Lyr Req: Mrs Harris (Jeremy Taylor)

Subject: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris by Jeremy Taylor
From: Zimmerman
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 01:40 PM

I'd be grateful for this - thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris by Jeremy Taylor
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 02:56 PM

Dont know about Mrs Harris , but there are a few of Mr taylors songs here ! http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=7306&messages=12

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris by Jeremy Taylor
From: Bru
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 03:48 PM

I can help you with this one, Zimmerman - earlier this year, I bought the CD from Jeremy and this track was on it. I'll put it on first thing in the morning when I can spend some time listening to it.

Subject: Lyr Add: MRS HARRIS (Jeremy Taylor)
From: Bru
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 07:18 PM

As promised, but this is all spoken as you probably already know.

MRS HARRIS
Jeremy Taylor

SPOKEN:
"Mrs Harris, we've come to take your photo. It's for a charity organization we represent.
Now, each year we collect hundreds of thousands. At least these are our general intents (?),
But to win support we do need photos of old people in a pretty dreadful plight.
I hope our calling now is not inconvenient".

"No, it's alright. It's alright."

"Mrs Harris, you're most kind and I'm most grateful. And then I say how well I think you cope.
With living in such, er, living conditions, it must be hard sometimes to keep afloat.
I mean, with all this plaster falling off the ceiling, and these walls, a most depressing sight.
Forgive me if I say it's most appalling."

"No, it's alright. It's alright."

"Er, yes. Yes, well, Mrs Harris, we'd like to take a photo of you struggling to negotiate the stairs.
We'd like you to look suitably unhappy although a (Bomb – not sure) has hit you full unawares,
That sort of thing. Now, I'll just empty out a little rubbish on the staircase, um-m-m, there. And if you'll hobble a little further to your right—
Good. Now try not to smile, Mrs Harris. Try not to smile."
"It's alright. It's alright."

"No, no, Mrs Harris, I don't think you understand me, we're trying to help you 'cause you're very, very sad.
Now, you've got rheumatism, arthritis and lumbago, and life for you has been very, very bad.
I mean, you're old, half deaf and rather stupid, and your widow's pension isn't worth a mite.
Now, try and look as though you understood that. m-m-m-m-."

"That's alright. that's alright."

"Mrs Harris, will you think of all the others who will benefit from your pathetic pose,
And look wretched and we will DO THE REST. Won't be much to do, God knows.
Now all we want is one good photo, so look miserable, hold the rail and hang on tight.
The world must learn to feel a little pity, Mrs Harris."

"That's alright. that's alright."

"Mrs Harris, there's a dragon on your doorstep, and his hot breath is coming up your drawers,
And if you don't stop smiling, he's going to eat you, m-m-m-m, then we won't have to do anymore.
What's that? You'd like to take a rest, now. You're going to the bingo hall tonight,
M-m-m-m. But you'd love to see us both again tomorrow. That's alright, Mrs Harris. that's alright."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris by Jeremy Taylor
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 08:00 PM

Some of Jeremy's monologues are VERY clever and strong on Social comment . Since he came back from Africa , he has a lot of material that might surprise the folkies who only remember the Comic songs !
An act WELL worth booking !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris by Jeremy Taylor
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 10:01 AM

Links to previous Jeremy Taylor inspired threads, and Jeremy Taylor lyrics can be found here

And I second the comment that a visit is a boon for any folk club. Get him as a guest

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris by Jeremy Taylor
From: Bru
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 11:18 AM

When Jeremy sent on the CD I'd bought, he mailed me saying he was going to be in The UK next May and suggested I get my folk club to book him. I couldn't think of anything I'd like more, but my local singaround wouldn't be suitable.

I've absolutely no experience of organising folk venues, but if anybody's got any ideas, I'll help. Cheshire area.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris by Jeremy Taylor
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 01:10 PM

Next year at Clennell Hall Folk Fest Northumberland.

Presumably if he's over here it won't be just for one gig if clubs start looking for bookings.

Nigel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris by Jeremy Taylor
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 11:31 PM

Thanks a million Bru! Now all I have to do is learn it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris by Jeremy Taylor
From: Zimmerman
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 11:37 PM

Sorry, I forgot to log in - thanks again Bru

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris by Jeremy Taylor
From: Acorn4
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 01:06 PM

It's not many performers who can claim they've invented a word that's gone into the Oxford English Dictionary. Quite a few people refer to "Jobsworths" who,ve never heard of Jeremy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris (Jeremy Taylor)
From: GUEST,Paul Clarke
Date: 02 Dec 15 - 07:45 AM

This is way long after the event, but I recalled little bits of the song without knowing all of it (I have one or two live tapes, but no easy access to them now). Here are a couple of tweaks to Bru's admirable transcription: I think the (?) line in vs 1 is rendered "At least, that's our general intent" I'm sure "bomb" is right in vs. 3, but it's "AS though a bomb has hit… " [certainly that would make more sense]. In the last verse, end of line 2, you may have omitted "this" after "do". My versions have "won't have to bother any more". A lot of the lines are delivered suppressed, as if he's realized she'll hear him if he speaks at full volume (e.g. "rather stupid" vs.4 and "There won't be much to do, God knows" vs.5). Adds to the humorous effect. Glad to find this: not many of JT's lyrics get posted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris (Jeremy Taylor)
From: GUEST,Paul Clarke
Date: 02 Dec 15 - 08:12 AM

Further amends: vs. 2. line 1 should be "may I say", not "then I say". Also, all the "m-m-m-m"s are delivered in a questioning tone (= "do you follow me?"), to make sense.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris (Jeremy Taylor)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 02 Dec 15 - 08:58 AM

Just to put the record straight, Jeremy didn't invent the word "jobsworth".

Whilst his song of the same name undoubtedly did much to popularise the word, Jeremy told me (30+ years ago) that he found it in an article in the Telegraph.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris (Jeremy Taylor)
From: GUEST,Paul Clarke
Date: 02 Dec 15 - 10:42 AM

Further to my amends just above, I've just recalled part of another verse JT has recorded for this (possibly as a substitute for the last verse, though none of what Bru posted seemed new to me). Perhaps someone else might be able to fill in, if prompted? I can't dredge up any more than this from the old grey matter, regrettably. I know it was from towards the end of the song.
"Mrs Harris, just think of the middle classes, waiting to give generously to your cause?
With compassion their hearts are truly bursting to thrust a cheque into your grubby paws."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mrs Harris (Jeremy Taylor)
From: GUEST,Paul Clarke
Date: 03 Dec 15 - 12:40 PM

Yet more mini-recalls! Vs.5 line 2 begins "Just stop smiling… ".

JT seems to tweak his songs a lot, from what I've heard of his more recent live performances (which may predate the start of this thread, but they weren't ones when he was more high-profile).
Two of my tapes were from BBC Radio 2's Folk 79, or Folk 81, that sort of vintage, and he clearly had to omit verses, in order to sing enough songs to satisfy BBC demands, within a 30 min. time-slot.