Narrowboat songs

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Penny S.
Date: 28 May 99 - 05:24 AM

How narrow were they on the Stroudwater Canal? That was a very narrow strip of water, hard to imagine how the water got round the craft.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: rickter
Date: 03 Jun 99 - 05:09 PM

AndyG: I have been a fan of narrowboats since I took my first paddle down the Grand Union in a canoe some 10 years ago. I do have RealAudio capability and would appreciate whatever you could send over the wires, quality notwithstanding. My address is [e-mail].

Hopefully, rickter

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 22 Jun 99 - 06:58 PM

I'm doing the gig this weekend, and I am really looking forward to it.. Thank you everyone for the information and songs. I'll let you know how it went next week. Cariad, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 23 Jun 99 - 03:52 AM

Oi Bron, pwy sy'n cariad yma?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 24 Jun 99 - 08:44 PM

Re the 'Tom Pudding' and Chris Sherburn's dad. I spoke to Chris recently (in the gent's, actually) and he said that he started to play the concertina on board his dad's boat, towing the 'Tom Puddings'.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 27 Jun 99 - 12:58 PM

I have just completed the Waterways Weekend. The two afternoons making music on the wharf were great. People came and went, and were very appreciative. The evening boat ride yesterday promised to be really good. We'd got a good song list together. The meal for the "punters" was ready. They had specifically asked for live music and were paying well. The weather was breaking, but a thunderstorm on the canal is a great experience, without being threatening. The group came on board from their coach, and proceeded to drink as much as they could in the shortest possible time. Once they had listened (sort of) to a few of our numbers, and ascertained that we could not (would not) do any Abba or dire straits,they set to and sang whatever came into their heads very loudly for the two hour duration of the trip. The ladies circulated amongst the men, until they needed to throw up out of the window. The waitresses were sexually harrassed to the point of tears. Outside, the tranquility of the canal was enhanced by the storm, but we could neither see nor hear it. We had to put our stuff away for fear a fight would break out. I could not believe that people still behave this way in the name of having a good time. They were by no means teenagers, and one chap told us that, basically, they didn't give a F***. One man spent half an hour telling me about his collie that died aged 18, and how he had had to have the day off work to bury her. Sorry to inflict this on you, but I'm sure others have had to suffer pond life like this, and how do you stop feeling bad about it? I know it wasn't our fault, but what kind of people book a meal on a narrowboat, with live music, with the sole intention of getting legless? Thanks for listening, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 27 Jun 99 - 01:55 PM

Just one of those days I'm afraid, but they do serve to make us appreciate the better ones.... Next time it will be better, if there is going to be a next time?

Did you see that the BBCs 'Songs Of Praise' came from Braunston today (Sunday)?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 27 Jun 99 - 04:58 PM

No, I didn't see that. The good news, however is that the owner found out that I can drive narrowboats, and may be offering some work. I've just started part time in my "day job", so I can think of nothing better. Stressed out social worker 2.5 days a week, canals at 4mph the rest. Brilliant! Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 07:37 AM

Before they relaxed the licensing laws, Bron, it used to be that case that a bar on a moving boat (or train, or whatever) could stay open all day. People with long memories might have some kind of strange association with this, feeling obliged to drink themselves silly. I don't need an excuse, but I'm still polite after a few jars.

Steve

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 07:45 AM

Sorry to hear it was such a disappointment. Still, every cloud has a silver lining, and in this case it has to be all the interesting stuff that has come up in this thread.

Hope they all had Monster Hangovers.....

Kris

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 02:56 PM

Do the drinking and driving laws apply to narrowboats?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 03:35 AM

I think they can do you for being drunk in charge. There was a cartoon by Rowland Emett (who designed all the funny machines in the film Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang) in the 30s or 40s of a gang of burglars, with masks, flat caps, hooped jerseys and bags marked "swag" fleeing along a winding contour canal in a horse-drawn narrow boat from a horse-drawn police narrow boat at a rattling four mph - it could only happen in England!

Steve

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 19 Aug 99 - 06:25 AM

Astonishingly, the "Bold Navigators" recording mentioned in this thread is available in the US from CAMSCO via the Mudcat, though I've not found it available in the UK!Nothing else by the Ravens though, nor "Straight from the Tunnel's Mouth."

Subject: Lyrics to John Kananka
From:
Date: 14 May 00 - 06:17 PM

Can anyone help me with lyrics to 'John Kanaka'. I recently took my kids aboard the 'Peking' at the South street seaport in New York City. During a sail raising activity they sang along to this song. They loved it and have been singing bits of it they remember ever since. Unfortunatley theyre forgeting it as time goes on. Anyone who can help?

