM

The town of Thetford in Norfolk had a similar problem when many of the "London Overspill" housing units were not used by people from that area. They ended up leasing them to Air Force families at RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Lakenheath bases, and to RAF people from RAF Lyneham, a local RAF base. This made everyone happy since the homes were far better than the ex-RAF housing on those two bases,and the local housing authority was able to gain some revenues from what would have been vacant buildings.

When their need for the housing units became more pressing, they could simply terminate the leases as the occupants returned to the US.

Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Glasgow Song
From: Alba
Date: 12 Feb 06 - 04:54 PM

There are several songs regarding the Glasgow inner city redevelopment and the overspill Housing Schemes.
I will look through my Glasgow Song lyric files (not on my Comp) and check to see if I have this particular song you are seeking there.
It doesn't ring a bell with me and the 'patter' (dialect), to me, doesn't read as Glaswegian. That means little as it could have been reworked I suppose.
If you are interested there is an interesting site you might want a look at on the subject of overspill Housing Schemes: The best laid schemes right enough!)

Jude

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Glasgow Song
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 06 - 07:12 PM

Try this link to the thread with Adam McNaughtans lyrics
see this thread

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Glasgow Song
From: Alba
Date: 12 Feb 06 - 07:45 PM

Thanks Guest. Brilliant.
Even though it wasn't my enquiry.
Saved me looking through a bunch of papers..:)

Jude (a Glasgow overspill/Housing Scheme dweller in her youth:)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Glasgow Song
From: Teribus
Date: 12 Feb 06 - 10:29 PM

Thanks GUEST, that was the one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Glasgow Song
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 06 - 08:02 PM

Back in the 60s this was a biggie for Ray and Archie Fisher. I have tapes of the early years of Dunfermline Howff Folk Club with them singing this song. Great days!

Jack Beck

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Glasgow Song
From: GUEST,Original Guest
Date: 14 Feb 06 - 05:11 PM

Youre welcome
Thats what Mudcat's all about