Liverpool Children's Rhymes

Subject: Liverpool Children's Rhymes
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 09:16 AM

After adding to the Seth Davy/Whisky on Sunday thread I remembered that the author of the song, Glyn Hughes, was at one time joint "curator" of the Scouse Museum with Frank Shaw. Frank Shaw published a booklet of children's rhymes You Know Me Anty Nelly? in 1969 which captures the real flavour of childish cheek and humour.

Samples:

Me Uncil Joe

Me Uncil Joe
He was a savidge,
He dipped his nose
In pickled cabbidge,
He ate the meat,
An' chewed the gristle an'
That is how he learnt to
Whistle.

The Ould Feller

Never light the fire wid yer father's wooden leg,
Never strike a match on yer ould feller's baldy patch...
Don't throw stones at yer father ----
            Throw bricks at yer mother instead.

Down by the riverside

Down by the riverside the green grass grows,
And there little Mary washes her clothes,
She danced and she sung so sweet
She called her sweetheart down the street.
Sweetheart, sweetheart, will you marry me?
Next Monday morning the wedding will be,
Iced cakes and cheese cakes are all for tea,
We shall have a baby at half past three.

As an extra treat the wonderful BBC TV documentary Morning in the Streets features some scenes of children at play in Liverpool from 1959. This programme was made by Denis Mitchell and Frank Shaw and has only recently been re-released by the BBC as part of their policy of making their archives available online.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Children's Rhymes
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 04:01 AM

I've got a spare copy of Aunty Nelly. If anybody in the UK would like it drop me a PM.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Children's Rhymes
From: banjoman
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 01:03 PM

I recall this one from my younger days (much) in Liverpool
I went to the pictures tomorrow
I got a front seat at the back
A lady gave me a toffee
I ate it then gave it her back
I fell from the floor to the ceiling
Where I saw a dead donkey die
I took out my pistol to stab it
But it kicked me right in the eye