What songs are native to Derbyshire?

Subject: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: ooh-aah
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 03:35 AM

Apart from 'The Giant Ram of Derby', does anyone know any songs which are native to Derbyshire, or recorded as being very popular there? Can any Derbyshire Mudcatters help? I now live in Australia, but I was born in Chesterfield and I would be interested to know.

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: MC Fat
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 04:58 AM

My mate Ken Johnson does a funny one from Tideswell called 'The Cow in't Gate' also get a hold of Muckram Wakes records and Keith kendrick stuff !!

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 06:56 AM

There's a song about well dressing, which is a celebtration of deliverence from the great plague, said to be due to the use of the water from several wells in Debyshire, and surrounding area. The song in question is called something like The Tissington Well, I'll do a bit more research, and see what comes up.
Slainthe.....Giok

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Pied Piper
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 07:17 AM

There are certainly tunes, Winster Gallop, The Famous Darbyshire Hornpipe(3/2).
PP

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 10:25 AM

Purely local songs can be hard to find (though they do exist), but the general Derbyshire repertoire is easier to get a handle on. You might be interested in Veteran's recording of the Derbyshire traditional singer George Fradley, for example, which can be had by mail order from  Veteran:

Veteran Tapes VT114: One of The Best: Songs from Derbyshire. George Fradley.

He had a range of songs from the comic to the classic, including versions of Long Lankin and The Cruel Sister.

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Bearheart
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 10:52 AM

Glad to see threads like this-- lets me know of singers/resources we don't often hear about in the States...

Bekki

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: greg stephens
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 10:59 AM

Well there's Pretty Peggy of Derby-O...though you might have to dispute with Fyvie-O and Fennario as to where she actually came from first. Fyvie is up near Aberdeen, but the exact whereabouts of Fennario is a little bit harder to pin down. Bob Dylan was a little vague on that subject on his first LP.
   I think Derbyshire should be very proud of its well-travelled "Derby Ram", which ended up as a New Orleans Funeral March "Didn't he ramble"(and possibly contributed to the 12-bar structure of the blues according to some authorities).
   Swap (with a little o over the a) have a couple of Derbyshire tunes on their latest excellent CD "Mosquito Hunter". They got the tunes from the the talented, handsome and modest Greg Stevens(well that's who is credited on the sleeve notes, spelling is not their strong point).

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 12:28 PM

There should be some Christmas Carols here at least three from a quick read. Although "Manchester Rambler" by Ewen McColl has a non Derbyshire title, it does mention Derbyshire place names, at least in my memory they are in Derbyshire.
JohnB

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 12:50 PM

You could always write some relevant material. Like Chapel en le Frith is the place for me!! She was a handsome Buxton Wench, or Old man Riber Zoo.
Giok

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: DMcG
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 01:13 PM

Lucy Broadwood gives 'The Spider' as a Derbyshire song. It's not one I know but I'll put it up at Folkinfo at the weekend.

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: gnomad
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 02:21 PM

You might like a look at these guys for singer-songwriter, and more traditional stuff also. They are now Lincolnshire based, but seem pretty "rooted" in Derbyshire material.

Clarty Sough

There is also the Coope, Boyes, Simpson connection with Belper. I did have a web address, but it seems to be down or out of date.

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 05:25 PM

ooh-aah.Check out [e-mail] for an album of derbyshire songs.

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: greg stephens
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 06:44 PM

There are vast numbers of Debyshire fiddle tunes(meaning either tunes with Derbyshire connected names, or tunes from the repertoires of Derbyshire traditional fiddlers).

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 07:21 PM

And there is always:

Jewitt Llewellyn (ED):
The Ballads & Songs of Derbyshire.
London & Derby. Bemrose & Sons 1867.

Dave

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Grab
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 07:56 AM

"Manchester Rambler" is completely non-traditional and too obvious, but worth a mention since no-one else has said it.

Graham.

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 12:40 PM

Yeah really obvious when it was mentioned about 8 postings earlier.
John no-one else B

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: mouldy
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 01:42 PM

There is a very poignant song called "Tip O' Derwent", by Gerald Short, which tells how a sheepdog bitch kept vigil by her dead shepherd master for many weeks after he died in the snow, until his body was found in the thaw. I have it on an old (1981) album by "Ram's Bottom" called "The Young May Moon" (Traditional Sound Recordings TSR 038). The line-up of the band are: Keith Kendrick, Barry Coupe, Ron Cossor, Trevor Hopkins, Ian Carter and Rick Scollins. If ever an album needed reissuing, this is it! The song that ends the album - "Charlie Sparrer's Marrer" - is a delight! The songs from Derbyshire which are on the album aren't the old traditional ones, but they are good, none the less.

