Lyr Req: Ballad of Wigan Pier (Jack Winstanley)

Subject: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 06:43 AM

Has anyone got the lyrics/chords for Wigan Pier as sung by the Haughton Weavers amongst others?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: skipy
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 06:04 AM

This may help:-
http://www.songlyrics.com/song-lyrics/Wigan_Pier/wigan_pier/30392.html
Skipy

Subject: Lyr Add: BALLAD OF WIGAN PIER (Jack Winstanley)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 07:46 AM

Copied from a forum called Wigan World:

BALLAD OF WIGAN PIER
© Jack Winstanley

Some people say that there's a pier in Wigan town somewhere
George Formby said it led to t'sands on stilts up in the air
Some folks'll say that it's a myth but I don't think that they're right
'Cos I once fell off yon Wigan Pier staggering home one night

'Cos it's long and it's strong and it leads nowhere
You can see it when the weather is clear
If you feel inclined, if you've got the time
You can spend a lovely day on Wigan Pier

I've taken part in catching tripe in waters deep and clean
You dangle mint balls on a string and hope that they are seen
Thy sticks of tripe'd swim around all shiny bright and new
And just to show where they come from, there's Wigan written all through

One day I saw the QE2 come sailing up to t'pier
The bunting flew and t'brass band played to show the Queen were here
She stepped ashore to thundrous cheers and started to recall
"I've seen some piers throughout the years but this pier beats 'em all!"

So if you are told that there's a pier in Wigan town somewhere
Don't laugh it off like others do, look round, you'll see it there
It's spick and span and painted white and standing out a mile
But if you're asked just where it is, don't say much, just smile!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Bainbo
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 08:32 AM

This is criminal of me, I know, but I put a load of 78rpm records in a charity bag a few years ago. One, which had belonged to my grandad, had a song called "Wigan Pier". I don't remember who it was by, and I don't know if it was the one the Hoghton Weavers used because I haven't heard it, but the chorus went:

Wigan Pier, Wigan Pier,
That's the favourite beauty spot of Lancashire.
Bright and breezy, you can stroll
By the sea, by the C, O, A, L - coal.
Eeh! Eeh! That's the place to be
With the lasses and the lads down theer,
So forget the Isle of Man,
Put your dinner in a can,
And come, come, come to Wigan Pier

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 03:41 PM

Many thanks for those lyrics. I intend to include them in my web-site of canal songs on the rather tenuous basis that Wigan Pier is a coal jetty for loading canal boats. At least I think it is. Does anyone know better?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 04:41 PM

Never underestimate the scope of Wikipedia.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Greg B
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 06:02 PM

I nearly choked on me Uncle Joe's Mint Ball when I read the above.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 06:41 PM

There's a picture of the replica "pier" on This Site
It's the fifth picture down the page.

I think it was George Formby's father who coined the phrase "Wigan Pier" in his music hall act and the rest - as they say - is history - the phrase stuck and Wigan became the butt of many a music hall joke. It's actually well worth going round the exhibition at what is now a tourist trap!

George Formby sang a few songs about Wigan - probably the most famous one was "In a little Wigan garden" which he sang in "No Limit!" - the one about the TT races in th' eyeler man (as we say round our way). Another one was "On the Wigan boat express"

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: GUEST,Dave The wiganer now living on IOM
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 09:03 AM

Yes I'm proud to say I,m from Wigan and I'm even prouder now i live on the Isle of Man that near Douglas Town Hall there is a statue of George Formby in his biking gear playing his Ukellele!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Simon G
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 02:31 PM

Before you all rush to Wigan Pier on Mark's recommendation you should know the exhibition closed just a couple of months ago.

There is however a folk club meeting in the Orwell - the pub at the pier. Every Thursday at 9pm until the bar staff insist on going home. folk club So when the nights get a bit lighter you can go and view the pier (allow 5 minutes) and then sing the Wigan Pier song of you choice at the singaround. Oh, ask Pete to sing his Wigan Pier song whilst your there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 08:55 PM

You folks are all to be complimented on your great marketing of Wigan's Pier. Whether it exists or not, original or replica, thousands, hundreds, well, even dozens of us will be inspired to track it down and enjoy its delights.

Damn! And I so wanted to go to Hull this year.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Joe_F
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 09:06 PM

The eponym of the abovementioned pub, having published a book called _The Road to Wigan Pier_, and being asked on the BBC (2 December 1943) "How long is the Wigan Pier and what is the Wigan Pier?", replied as follows:

Well, I am afraid I must tell you that Wigan Pier doesn't exist. I made a journey specially to see it in 1936, and I couldn't find it. It did exist once, however, and to judge from the photographs it must have been about twenty feet long.

