Lyr Req: Joseph Baker (Peter Coe)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker (Peter Coe)
From: Mo the caller
Date: 24 Jan 22 - 09:54 AM

Alan quoted the sleeve notes as
"Sleeve notes:-
Peter Massey, of Chester, sent me a broadside about a long-distance runner who ran around Chester in the 1890's and whose ultimate achievements were a mile in five minutes and an early grave. I didn't like the original words of the broadside, tried to rewrite it, failed miserably, but eventually succeeded in making a new song about Joseph Baker, taking considerable liberties with the rather doubtful background inform"

Does anyone know if the broadside is available.Is Peter Massey still around.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker (Peter Coe)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 Dec 11 - 03:45 PM

Great song - should have been a hit!

i remember earwigging a conversation of Petes on the stairs of The old Crown FC in Digbeth - sometime in the 1970's.

Pete was lamenting that he couldn't get a mortgage.

i know it seemed incredible to me. people who create something like that, we owe them as a nation - and we should take care of them.

Used to see Pete at Cosely when taffy Thomas run it. (taffy was in Magic Lantern at the time).

Saw Pete again at a Folkus weekend - a couple of years ago. Remember John Crane's broadsheets - he used to advertise in Joe Smith's Folk diary.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker (Peter Coe)
From: GUEST,johnadams pp Pete Coe
Date: 25 Dec 11 - 03:20 PM

Circa 1970 as far as Pete can remember.

John Adams, from Pete Coe's computer, waiting for Xmas pudding to be served!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker (Peter Coe)
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Dec 11 - 05:00 PM

anyone know what year it was written, i am guessing it was 1970

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 12:17 PM

Yes, that too. Hmmm~~~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: Snuffy
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 09:51 AM

I've always heard the tune as Sheepshearing's Over/Drink Boys Drink with a different time signature (3/4 to 6/8?)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 09:04 AM

Fine thanks Bonnie. I'm just getting back into Mudcat after an absence of 15 months or so. I wish I could say that it was for something suitably exciting - been up at the big house for doing away with the woman who done me wrong, got out early for my fine singing. Rather more mundanely, Rhiannon broke her hip last year and I've just had other things to do!

Best wishes
Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 08:36 AM

Ahhhh, cheers Mick!! Knew I could rely on you for spot-on info.

Hope all is well with you -

B xxx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 08:14 AM

Bonnie - I've still got the King Sun, Queen Moon & Prince Night (as it's titled there, though most people seem to just call it King Sun!) chapbook too. (I think I posted the song from it long ago).

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 07:56 AM

Many thanks, Mr Happy ~~ yes, indeed!

Agreed, Bonnie. Haarrrummmppphhh right along...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 07:33 AM

Yes, I also have the Wizard of Alderley Edge, and a beautiful edition of Bill Caddick's song (can't think of its exact title) about the sun and the moon, and the eldest daughter morning star staying loyal - memory completely slips by me on that one, but it's a lovely song, and I think it was done in a small booklet rather than a broadsheet. I've also got John's illustration of Bill's John O' Dreams.

Speaking as an official Folky Fogie: I do think the online generation loses out sometimes, not having these paper-&-ink treasures. Harrummmmphh and all that....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 07:19 AM

The tune came from a reworking by Coe of 'The Miller of Dee' which is in a minor key, which he changed to major.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller_of_Dee

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 06:41 AM

... My wife sez it reminds her of We Plough The Fields And Scatter ~~ not a million miles, at that. Could that be it, or is some other tune nearer?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 06:19 AM

They are all attributed 'Words & music by Peter Coe', except Joseph Taylor, which says "Words by Peter Coe, tune Traditional (adapted)".

Anyone know what the particularly fine tune of Joseph Taylor was adapted *from* by Pete?