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHN KANAKA-NAKA^^^
From: AndyG
Date: 15 May 00 - 05:09 AM

Hi,
I don't see a narrowboat connection, but here y'go:

JOHN KANAKA-NAKA

I heard, I heard the Old Man say,

John kanaka-naka too-ri-ay.

Today, today's an holiday,

John kanaka-naka too-ri-ay.

Too-ri-ay, O - oh, too-ri-ay,

John kanaka-naka too-ri-ay.

We'll work tomorrer but not today,
We'll work tomorrer but not today,

We're bound away for Friso Bay,
We're bound away at the break of day,

We're bound away around Cape Horn,
We wished to God we'd never been born,

AndyG

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 15 May 00 - 05:38 AM

Around the 'Horn', by narrowboat???

There should be a song there, all right?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 15 May 00 - 08:17 AM

What about 'Who's the fool now?'!

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 15 May 00 - 08:55 AM

Hmm....still dealing with a mental picture of steering a 75-footer around the horn, and where would the horse walk?

Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 15 May 00 - 09:02 AM

On the towpath, of course.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Stewie
Date: 15 May 00 - 09:49 AM

I've got the 'Bold Navigators' also but, if my copy ever had a lyric sheet, it doesn't have one now. There is a note on the cover, though, that all the songs, together with their sources and a full bibliography can be found in a book 'Canal Songs' by Jon Raven, obtainable from 68 Limes Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. That's a 1975 address so it would be very lucky if it's still applicable.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 15 May 00 - 05:54 PM

Did I mention that, since giving up social work, I now do casual narrow boat driving instead?
No contest!!! Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: radriano
Date: 15 May 00 - 06:50 PM

I just learned a canal boat song that's a pretty good one. Here are the lyrics:
Click here.
If you want the music to this, I can send you a GIF of it. You can reach me at [e-mail]

Regards,
radriano

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST,Liz
Date: 16 May 00 - 11:30 AM

As a narrow boater and folk singer/musician I have enjoyed reading this discussion. It reminds me that I have been trying to prise the words for Willow Wren Bride out of Dave Blaygrove for some time now without success. Can anyone else remember the words?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AndyG
Date: 16 May 00 - 11:50 AM

Liz,

I don't know if this is the song you mean, (sounds like it could be), but;
Jenny Wren Bride is in the DT.

It's a Cyril Tawney song.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 16 May 00 - 11:52 AM

Birmingham is, of course, the Venice of the West Midlands (with more miles of canals than Venice). Strangely, Venice is never called the Birmingham of Italy.(NOT that old joke,again, Roger?)
RtS

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 17 May 00 - 03:34 AM

Birmingham doesn't smell as bad as Venice though, Roger - nit htses days, any road!

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 17 May 00 - 06:34 AM

Details of the Halliard and Black Country 3 recordings available from Michael Raven (with his contact details)are on the Nic Jones Home Page (right at the botom) on:
http://www.sarcon.demon.co.uk/engfolk/nicjones.htm
Mudcat's Dr John has also given the address on the thread on Black Country Songs.
Correspondence with Mike Raven is always rewarding, he comes across as a mix of Laurie Lee, Rick Fielding and Carla Lane.
(If anyone doesn't know, Mike had youthful brushes with the law over his animal rights activities, many of his songs celebrate the fox and his own dogs. As a young man he bummed around Spain learning from gypsy flamenco players and reviewers describe his folkplaying as Celtic Flamenco. He is always generous with his knowledge. Purchases from him often contain extra free songbooks or records.)Mike used to have a web page but it seems to be inactive.
RtS

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST,Liz
Date: 17 May 00 - 10:19 AM

AndyG

Willow Wren Bride is a version of (you might say is loosely based on) Jenny Wren Bride so not quite the same thing. From my recollection its about marrying the daughter of a Willow Wren stearer.

Liz

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 12:55 PM

Does anyone have the words of the BCN song - "Miles and Miles of Poly 'round the Blades" ?

Dave Blagrove won't give me the words because he says that he didn't write it.

