Lyr Req: Pride of the North (Teesside Fettlers)

Subject: Lyr Req: Pride of the North
From: GUEST,Darlodave
Date: 06 Jun 10 - 12:45 PM

Another request if I may, would appreciate the lyrics to Pride of the North a song recorded many years ago by The Teesside Fettlers, a grand group of singers and musicians. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pride of the North
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 06 Jun 10 - 03:26 PM

Don't recall it Dave - perhaps you're thinking of John North written by Vin - which they used to sing . I could be wrong, but I just can't recall Pride of the North .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pride of the North
From: GUEST,Darlodave
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 05:08 AM

Hi Betsy
This song is from a CD by the same name from 1980. Think best if I mail Stewart for his help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pride of the North (Teesside Fettlers)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 01:23 PM

The Teesside Fettlers' web site does indeed list an album "Pride of the North" (1980) which contains the song PRIDE OF THE NORTH.

There's even a complete mp3 file of the song: click to play.

It will be a difficult one to transcribe, but I'll tackle it (eventually) if no one else will. Here's how it begins:


Pride of the north, pride of the north,
Pride of the north, that's me

CHORUS: Hew the coal, hew the ground
See the factories all around
Pride of the north, that's me
Hew the coal, hew the ground
See the factories all around
Pride of the north, that's me

I'm a lad from Yorkshire, the land of the rolling hills....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pride of the North (Teesside Fettlers)
From: GUEST,Darlodave
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 05:13 AM

Hi Jim
If you can do that I would very much appreciate it, seems very strange that no-one has the full lyrics already. Have mailed Stewart but have had no reply. Will be seeing Stan Gee in a few weeks time, will ask if he can help but still appreciate your help in the meantime.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pride of the North (Teesside Fettlers)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 11:47 AM

OK, here's my attempt at a transcription. As you can see, there are a few missing and questionable words. Maybe someone else can fill them in.


PRIDE OF THE NORTH
As sung by the Teesside Fettlers

Pride of the north, pride of the north,
Pride of the north, that's me

CHORUS: Hew the coal, hew the ground
See the factories all around
Pride of the north, that's me
Hew the coal, hew the ground
See the factories all around
Pride of the north, that's me

I'm a lad from Yorkshire, the land of the rolling hills,
The wind-swept sea and the ... high
The land of the purple heather and ... turning mills
Waiting for the world to pass us by

I rise up in the morning and smell the precious soil
I work the land and I plough the ground
My back may feel the age of the day and its hard toil
I rejoice as the seasons turn(?) around

CHORUS

Now I'm a lad from Cleveland, where moorland meets the sand
And fact'ries stretch out into the sea
... like a ... around this chemical worker's land
Showing times have changed for all to see

Tower blocks around me and traffic chokes the roads
Images upon an empty mine
... fact'ries so high, a low hanging sky
Hope to seek, to search, and hope to find

CHORUS

Well, I'm a lad from Durham, and what do I find?
Pit heads stand stark against the sky
Houses cramped together, but the folks seem good and kind
We tread a path laid down in days gone by

I follow ... my father, my bairns(?*) follow me
We hew the coal in the damp North Sea
The world that is dark and always leaves its mark
Pride of the north, that's me

CHORUS

[* I'm guessing this word is "bairns" but they seem to pronounce it as two syllables, like "barrens."]