Wigan is in the middle of the mining areas, and...its scenery is not its strong point.... For some reason, though it's not worse than fifty other places, Wigan has always been picked on as a symbol of the ugliness of the industrial areas. At one time, on one of the little muddy canals that run round the town, there used to be a tumble-down wooden jetty; and by way of a joke someone nicknamed this Wigan Pier. The joke caught on locally, and then the music-hall comedians got hold of it....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Compton
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 09:25 PM

What!, no Wigan Pier/...youll be telling me next there ain't no Father Christmas!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Simon G
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 04:35 AM

My father (now 75) was born and breed in Liverpool, he and his brother used to pester his parent for a trip to the seaside. My grandfather offered to take them to Wigan pier. Excited they got on the train and travelled to Wigan, at this point the recollection gets very dim. Probably because of the shock and disappointment from a 5 year old arriving in a dirty grimy coal town of the late 1930s with no beach in sight (Wigan is 20 mile from the sea). Needless to say he took to dejected young boys home. I understand they never asked to go to the beach again, well at least for a few months and then a little European fall out between countries got in the way.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 08:46 AM

Don't despair, gang! There is always "Widgery Wharf" which still exists on the Portland waterfront in Maine. It's the only remaining commercial fish pier for small boats existing on that waterfront, surrounded on both sides by condominium development. The bait shacks are still there, the stacks of lobster traps, the gear in different stages of repair.

I even composed a song commemorating its hard-scrabble denizens which can be accessed from this link: click here for a knotty and nautical time!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 07:19 AM

I'm currently researching the songs of R.P. Weston and Bert Lee for a project and I've found that they wrote a song called "Wigan Pier" around 1922. Chances are that the 78 that Bainbo threw out is this song. I don't suppose anybody recalls the rest of the lyrics and hopefully the tune.

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wigan Pier
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 11:55 AM

I've been reviewing the lyrics posted in this thread and this line caught my attention:

"I've seen some piers throughout the years but this pier beats 'em all!"

Shouldn't the line have read:

"I've seen some piers throughout the years but this one has no peer!"

Just a thought...

I go now!
Charley Ignoble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballad of Wigan Pier (Jack Winstanley)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 17 - 07:16 AM

Here are all the words and chorus PLUS the guitar chords which I have now managed to add and share with you all as this seems to be the only record on the internet. I hope this helps further your enjoyment of the song.

BALLAD OF WIGAN PIER
C…|...C                               Dm                      G                         C
          Some people say that there's a pier in Wigan town somewhere
             F                      C                      Dm                     G
George Formby said it led to t'sands on stilts up in the air
          F                      Em                   F                                  G.
Some folks'll say that it's a myth but I don't think that they're right
          C                        F                  G                               C
'Cos I once fell off yon Wigan Pier staggering home one night


CHORUS
G            C
Cos It's long and it's strong and it leads nowhere
                F                                              C
You can see it when the weather is clear
            F                                     C
If you feel inclined and you got the time
               Dm                     G                         C
you can spend a lovely day on WIGAN PIER


V2------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C                         Dm                     G                        C
I've taken part in catching tripe in waters deep and clean
       F                         C                      D                         G
You dangle mint balls on a string and hope that they are seen
          F                   Em                      F                        G
Thy sticks of tripe'd swim around all shiny bright and new
       C                            F                                    G                         C
And just to show where they come from, there's Wigan written all through

CHORUS

V3------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C                           Dm            G                  C
One day I saw the QE2 come sailing up to t'pier
       F                           C                               D                                 G
The bunting flew and t'brass band played to show the Queen were here
       F                         Em                              F             G
She stepped ashore to thundrous cheers and started to recall
       C                                    F                                        G            C
"I've seen some piers throughout the years but this pier beats 'em all!"


CHORUS

V4------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C                                 Dm                   G                         C
So if you are told that there's a pier in Wigan town somewhere
          F                        C                     Bm                        G
Don't laugh it off like others do, look round, you'll see it there
       F                         Em                         F                     G
It's spick and span and painted white and standing out a mile
       C                            F               G                              C
But if you're asked just where it is, don't say much, just smile!


CHORUS X2
G             C
Cos    It's long and it's strong and it leads nowhere
                F                                              C
You can see it when the weather is clear
            F                                     C
If you feel inclined and you got the time
               Dm                     G                         C
you can spend a lovely day on WIGAN PIER

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: GUITAR Ballad of Wigan Pier (Jack Winstanley)
From: GUEST,Pythagoras
Date: 14 Mar 17 - 07:20 AM

Subject line changed to show previous entry now has guitar chords