Tune Add: Wee Pot Stove

Subject: Tune Add: WEE POT STOVE (Harry Robertson)
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 05 Aug 99 - 06:59 PM

This song has a great chorus which lends itself well to fine harmonies,'In the wee dark ... rags and coal'. The tune was missing from the database. Another fine song from the talent of Harry Robertson. Regards, John.

MIDI file: weepot.mid

Timebase: 192

Name: WEE POT STOVE
Text: By Harry Robertson
Copyright: Sequencedt © 1999 by John J Leahy
Tempo: 135 (444444 microsec/crotchet)
Key: E
TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Start
0000 1 71 110 0528 0 71 000 0048 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 68 110 0160 0 68 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 68 110 0160 0 68 000 0032 1 66 110 0720 0 66 000 0048 1 64 110 0528 0 64 000 0048 1 61 110 0160 0 61 000 0032 1 59 110 0160 0 59 000 0032 1 61 110 0160 0 61 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 0720 0 64 000 0240 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 68 110 0160 0 68 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 68 110 0160 0 68 000 0032 1 66 110 0720 0 66 000 0048 1 64 110 0528 0 64 000 0048 1 61 110 0160 0 61 000 0032 1 59 110 0160 0 59 000 0032 1 61 110 0160 0 61 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 0720 0 64 000 0240 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 68 110 0160 0 68 000 0032 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 59 110 0912 0 59 000 0048 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 68 110 0094 0 68 000 0002 1 69 110 0256 0 69 000 0032 1 68 110 0094 0 68 000 0002 1 66 110 0336 0 66 000 0048 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 68 110 0160 0 68 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 68 110 0160 0 68 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 68 110 0720 0 68 000 0048 1 59 110 0256 0 59 000 0032 1 59 110 0094 0 59 000 0002 1 61 110 0256 0 61 000 0032 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 1104 0 64 000
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:Wee Pot Stove
M:4/4
Q:1/4=135
K:E
B6A2|G2E2A2G2|F8|E6C2|B,2C2E2F2|E8|-E2B2B2A2|
G2E2A2G2|F8|E6C2|B,2C2E2F2|E8|-E2E2E2F2|G2EEF2B,2|
-B,8|B8|-B3BB3G|A3GF4|E2F2G2A2|G2F2E2F2|G8|
B,3B,C3E|E2F2E4|-E15/2||

---

Lyrics in database as Wee Dark Engine Room

Click for related thread

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Wee Pot Stove
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 05 Aug 99 - 08:28 PM

Hi John!

Can you tell us a bit about Harry Robertson? Thanks.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Wee Pot Stove
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 06 Aug 99 - 10:15 AM

My memory is a bit sketchy but I'll make a start. Born in Scotland and migrated to Australia (guess maybe late 1950's). His songs of the sea and whaling in particular seem so real because for some years he did actually work on whaling ships in various parts of the world, but particularly around Antarctica. He spent some time in Brisbane (Moreton Bay) whaling for Humpbacks before this was eventually outlawed/self extinguished which my memory tells me was circa mid 60's. Harry was President of what is now the Queensland Folk Federation in the early 70's.

He has provided a great collection of songs, including Queensland Whalers which has become part of the standard repertoire of Australian (male) folk singers. My two favourites are songs normally sung by females, Glasgow Lullaby and Norfolk Whalers, the tunes to which I posted earlier in the week.

My apologies to Harry for providing such a rough thumbnail sketch. I am sure that Bob Bolton or Alan Foster can provide far more substantial details.

I've yet to post a couple more of his songs. This is a bit of a nostalgia trip for me because I used to sing some of his material quite a lot when I was playing full time - a long time ago.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Wee Pot Stove
From: Wolfgang
Date: 06 Aug 99 - 10:29 AM

'Wee pot stove' is 'Wee dark engine room' in the DT.
Eric Bogle sings a couple of Robertson songs on one of his LPs. But I think it was a bootleg and only available in Germany. I have it and I'm sure Bogle writes in his notes about Robertson. I'll have a look here next week, whether what Bogel writes is still needed.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Wee Pot Stove
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 06 Aug 99 - 10:44 AM

Thanks Wolfgang - yes I'd forgotten that Eric has done some of his material. A year or so ago I posted the lyrics and tune for another one of Harry's songs called Homeless Man. I don't believe that I've ever heard it on record, but my collection is not that large. Homeless Man hasn't madt it into the DT yet.

I'll post Antarctic Fleet (lyrics in the DT) and Whale Chasing Man (new) in the next few days.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Wee Pot Stove
From: Wolfgang
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 04:53 AM

All what comes now is from Eric Bogle's LP 'Down Under', on which Bogle sings three of Robertson's songs, Homeless Man, Wee pot stove, and Queensland Whalers. These are the only ones I know and they make me want to hear more from this writer.

Harry Robertson is/was in Australia "since more than 25 years" (written in 1980). He has "served with both the British and Australian whaling fleets". Wee Pot Stove "he wrote about the British whaling fleet...(where he) worked as part of the maintenance crew who went round the whaling ships doing essential maintenance works when the ships were laid up during the off season. There was of course no 'steam up' in these ships when they were laid up. So there was no heating abord the ships and it was therefore often very cold. The amintenance crew used to carry around with them a little iron stove, in which they would put everything that burned in an effect to keep warm."

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Wee Pot Stove
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 05:23 AM

Wolfgang, let me knoe on my email address and I'll see what I can do. Gotta catch a plane. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Wee Pot Stove
From:
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 07:31 AM

I've landed in Sydney. I am only aware of one album that Harry recorded, but I;ll check out if there were any others. Any advice from fellow Aussies?

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Wee Pot Stove
From: mkaye
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 11:23 AM

There's a great version of this song on Nic Jones album Penguin Eggs. The title is listed as The Little Pot Stove on the album.