Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?

Subject: Lyr Req: Why build a wall round a graveyard?
From: Paul Reade
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 06:57 PM

A school friend used to sing a Music Hall song "Why build a wall round a graveyard?" years ago. As I remember, the chorus went something like:-
"Why build a wall round a graveyard, when nobody wants to get in
Why build a wall round a graveyard, when nobody can get out"
Any info. / lyrics?

Subject: Lyr Add: WHY BUILD A WALL 'ROUND A GRAVEYARD?
From: Peace
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 07:55 PM

WHY BUILD A WALL 'ROUND A GRAVEYARD?
(Leslie Sarony)

Leslie Sarony

Also recorded by:
Roy Fox & His Band
Billy Baxter & His Carnaby Street Vaudeville Band



Here's a contortionist, Filleted Pete
Tried only too well to make both his ends meet

Charlie the taximan lies over there
Wherever he's gone to, he'll say it's "No Fare"

Here lies a heavyweight under the ground
With a circular saw only lasted one round

Here lies a butcher named Timothy Wights
A nice piece of skirt quickly put out his lights

R - I - P, that's another good feller gone west
R - I - P, with a blinkin' great slab on his chest

So......

Why build a wall 'round a graveyard
When nobody wants to get in?
Why build a wall round a graveyard
When nobody wants to get out?
They say its a beautiful haven of rest
But you know that you'll be a permanent guest
So, why build a wall round a graveyard
When nobody wants to get in?

Why build a wall round a graveyard
When no body wants to get in?
Why build a wall round a graveyard
When no body wants to get out?
"You're not dead but sleeping", they put it with care
But no body calls you at nine o'clock there
So, why build a wall round a graveyard
When no body wants to get out?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why build a wall round a graveyard?
From: Peace
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 07:57 PM

That's from

lyricsplayground.com/.../whybuildawallroundagraveyard.shtml

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why build a wall round a graveyard?
From: Gurney
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 08:50 PM

Ignorance! It is custom and practice nowadays, but originally, the wall was to keep stock out, because graveyards were where we grew Yew trees.

The Yew is poisonous, but they made the best long-bows.
And we didn't want dung on the graves.


Yeah, I know it's off topic, but it triggered something I didn't know that I knew.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why build a wall round a graveyard?
From: Effsee
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 10:31 PM

Good info Gurney!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why build a wall round a graveyard?
From: Beer
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 11:10 PM

Osage Orange make good bows as well.
Back to the thread.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: Peace
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 05:02 PM

It's hard to believe that people would kill a plant for a bow like THIS .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 09:38 PM

A friend of mine has a tietanium tie, also.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: GUEST,Nikolaj Marks
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 03:54 PM

Hi,I have a 78rpm record of this tune, played by Roy Leslie (Eclipse 620-A). If you want I will record it for you and send it as an mp3 to you. Drop a line if you are interested: [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: GUEST,GEST (without a cookie)
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 09:42 PM

Hmmmm.... I always thought they put a wall 'round a graveyard because people were dying to get in. ;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: GUEST,Guest, Dave in Michigan
Date: 28 Oct 09 - 04:15 PM

Hmm, Lesley Sarony was also the author of

Look at the coffin - bloody brass handles
Isn't it grand, boys, to be bloody well dead.
Let's not have a sniffle, let's have a bloody good cry,
And always remember, the longer you live,
The sooner you'll bloody well die.

Cheerful bloke, he was.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 28 Oct 09 - 09:01 PM

To keep Burke and Hare out?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Apr 11 - 12:44 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Apr 11 - 12:53 PM

We once ran Swinton Folk Club at the Bulls Head in Swinton - In the very room where the 'Watchers' held vigil over the graveyard facing to make sure it wasn't robbed!

Mind you, It was probably as lively as the folk club some nights...

:D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: framus
Date: 12 Apr 11 - 08:37 PM

Off thread a bit, but..........
In Belfast there is a graveyard where the dividing wall between the Protestant and Catholic plots actually extends about 10 feet underground, to protect the chosen (?) from the heresy of the others.
Davy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: leeneia
Date: 13 Apr 11 - 12:48 PM

Yeah, right.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 14 Apr 11 - 08:18 AM

framus, I remember Billy Connelly visiting it on one of his TV tours. He laughed a lot and imagined the corpses tunnelling away to meet eachother for nocturnal sex.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 14 Apr 11 - 08:53 AM

Now this thread motivates me to ask

Why build a Wall around a Concert Stage?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Apr 11 - 10:45 AM

The wall is to protect the dead from the living.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 14 Apr 11 - 05:21 PM

Population control--people are dying to get in.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHY BUILD A WALL ROUND A GRAVEYARD?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Apr 11 - 01:40 PM

You can hear Leslie Sarony's recording at YouTube. Here's what I think I hear:


WHY BUILD A WALL ROUND A GRAVEYARD?
As sung by Leslie Sarony on Rex 8063-B

They always build fences round gardens, of course,
To keep people out, I agree.
They always build walls round a prison because
If they didn't, well, where would they be?
With that there is nothing amiss,
But will you please tell me this:

Why build a wall round a graveyard
When nobody wants to go in?
Why build a wall round a graveyard
When nobody wants to go out?
It may be a beautiful haven of rest,
But you know that you'll be a permanent guest.
So why build a wall round a graveyard
When nobody wants to go in?

Here lies the body of Ginny McDoug.
Whilst having a bath once she slipped down the ploog.
Here lies the body of old Stoker Joe.
He was stoking up here; now he's stoking below.

Shovel on a little more coal.
Shovel on a little more coal.

Here lies a drinker, the father of ten.
He'd be with us now but he couldn't say when.
Here lies a heavyweight under the ground,
With a circular saw only lasted one round.
Here lies a butcher named Timothy White.
A nice bit of skirt quickly put out his lights.

Charlie a taxi man lies over there.
Wherever he's gone to, he'll pay his own fare.
Here's a contortionist, Filleted Pete.
He tried his best to make both his ends meet.
Minnie the milkmaid would be with us now
If she hadn't mistaken a bull for a cow.

R.I.P.
There's another good fellow gone west.
R.I.P.
With a blinking great slab on his chest.

Oh, why build a wall round a graveyard
When nobody wants to go in?
Why build a wall round a graveyard
When nobody wants to go out?
With a slab on your chest and a half-ton of clay,
The traffic is certain to be all one way,
So why build a wall round a graveyard
When nobody wants to go in?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: GUEST,Tenellum
Date: 17 Oct 11 - 07:14 AM

If you would like to here this ditty sung live visit the Ironbridge Gorge Museum. In particular the Blists Hill Victorian Town, the pub has a singsong around lunchtime, the beers good as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Build a Wall 'Round a Graveyard?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 10:53 PM

If you're performing this song as part of a Victorian re-enactment, it's a bit of an anachronism. It was written in 1933.