~M~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 06:15 AM

Yes, Bonnie: I have a set of those too; John Crane illustrated Peter Coe's songs and they were issued on beautiful broadsides: "©1972 by Leading Note". IIRC I booked Peter & Chris Coe, then still a duo, at the Sawston Folk Club I ran, & they stayed over with us and brought these beautiful things as a gift for Valerie and me. Much treasured to this day.

Others in the set I have, besides Joseph Taylor, are The Congleton Bear, The Wizard of Alderley Edge, and Friar Francis.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 04:46 AM

Somewhere in the nether recesses of my house I have a lovely illustrated broadside of this song, done in the 60s or 70s by the artist John Crane. I was still fairly new to England at the time, and it was my first introduction to this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 03:42 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helsby_hill_fort

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Joseph Baker
From: GUEST,Tom Walker, Chester
Date: 26 Sep 11 - 02:32 PM

Last line should be.
As his ghost runs down from Kelsall church right up to Helsby hill.

Subject: RE: NEW TUNE - NEED LYRICS: Joseph Baker
From: Brakn
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 01:04 PM

Excellent, especially so because I live between Hale and Sale.

Mick Bracken

Subject: Lyr Add: JOSEPH BAKER (Peter Coe)
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 09:50 AM

G'day,
Here are the words as sung by the author himself on the album "Open The Door And Let Us In":


JOSEPH BAKER
(Peter Coe)

You sporting men of Chester
I'd have you all to hear
Of a man called Joseph Baker
Who lived near Delamere
He ran faster than the old red fox
And further than the hound
And of all the men who challenged him
No equal could be found.

For he rose up every morning
Before the day was clear
And through the shady forest
He pursued the royal deer
And he chased the wind across the field
And the mist right off the hill
And he raced the dust along the road
And the stream down to the mill.

Now sportsmen came from far and near
To challenge Baker's speed
At every place in every race
They swore to do that deed
And a tailor he came from Frodsham
And a soldier came from Hale
And a sailor came from Birkenhead
And a butcher came from Sale.

He was never beaten in a race
Until that fatal day
When death at last defeated him
And took his breath away
But if you should watch on a winter's night
You'll see him running still
As his ghost runs down from Kelsall Church
Right up to Helsby Hill
Yes if you should watch on a winter's night
You'll see him running still
As his ghost runs down from Kelsall Church
Right up to Helsby Hill.


Sleeve notes:-

Peter Massey, of Chester, sent me a broadside about a long-distance runner who ran around Chester in the 1890's and whose ultimate achievements were a mile in five minutes and an early grave. I didn't like the original words of the broadside, tried to rewrite it, failed miserably, but eventually succeeded in making a new song about Joseph Baker, taking considerable liberties with the rather doubtful background information I had about him.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: NEW TUNE - NEED LYRICS: Joseph Baker
From: Wolfgang
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 07:47 AM

this was on my list for posting here. So I only can add that I know it from a Green Linnet record featuring Mick Moloney and Eugene O'Donnell.

Wolfgang

Subject: Lyr Add: JOSEPH BAKER
From: AndyG
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 06:36 AM

Mick,
Seeing your transcript brings the variant I learned back to my mind. The words as I remember them put all the places named in Cheshire running more like:

JOSEPH BAKER
(Peter Coe)

You sporting men of Chester, I'll have you all to hear
Of a man named Joseph Baker who came from Delamere
He ran faster than the old red fox and swifter than the hound
Of all the men who challenged him no equal could be found

He'd rise up every morning before the day was clear
And in the royal forest he'd chase the royal deer
He chased the wind right up the road, the water down the hill
He chased the breeze across the field and the stream down to the mill

Now sportsmen came from far and near to challenge Baker's speed
In every race, in every place, they swore they'd do that deed
A baker came from Frodsham, a butcher from the Hale
A sailor came from Birkenhead and a soldier came from Sale

But he could not be beaten until that fateful day
When death at last defeated him and stole his breath away
So if you go out on a moonlit night you'll see him running still
As his ghost runs out by Kelsall Church, right up to Helmsley Hill