Andrea (Long Eaton born, via Nightingale Maternity Hospital, Derby)

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 07:59 PM

John Prentice's song about the building of the Clay Cross Tunnel....

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: jonm
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 03:28 AM

...and I thought I was the only person with the Ram's Bottom LP. Have been known to do a version of 'Tip' myself. Do you know any more about Gerald Short other than his credit for writing this one?

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Grab
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 07:41 AM

Sorry JohnB, your post crossed a page boundary on my Explorer and I missed it. My fault. :-)

Graham.

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: mouldy
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 02:36 AM

johnm - Did you ever go to the pub on the back (the Gate, at Brassington)? It's many years since I've been, but I remember that roaring fire well.
I'm sorry, I don't know anything at all about Gerald Short, but that song, when the mood's been right, has moved me almost to tears.

Andrea

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: GUEST,Guest Ted
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 08:24 AM

Anyone supply the words to Tip O'Derwent?
Saw Ramsbottom at Assembly Rooms - Derby. What an excellent evenings entertainment.
Don't forgetThe Ripley Wayfarers and Mick Stamforth from Chesterfield (I think) I believe he is still wtiting. I have a CD of his.

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: mouldy
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 08:15 AM

Give me a bit of time and I will crank up the old gramophone and sit down with a paper and pencil!

Watch this space!

Andrea

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: mandotim
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 02:10 AM

The only one I could think of that hasn't been mentioned is the wonderful 'King of Rome'. First line; 'In the West end of Derby lives a working man...'
Tim from Bit on the Side

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: jonm
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 02:54 AM

Ah, the wonderful Dave Sudbury!

Will post Tip lyrics when I get a mo....

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 03:08 AM

well theres the Jack Hudson songbook, but of course Jack doesn't go about talking like a middle class librarian and then singing songs like he's lowlife walk-on character in a DH Lawrence novel.....awright youth? 'ey up!

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: jonm
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 05:02 AM

Tip o'Derwent

Joe Tagg come tramping over the moor
One cold December day
To gather in his tups and yows
And bring them safe away
But snow lay thick on heather and moss
And more were coming fast
As man and dog worked on and long
All in the icy blast

Ch: Oh, Tip, come by, now Tip, come by
Why dost tha linger so?
Now old Joe's gone, tha'rt all alone
Out in the wind and snow

Old Joe now feeling tired and weak
Sat down a rest to take
But soon he slept that long cold sleep
From which you canna wake
For old Joe died there high on the moor
With Tip close by his side
And still the snow came falling down
And still the cruel wind sighed

Soon darkness spread its shadows about
O'er Howden's shoulders bare
While down below the village folk
Lay snug with never a care
And when Joe's absence was remarked
Folk thought but little of this
For hadn't Joe full many's the time
Been caught in worse than this?

But soon alarm began to spread
Folk searched by night and day
For maybe he had broke a bone
And couldna make his way
And though they searched the hills abroad
By clough and windy slough
No sign of Joe, nor Tip his dog
Was seen to give them hope

Soon the days passed into weeks
Old Joe could ne'er be found
Through weeks and months of frost and snow
Still brave Tip stood her ground
And how she lived, no one can tell
It canna be explained
Wi'out a bite, save what she caught
That faithful dog remained

The twelfth day of a December so cold
Old Joe Tagg breathed his last
And Tip, his sheepdog, stayed by him
Till fifteen weeks had passed
And when the twenty-seventh day
Of March it come around
Upon the heights of Howden Moor
Joe's corpse and Tip were found

They laid a stone to this brave dog
It stands by Derwent's shore
It tells the tale and it names the names
I canna do no more
So as you sit by a blazing fire
Both warm and full of cheer
Think on the ties that kept Tip there
All through that winter drear


I've only included dialect where necessary, all middle-class librarians seeking authenticity will need to take care with pronunciation, all the "by's" are "be", "make" is "meck", ditto for "take," "worse" is "wuss," don't sound any H's and "warm" should rhyme with "alarm." Ram's Bottom featured the premier Derbyshire dialectician, Rick Scollins (wonderful bloke, rest his soul), so he and Keith Kendrick would have ensured it was "raight."

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 05:17 AM

Gosh what a tear jerker, and a lovely song too. Where can I find the tune please?
Giok

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: jonm
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 06:50 AM

I'm not techy enough to help, I'm afraid. The album was deleted after two people bought it and has never been on CD, can't post music online, I don't record myself and although people have recorded me, I don't recall having heard that one anywhere.

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 09:14 AM

I live in Derby, Connecticut. I'll see if there are any native songs here. Plenny a natives.

