Lyr Req: The Breaker's Men (The Teesside Fettlers)

Subject: Lyr Req: The Breakers Men
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 03:46 PM

Does anyone out there have the lyrics for The Breakers Men recorded by The Teesside Fettlers? I have the recording on 'Travelling the Tees' but many of the words are unclear.Any help would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Breakers Men
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 03:56 PM

According to their website, you could send an inquiry with regard to the lyrics to stewart at: [e-mail]

I'd love to know what the lyrics are myself.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Breakers Men
From: GUEST,Swaleman
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 04:02 PM

Thanks for that I'll try the website and let you know whether I'm successful.
Swaleman.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Breaker's Men (The Teesside Fettlers)
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Feb 21 - 10:25 AM

Long time since I last asked but I still haven't managed to get the lyrics to The Breakers' Men. Did try the website and SMc but got no reply. Anyone perhaps come across the words? Many thanks Swaleman.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Breaker's Men (The Teesside Fettlers)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 09 Feb 21 - 10:56 AM

I'll try and break out my vinyl of Travelling The Tees and get it for you.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Breaker's Men (The Teesside Fettlers)
From: GUEST,Singerdave
Date: 10 Feb 21 - 06:53 AM

It must be remembered that Stewart is no longer with us, a big loss.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Breaker's Men (The Teesside Fettlers)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 10 Feb 21 - 02:27 PM

Indeed a great singer he was and died not long ago.

Update: I've retrieved the vinyl of Travelling The Tees and I'll try and get it onto the computer tonight.

The sleeve notes for The Breaker's Men (last track - 7 - on side 1) say:

"A Lament (Ron Angel) For the last year or so the 'John H. Amos', last of the Tees paddle-driven steam tugs and also the last to be built on the Clyde, has been moored at the Stockton Quay - a target for vandals and souvenir hunters. Despite several suggested schemes for its preservation, neither the local authority nor the County Council wish to assume responsibility and it looks like becoming the latest victim of the 'progressives'. (The tug was named after a well-loved clerk of the Tees Conservancy Commission)."

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Breaker's Men (The Teesside Fettlers)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 11 Feb 21 - 11:51 AM

A bit later than I'd hoped, but here are the lyrics. There's one tiny bit I'm not clear on. I don't know if The Stent was a name for a part of the quayside or the river at Stockton, or if I'm not hearing it correctly.

As it turns out Ron was overly-pessimistic. The John H. Amos didn't get broken up and went on to the Medway. See this wikipedia article for full details of it's life: PS John H Amos (including tales of smuggling!).

Mick

---

THE BREAKER'S MEN
(Ron Angel)


Come in the John Amos, your time is all done.
Ah, the council have said that you've had a good run.
Come in the John Amos, come out of the sun.
For you're bound for the scrapyard and the vandals have won.

  Chorus:
  Make way for the breaker's men, give 'em some room;
  Let the bulldozers push and hammers ring doom.

John Amos, you're weary like an old iron horse,
And now you've retired and ?The Stent? is your course.
Now folk want to see you just put out to grass,
But with vandals in council it'll not come to pass

John Amos folk wish to admire your old frame,
But a spokesman from council does hereby proclaim:
"You're a part of old Teesside and that will not do",
So it's off to the scapyard, we bid you adieu.

Farewell to old Stockton and the things that we knew,
To The Customs House, Vane Arms and The Black Lion too.
Now the good old John Amos to scrap they'll reduce;
Ah, the vandals in council are out on the loose.



Source: The Teesside Fettlers - lp, Travelling The Tees, Traditional Sound TSR 021, 1975

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Breaker's Men (The Teesside Fettlers)
From: JHW
Date: 11 Feb 21 - 01:55 PM

Agreeing with Farewell to Old Stockton. Much of Stockton has been knocked down or made hard to find by new roads. I B&Bd long term in the Leeds Hotel as a youth. Now its visible from a new road.

Song 'Last Watch on The Midland' tells also of a ship awaiting demolition.