By the way I heard a few weeks ago that David has had to give up boating on doctor's orders and that he's sold his pair. I was hoping to be seeing him at the Foxton session the other week, but he wasn't well. Still I'm sure that he'll get plenty more chances to see "The Chestnut Bloom in Flower" from a narrowboat.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 03:41 PM

LLanfair,

I seem to have a memory of a programme about the Canals of Britain done by BBC some years ago and musically illustrated by the great Ewan McCall. (Or am I beginning to slip , finally?) AndyG The song "Girl on the Cut" is that the one that starts "It's a hard life, for a girl on the cut...." etc.?? As recorded by the Ian Campbell Folk Group? (Lorna singing that song?)

beach(*&%$£ in' cookie again)

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 06:12 PM

I hadn't heard about that, Beachcomber, was it TV or radio? Sounds interesting.

Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 21 Dec 07 - 11:17 AM

(Seven years on) - Has anyone found the lyrics to Willow Wren Bride yet?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 10:50 PM

Did you mean "Jenny Wren Bride" by Cyril Tawney? It's in the DigiTrad at Jenny Wren Bride

Ross

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 04 Feb 08 - 08:25 AM

No. I don't mean Jenny Wren Bride. See Liz's previous comment.
Thanks anyway.
Ian

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: banjoman
Date: 04 Feb 08 - 11:14 AM

Have a look for a song called "The Mary Anne McHugh" which is about an Irish Canal Boat - very humourous song - I have the words if anyobe wants them

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 04 Feb 08 - 04:17 PM

A posting of the words to 'The Mary Anne McHugh' would be much appreciated as Googling failed to find them.
Ian

Subject: Lyr Add: MARY ANN MCHUGH (Percy French)
From: banjoman
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:02 AM

as requested:

MARY ANN MCHUGH
(Percy French)

Well, come all ye lads who plough the sea and likewise see the plough.
The cruise of a canal boat I'll be singing to ye now.
It was the Mary Ann McHugh that ploughed the wintry surf
As we bore away from George's Quay with a terrible load of turf.

Well, the captain's name was Duff and his manners they were rough,
But every cape and headland on that treacherous coast he knew,
And he issued this command: "Keep her well in sight of land
Till we make the port of Dublin in the Mary Ann McHugh."

Now this vessel was of one horsepower propelled by a blackthorn stick.
With a bag o' corn and the wind astern, the horse went a terrible lick.
We came around by Hillardown and then Kilkirk we passed,
And when we'd seen Johnny Quinn's shibeen we yelled out "Land at last!"

But the captain James E Duff said, "Luff, ye lubbers, luff.
Now don't put in to Johnny Quinn's whatever else ye do,
'Cos last time we passed his door, we forgot to pay the score
And he has the p-o-li-ce watchin' for the Mary Ann McHugh."

Then up spoke a sailor bold who had sailed on the Irish Sea.
He said, "Put in to Johnny Quinn's or the crew will mutiny
For to go to sea with a boy and me is a cruel thing I think
When it's water, water everywhere and divil a drop to drink."

Then the captain James E Duff said, "Enough, me lads, enough!
No man before the mast will ever teach me what to do;
So put on all sail at once for it is our only chance
To keep from debt and danger on the Mary Ann McHugh."

So with anxious hearts this vessel starts all on her watery course.
The wind it lashed the rigging and the pilot lashed the horse;
But all in vain beneath the strain the rope began to part,
And we ran aground on a lump of coal that wasn't marked on the chart.

And the captain James E Duff well he hit me such a cuff!
He said, "go heave the lead" while the flag at half mast flew,
But meself I'd had enough of that tyrant James E Duff,
So I heaved the lead at his head and fled from the Mary Ann McHugh.


I got this originally from an LP called "A Pinch of Salt" which featured several artists including Cyril Tawney but I can't recall who sang this one. Still have the LP somewhere so may be able to dig it out. The song was listed on the sleeve as a version of the Good Ship Calibar. I still sing this occasionally and it usually raises a smile. Probably the only Irish canal boat song (unless someone knows different).

Best of luck
Pete

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Severn
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 09:05 AM

"The Mary Ann McHugh" was written by Percy French.

The version I learned to sing it from is by Seamus Ennis on the CD collection "Lower the Funnel-Songs Of The Inland Waterways", (Folktrax-418), a Peter Kennedy compilation with some excellent stuff in amongst some ringers and padding.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 02:57 PM

Thanks for Mary Ann McHugh lyrics and info. It is now the 97th song on the 'Songs of the Inland Waterways' website though I may have to change the sub-title to inland waterway songs of the UK and Ireland. I am now trying to track down the easiest way to purchase the Folktrax recording from the UK.
Ian

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 01:19 PM

WILLOW WREN BRIDE
I have transcribed the words to this song from the 1975 BBC recording 'Narrowboats' and included then on the web-site :
Songs of the Inland Waterways. I also include them here :

I met a bloke walking through Bedworth
He said I could laugh 'til I cried
I've been and got shot of me mate on the cut
And he's married a Willow Wren bride
Married, married
He's married a Willow Wren bride

There isn't much of this song here and I am interested in knowing if there is any more. In fact, any information about this song would be welcome.