Jerry

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Emma B
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 01:25 PM

By no means all "native to Derbyshire" but very interesting -

"Thomas Ford's Ballads - a collection of sheets published by Thomas Ford of Chesterfield in the 1830s" with an introduction by Roy Palmer.
published by Llanarch Press

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 02:39 PM

by Neil dalton of the Real Music and Spondon Club
The Champ O' The Midlands

I was down at the fair,
My Dad holding my hand,
And the night it was pounding,
From the Miner's Brass Band.

There was hoop-la and darts,
And a ha'penny shove,
Some swings and a dodgems,
And a Tunnel Of Love.

But the show that I wanted,
The best show that night,
Was the tent in the middle,
The bare knuckle fight.

I pestered my father,
With all my might,
'Cause the show that I wanted,
Was the bare knuckle fight.

Well, he looked at me sadly,
And then shook his head,
And he told me a story,
And here's what he said.

"It was some years ago,
That I came to this fair,
And the prize fighting tent,
Was just over there.

And a big money prize,
Was offered to all,
Who would step in the ring,
And make the champ fall.

Well, a weasily man,
In a blood spattered vest,
Invited all-comers,
To take on the best.

Yes, he challenged all-comers,
To take on the might,
Of The Champ O' the Midlands,
In a bare knuckle fight.

His sarcastic voice,
Said, 'I don't see a queue!'
So a miner stood up,
And said, 'Will I do?'

Well, the fight wasn't pretty,
The fight wasn't fair,
The crowd yelled for blood,
There was hate in the air.

And a Derbyshire miner,
Who knew how to fight,
Braved the Champ O' the Midlands,
In a bare knuckle fight.

Yes, a Derbyshire miner,
Who knew how to fight,
'Cause the Champ O' the Midlands,
Was bested that night.

One terrible blow,
Then the bell had to sing,
For the Champ O' the Midlands,
Lay dead in the ring.

Yes, the Champ O' the Midlands,
Was dead in the sand.
From one 'lucky' punch.
From one bloody hand.

And the crowd shocked to silence,
And a miner in tears,
And I've never forgotten,
Though it's been seven years.

Now I've told you this story, Son
So you'll understand,
'Cause the miner who fought,
Is now holding your hand.

And I'm not proud at all,
Of what I have done,
'Cause the Champ O' the Midlands,
Was somebody's son."

Well, my father he waited,
And I looked at his hand,
And all I could hear,
Was the Colliery Band.

Yes, the miners' brass band
Were still playing that night,
But I no longer wanted,
The bare knuckle fight.

also worth a mention Beeswing by Richard Thompson and The ----of rome   - about a pigeon!

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 03 Mar 06 - 03:33 AM

I heard one girl sing "In the West End of Derby there lived a wicked man...". I corrected her, and told her the real words were "a wicker man".

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Compton
Date: 03 Mar 06 - 09:41 PM

The big number (written) was on that "Young May Moon" vinyl..and a welcome to any Derby individual..."Hey Up Mi Duck!"

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 May 06 - 01:45 PM

Ah... Beaten to Tip O' Derwent!looks like I wrote it down right anyway. All I can add is that Ram's Bottom ascribe it to Gerald Short on the album sleeve.

Andrea

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: mouldy
Date: 24 May 06 - 01:46 PM

Got me cookie back.

Andrea

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 May 06 - 02:37 PM

the late Tufty Swift recorded an album of tunes that he'd discovered in an old box - they were tunes played by a local Militia in Napoleonic times. You'll Never Die for Love - it was on the topic label.

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: muppitz
Date: 24 May 06 - 04:00 PM

If you fancy something contemporary, Coope, Boyes & Simpson were commissioned to do a CD specifically about Belper in Derbyshire, it is worth a listen or five!

muppitz x

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: GUEST,JP2
Date: 25 May 06 - 03:10 AM

Don't forget Tufty Swift's earlier LP,"How to make a Bakewell tart"
I think it was called.

JP2

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: GUEST,Mingulay at work
Date: 25 May 06 - 06:40 AM

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: GUEST,Mingulay at work
Date: 25 May 06 - 06:46 AM

Ooops. Finger trouble. What I meant to post was Ripley Wayfarers wrote and recorded a number of songs about Derbyshire including one that Giok mentioned about the village of Eyam and the plague. Well worth a listen. Sorry I can't give any record details as that's at home and I'm (supposedly) at work.

Pete

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Compton
Date: 25 May 06 - 07:11 AM

Ey Up Mi Duck (From Young May Moon)
(Not Traditional)

One Sunday afternoon, I went out for a walk
'Cos the dog seemed to need a bit of exercise
and come to think on it, so did I.
I'd been sitting on a bench in't park for an hour
Just taking two minutes rest.
When a bloke come along and as he were passing by,
He shouted..
Chorus;
Ey Up Mi Duck!
Art awreet then? Not bad, youth,
I'm just going down for a pint or two and tha can come if tha wants.
But tha better get thee skates on and shake thissen
For there's only ten minutes to go
And if tha dunna get a move on, tha's gone and lost thee chance.