AndyG

Subject: Lyr Add: JOSEPH BAKER
From: Brakn
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 05:32 AM

JOSEPH BAKER
(Peter Coe)

Ye sporting men of Chester, I'll have ye all to hear
Of a man named Joseph Baker who came from Delamere
He ran faster than the old red fox and swifter than the hound
And of those who came to challenge him no equal could be found

He'd rise every morning before the break of day
And into the shady forest he'd go in pursuit of the royal deer
He chased the wind right up the road and the water down the hill
He chased the breeze across the fields and the water to the mill

Now sportsmen came from far and near to challenge Baker's speed
In every race, in every place, they swore they'd do the deed
A baker came from Birkenhead and a sailor from the Mail
A butcher came from Yarmouth town and a soldier came from Sale

But he could not be beaten until that final day
When death bestowed upon him and took his breath away
So if you go out on a winter's night you'll see him running still
His ghost runs down by Censley Church, right across to Caroup Hill

Repeat first verse

Regards Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: NEW TUNE - NEED LYRICS: Joseph Baker
From: AndyG
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 04:33 AM

First verse, of the top of my head:

You sporting men of Chester I'll have you all to hear
Of a man named Joseph Baker who lived near Delamere
He ran faster than the old red fox and swifter than the hounds
Of all the men who challenged him no equal could be found.

The words aren't in my head, but I may have them in a book at home. I'll see if I can find them if no-one else posts the rest.

AndyG

Subject: Tune Add: JOSEPH BAKER
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 01:30 AM

Here's the tune for a song a fleet of foot man from Chester which is not in the DT. Regards, John.

MIDI file: jobaker.mid

Timebase: 192

Name: Joseph Baker
Copyright: Sequenced © 1999 by John J Leahy
Text: Generated by NoteWorthy Composer
TimeSig: 2/2 24 8
Start
0576 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0128 1 77 110 0160 0 77 000 0032 1 79 110 0094 0 79 000 0002 1 77 110 0256 0 77 000 0032 1 79 110 0094 0 79 000 0002 1 76 110 0256 0 76 000 0032 1 77 110 0094 0 77 000 0002 1 74 110 0256 0 74 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0336 0 72 000 0240 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 72 110 0190 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0128 1 77 110 0160 0 77 000 0032 1 79 110 0094 0 79 000 0002 1 76 110 0256 0 76 000 0032 1 79 110 0094 0 79 000 0002 1 76 110 0094 0 76 000 0002 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 74 110 0256 0 74 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0336 0 72 000 0240 1 76 110 0094 0 76 000 0002 1 77 110 0094 0 77 000 0002 1 79 110 0190 0 79 000 0002 1 79 110 0094 0 79 000 0002 1 79 110 0094 0 79 000 0002 1 79 110 0256 0 79 000 0032 1 76 110 0094 0 76 000 0002 1 77 110 0190 0 77 000 0002 1 77 110 0094 0 77 000 0002 1 79 110 0094 0 79 000 0002 1 79 110 0256 0 79 000 0032 1 77 110 0094 0 77 000 0002 1 76 110 0094 0 76 000 0002 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 76 110 0256 0 76 000 0032 1 79 110 0094 0 79 000 0002 1 74 110 0336 0 74 000 0240 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 72 110 0256 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0128 1 77 110 0160 0 77 000 0032 1 79 110 0094 0 79 000 0002 1 76 110 0256 0 76 000 0032 1 79 110 0094 0 79 000 0002 1 76 110 0094 0 76 000 0002 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 74 110 0256 0 74 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0336 0 72 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Joseph Baker
M:2/2
Q:1/4=120
K:C
G8|c2c2BAG2|-Gf2gf3g|e3fd3c|c6GG|c2c2BAG2|
-Gf2ge3g|edc2d3c|c6ef|g2ggg3e|f2fgg3f|edc2e3g|
d6GG|c3cBAG2|-Gf2ge3g|edc2d3c|c7/2||