Ian

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Severn
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 02:31 PM

Available from Dick Greenhaus at Camsco. It's where I got mine.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 17 Mar 08 - 04:45 PM

Try this website : Songs of the Inland Waterways

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST,Ian B
Date: 21 Apr 09 - 04:14 PM

Songs of the Inland Waterways has moved to www.waterwaysongs.co.uk.

---

Thanks, Kevin. I updated all the links posted in this thread. Many of the sites are gone, but I found archived editions at archive.org.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: ADD: The Jolly Bargeman (C. Fox Smith)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 01:23 PM

This seems a good place to post this canal bargeman poem by Cicely Fox Smith:

THE JOLLY BARGEMAN
(C. Fox Smith)

I've put the old mare's tail in plaits — now ain't she lookin' gay,
With ribbons in 'er mane likewise, you'd think it First o' May;
For why? We're under Government, though it ain't quite plain to me
If we're in the Civil Service or the Admiralties!

An' it's "Gee hup, Mabel," an' we'll do the best we're able,
For the country's took us over an' we're 'elpin' 'er to win,
An' when the war is over, oh, we'll all lie down in clover,
With a drink all together at the Navigation Inn!

I brought the news to Missis, an' to 'er these words did say:
"Just chuck yon old broom-'andle an' a two-three nails this way:
We're bound to 'ave a flag-staff for our old red, white an' blue,
For now we're under Government we'll 'ave our ensign too."

The Navy is the Navy, an' it sails upon the sea,
The Army is the Army, an' on land it 'as to be;
There's the land an' there's the water, an' the Cut comes in between,
An' I don't know what they'll call me if it ain't an 'Orse Marine.

The Missis sits upon the barge, the same's she used to sit,
But they'll 'ave 'er in the papers now for Doin' 'er Bit:
An' I walk upon the tow-path 'ere as proud as anything,
If I 'aven't got no uniform, I'm serving of the King.

An' it's "Gee hup, Mabel," oh, we'll do the best we're able,
For the country's been an' called us, an' we've got to 'elp to win;
An' when this war is over, then we'll all lie down in clover,
With a drink all together at the Navigation Inn!


Notes:

From Small Craft: Sailor Ballads and Chantys, edited by Cicely Fox Smith, published by George H. Doran Co., New York, US, © 1919, pp. 72-73. First published in Punch Magazine, Volume 152, May 16, 1917, p. 320.

Captures a moment in World War 1 when the British Government has issued an order mobilizing the canal bargemen into the war effort, replete with great detail.

Some of the best black and white illustrations I've found of narrow boats are by Deny Watkins-Pitchford in Narrow Boat, by Lionel Thomas Caswall Rolt, published by Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, UK, © 1944, revised 1948. For an example, here a link to one I've just posted with this poem at the Oldpoetry website: Click here for website!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 May 10 - 03:31 PM

Anything going on in particular in September on or about the canals in the UK?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Paul Burke
Date: 23 May 10 - 05:41 PM

Just theb usual BW neglect.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Brian May
Date: 28 May 10 - 04:44 PM

Leggin boats - by Giggetty.

Black Country songs on this re-released Digitally Remastered album.

Got my copy today and it's brilliant. Several tracks about bargees and the waterways in the Industrial Revolution.

More details from [e-mail] - he's been really helpful.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 28 May 10 - 04:55 PM

I like canals and canal boats!

I think I'll learn some canalist and canaling songs!

Drat! There don't appear to be any!

OK, I'll write some canalist and canaling songs.

........................ some time later ......................

Hmm! It's quite difficult this song writing, isn't it?

I know! I'll dig out some musty old poems about canalists and canaling and put tunes to them! No-one will ever know (perhaps they'll even think they're traditional).

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: GUEST
Date: 29 May 10 - 09:16 AM

There is a whole CD by Barry Goodman and Graeme Meek called "Where the Working Boats Went". It is basically the songs from a show that they present at festivals and other places.

Take a look here:

http://www.lifeandtimes.me.uk/news.htm

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 May 10 - 09:27 AM

100