Well a day or two after that, I'd been workin' on "afters",
I were really tired and me eyes were shuttin',
It'd be abhat quarter past ten.
I were dreaming abhat things like buxom wenches,
And I waited for me bus.
When a tap on me shoulder, "towd" me, it were that bloke again and he "sharted"…
Ey Up Mi Duck!
Art awreet then? Not bad, youth,
I'm just going down for a jar or two and tha can come if tha wants.
But tha better get thee skates on and shake thissen
For there's only ten minutes to go
And if tha dunna get a move on, tha's gone and lost thee chance.

Well weekend came at last, and I slept all day, "Sat'dee",
On Sunday, I felt so good, I decided I would go for a sup,
And I walked through park, with me dog (Woof-woof)
Who should I just happen to see,
But that bloke fast asleep on a bench,
So I crept up and I shouted..
Ey Up Mi Duck!
Art awreet then? Not bad, youth,
I'm just going down for a jug or two and tha can come if tha wants.
But tha better get thee skates on and shake thissen
For there's only ten minutes to go
And if tha dunna get a move on, tha's gone and lost thee
Chance
That's what I said , I towd hin
Ey Up Mi Duck!
Art awreet then? Not bad, youth,
I'm just going down for a bucket or two and tha can come if tha wants.
But tha better get thee skates on and shake thissen
For there's only ten minutes to go
And if tha dunna get a move on, tha's gone and lost thee
Chance
And if tha dunna get a move on, tha's gone and lost thee
Chance
        
Ther's a book (or two) about Derbyshire dialect called "Eey Up, Mi Duck" as well

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Compton
Date: 25 May 06 - 07:13 AM

Roger Watson (ex-Muckram wakes also wrote many songs with Derbyshire accent!

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: GUEST,Ian Carter
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 07:29 AM

Nice to see the lyrics of my song posted here!

To confirm, I wrote "Ey Up Mi Duck" back in 1979 as an entry for a "Song for Derbyshire" competition. (It didn't come anywhere!) At the same time, I wrote "The Spire That Aspired", about the Chesterfield Crooked Spire.

I've revived both of these recently, with Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham, and they both feature in our set for A Derbyshire Evening, the first of which was held last Saturday night at the Florence Nightingale Memorial Hall in Holloway, Derbyshire.

We also perform "Tip o' Derwent" by Gerald Short, who I'm told now lives in Scotland. "Charlie Sparrer's Marrer" finished the second set for us, as it used to do for (the late) Rick Scollins and Ram's Bottom.

A new song about a Derbyshire man, "Sam Taylor - The Ilson Giant" also features on the new CD by The Ram Company (www.ramcompany.co.uk
) which bears the title "Waltzers and Wonders: The Wakes Is In Town". The world premiere of the show is at Derby Folk Festival on 25th October 2008, at the Assembly Rooms, Derby, England. The majority of the songs in this show are mine, penned mostly back in the 80s when I was in Muckram Wakes, but now brought to life by The Ram Company.

We'd love to see you all there!

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: GUEST,Old Terry
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 08:20 AM

Eyup then!
I wor born in 'ollingwood, lived in Unstone and Brimington, even Rainsworth in Notts. Moved to Australia in 1959. Kicking on 68 now and have bin singin folk , blues n old timey for the last 10 years around the festivals here. I would like to do two or maybe three derby songs "ayup me duck" reads really well. now if I only knew the toon............ [e-mail]
Thanks Pom

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 09:56 AM

I used to have a tape of Show of Hands singing a live version of The Blue Cockade and I distinctly remember that in their introduction they said "This is a song from Derbyshire"

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 10:39 AM

Check out Kerfuffle's latest album. It contains Roger Watson's Katie Shaw (written originally for the Muckram Wakes)and The Castleton Carol (collected by Vaughan Williams in Derbyshire.

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 10:54 AM

erfuffle also sing a version of Two Sisters based on the version of of the famous Child Balad as sung by Derbyshire singer George Fradley. It too is on their latest album, To the Ground (RBRCD06) Check out www.kerfuffleonline.co.uk

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: Snuffy
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 04:19 PM

Graham Cooper's Private William Coffey

Subject: RE: What songs are native to Derbyshire?
From: JohnB
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 12:21 AM

Check out Doug Eunson and Sarah Matthews, they have a couple of CD's out. They are from Derby and have written several songs about the area. Doug and Sarah's Myspace
JohnB