Lyr Req: The Lollipop Man (Causley/Wilson/Tucker)

Subject: Lyr Req: the lollipop man
From: GUEST,fogie
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 03:51 AM

I've just been listening to an Albion Morris record on Spotify and one of the songs is an old fasioned double-entendre song called the lollipop man, the chorus is a hoot but the other verses are slightly indistinct- is this a well known song? Why isnt it in the DT?

Oh the lollipop man has a great long stick
and all that he charges is a penny a lick
and he gets it out whenever he can
he's a dirty old devil is the lollipop man

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the lollipop man
From: Silas
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 04:08 AM

Jim Causley does an interesting version of it, its free on his website

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the lollipop man
From: pavane
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 05:28 AM

Related to Candy Man, I believe, who had " a stick of candy 9 inches long". There is a Morris dance "Lollipop man", too (Ducklington), but I don't know if it is related in any way.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the lollipop man
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 05:29 AM

Pedant Alert...
"Well known song" is possibly an ambiguous description to use, as people who know a song, or move in company where a particular song is regularly performed, might assume it is well known. The rest of the world may not share the same view.

As for this particular song :-
The origin seems to be from Morris dancers making up words for an already existing tune.

In "The Morris Book" the section on Ducklington appears to be saying that in the village there was not an existing morris dance team, but information and descriptions of dances were collected from local sources. A couple of the dances were missing a tune to go with the steps, so suitable tunes were added. One of the added tunes, was "The Lollipop Man" which was collected in Ducklington. The dance is listed as "Boys of the Bunch" or alternatively "Lads A-Bunchum".

Since the morris revival, a lot of dance sides have added a dance called The Lollipop Man, based on Ducklington. I am not sure if it is one dance based on the "Boys of the Bunch" or one or more "new" dances invented in the reconstructed style of Ducklington.

A quick web search found this reference (The Lollipop Man ) which reckons the song was invented by the Bristol Morris men. This may have been a single verse used as an "Intro" before the dance starts. If there are other verses, they may have been written by the same person or added at a later date by others.

Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the lollipop man
From: pavane
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 11:31 AM

The Folk process at work, then.
We did Lollipop Man in Dubai, around 1980 - I might have it on film somewhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the lollipop man
From: GUEST,fogie
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 11:44 AM

It is Jim Causley singing on the record-exactly as on his web site -many thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the lollipop man
From: GUEST,Mark Stevens
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 04:20 PM

Oh the Lollipop man has a great big stick,
   and he hires it out for a penny a lick.
   He whips it out whenever he can,
   he's a dirty old bugger is the Lollipop man.

Well, that's what we used to sing in my Sussex based Morris side through the 70's and 80's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the lollipop man
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 01:14 AM

Is is indeed Jim C singing this particular version.
Quite a few of the verses where written specifically for that recording. (Naturally in the traditional way after a few pints in the pub.)
And actually, if you think about it, that's probably how a lot of the intro chants/sung verses that Morris sides use originated!.
It's certainly worth a listen, and there's some great brass playing on it too!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LOLLIPOP MAN (Causley/Wilson/Tucker)
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 01:23 AM

Here is the definitive Causley/Wilson/Tucker lyrics.
Although why they substituted "Devil" for "Bugger", when the rest of the song is so suggestive, beats me!

Various Artists - The Mother of all Morris
Chorus: trad. Verses: © Jim Causley, Paul Wilson & Marilyn Tucker 2007

THE LOLLIPOP MAN
(Causley/Wilson/Tucker)

Oh the lollipop man has a great big stick
And all that he charges is a penny a lick
And he gets it out whenever he can
He's a dirty old devil is the lollipop man

Who is this with his spurty spout?
A dribbly cone, you can suck it all out
And a knicker-knocker glory, it's the ice-cream man
But he cannot hold a candle to the lollipop man

Who is this with his grimy sack?
You can have it up the front or he'll shove it round the back
With his sooty old nuts it's the dirty coalman
But he'll never hold a candle to the lollipop man

Who is this with his long stiff brush?
He rams it up the flu with a shove and a push
And he doesn't give a toss; he's the chimney sweep man
But he'll never hold a candle to the lollipop man

And who is this with his floppy mop?
It's long and it's wet with a foam on top
Well he's squeaky clean; it's the window cleaner man
But he'll never hold a candle to the lollipop man

Who is this with a silver top?
It's nothing that a little blue-tit can't pop
With his manly jugs it's the creamy milkman
But he cannot hold a candle to the lollipop man

And who is this with his petticoats gay?
Powder puff and curly wig and lingerie
Well it's old Mollybags, neither woman nor a man
But she'll never hold a candle to the lollipop man

Who is this taking down your draws?
He never ever shoots and he seldom scores
Well it's never jackpot with the Littlewoods man
And he'll never hold a candle to the lollipop man

Who is this with the long bent fruit?
He peels back the skin and he slips on his suit
Well his real name's Eric, he's Banana Man
But he'll never hold a candle to the lollipop man

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lollipop Man (Causley/Wilson/Tucker)
From: GUEST,Jim Causley
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 11:59 AM

The Chorus we learnt from Bristol Morris, the verses were entirely written my Paul Wilson, Marilyn Tucker, Simon Care's son and myself.

What we like about the song is that is entirely suggestive without the use of any rude words whatsoever!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lollipop Man (Causley/Wilson/Tuck
From: GUEST,JM
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 01:06 PM

I have been told that the song was invented by Bristol Morris Men on a car journey to dance somewhere. The joint authors were Adrian Shaw, Nigel Cooke (father of Nick Cooke) and John Maher. The chorus was subsequently adopted to sing before the dance (something they still do now) and performed at a ring meeting where it spread to other sides.

Adrian also wrote the words for the version of Valentine that I sing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lollipop Man (Causley/Wilson/Tucker)
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 01:47 PM

This song is a work of art in the great tradition of such masterpieces as The Sexual Life of the Camel. I particularly like the Littlewoods man.

Valmai