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Subject: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: bigmike Date: 09 Sep 99 - 06:52 AM Welsh Space Odessy? Yes. Can anyone help with the words of "Morgan the Moon", by Max Boyce? (Perhaps not strictly "Folk", but a fun song.) Used to have a copy of Max Boyce's song book, but goodness knows where it's gone, and to order a copy and get it sent out to Kuwait would take for ever. Thanks in advance, Bigmike
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: jon a Date: 09 Sep 99 - 06:28 PM Old mock, the machanic, I remember him well, He once built a rocket, or so they will tell, From an old winding engine, he found on the dole, Built in the Rhondda, and powered by coal. Sing fal deraldal deralday. Theres the first verse (ish!), I think it is called "the ballard of Morgan the Moon" and I believe the song is on the"Live at Treorchy" album - this is, of course one that I cannot find at present. Sorry! Jon |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: bigmike Date: 11 Sep 99 - 08:06 AM Thanks Jon - Unfortunately that first verse is the only one I can remember, too! If you can find any other reference to other verses, I'd like to hear from you - or anyone else! I think you're right about the record - but I can't locate that either! bigmike |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: Art Thieme Date: 11 Sep 99 - 11:25 AM REFESH I do want to see this one. Art |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: Nigel Parsons Date: 02 Nov 05 - 03:03 PM Refresh: I've just spotted this & am off out to Llantrisant FC I can't spot "Trace" anywhere near it si I'm refreshing so I can easily find it again (and respond) Nigel |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: Snuffy Date: 03 Nov 05 - 07:18 AM I'll have to dig out my "Live at Treorchy" album - and find somewhere to play it! |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: GUEST,Elfcall Date: 03 Nov 05 - 07:46 AM I've got a copy of Max's songbook somewhere but I have not seen it for a very long time - i'll check at home tonight. Elfcall |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 04 Nov 05 - 12:06 AM Oh boy, oh boy. I've just been asked to do some music for a Noson Lawon, and this sounds like just the thing. I hope someone can provide all the verses. |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: GUEST,crazy little woman Date: 04 Nov 05 - 12:11 AM Your ev'ry wish is my command. Old Mock, the mechanic, I remember him well, He once built a rocket, or so they will tell, From an old winding engine, that he found on the dole, It was built in the Rhonda and powered by coal. And here's the chorus which I want all of you tossing, its very simple. Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day Try it, Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day Old Mock, the mechanic, I remember him well, He once built a rocket, or so they will tell, From an old winding engine, that he found on the dole, It was built in the Rhonda and powered by coal. Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day And when it was finished, he painted it red. And he called it Bethnal, or so it is said, And he took it up a mountain on a light night in June, To get that bit closer said Morgan the Moon Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day Sleepy Treorchy was bathed in white light, when the shuddering hulk, took off in the night. A deafening scream and then a great roar, and up past the houses old Morgan did go. His heat shield was glowing. His heat shield was glowing like anthersite coal (in Cardiff accent) And we prayed down in Cardiff, in mission control. And the barrow wheels dropped. And the barrow wheels dropped as was previously planned, And old Morgan prepared for Bethnal to land. Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day He landed like linen, lovely line that. He landed like linen on the crusty old crater, I'd said he'd get there lunar or later. So off Morgan went, in the Moon's swirling dust, to collect some rock samples from the crater's hard crust. Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day A strange piece of rock, so old Morgan found, It was lying there, shining on the dust covered ground, It picked it up closely and he lept out a call, 'cause written right through it in Welsh was 'Puff Call' Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day ------- Would somebody please explain "Puff Call"? |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: Splott Man Date: 04 Nov 05 - 03:44 AM Porthcawl Wales' premier resort. It's Porthcawl rock see. Geddit? |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: sian, west wales Date: 04 Nov 05 - 05:55 AM Dunno. Folk process. The people of the Valleys might know something about Porthcawl that we don't ... siân |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: Micca Date: 04 Nov 05 - 06:05 AM I suspect the word given as "Bethnel" above should be "Bethel" which is/was a popular name for various Welsh Chapels, seems appropriate to call a Rocket after a Welsh Chapel!! |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: GUEST,chase-shef@juno.com Date: 04 Nov 05 - 10:56 AM I was in a hurry when I copied the material above, and upon further examination it needs editing. See below. I'm still wondering about Bethnal. There's a town somewhere called Bethnal Green. I wonder if Bethnal was a famous brand of engine. I guess the "Puff Call" joke is that the rock on the moon is a souvenir from there. ------ Old Mock, the mechanic, I remember him well, He once built a rocket, or so they will tell, From an old winding engine, that he found [bought?] on the dole, It was built in the Rhonda and powered by coal. Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day And when it was finished, he painted it red. And he called it Bethnal, or so it is said, And he took it up a mountain on a light night in June, To get that bit closer, said Morgan the Moon Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day Sleepy Treorchy was bathed in white light, when the shuddering hulk took off in the night. A deafening scream and then a great roar [glow] and up past the houses old Morgan did go. Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day His heat shield was glowing like anthersite coal And we prayed down in Cardiff, in mission control. And the barrow wheels dropped as was previously planned, And old Morgan prepared for Bethnal to land. Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day He landed like linen on the crusty old crater, I'd said he would get there lunar or later. So off Morgan went, in the Moon's swirling dust, to collect some rock samples from the crater's hard crust. Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day A strange piece of rock, so old Morgan found, It was lying there, shining on dust-covered ground, He picked it up closely and he lept out a call, 'cause written right through [on it]it in Welsh was 'Puff Call' Sing fal-da-dal-dal-dal-da-day --------------- too bad there isn't a verse about his return |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE BALLAD OF MORGAN THE MOON (Max Boyce) From: Nigel Parsons Date: 04 Nov 05 - 12:48 PM A few corrections to the above. _______________________________________ THE BALLAD OF MORGAN THE MOON (Max Boyce) Old Mog* the mechanic, I remember him well. He once built a rocket, or so they will tell. From an old winding-engine he found on the dole – Built in the Rhondda and powered by coal. Sing fal-da-ral, dal-da-ral-day! And when it was finished he painted it red, And he called it 'Bethania', or so it is said. And he took it up a mountain on a night late in June 'To get that bit closer,' said Morgan the Moon. Sing fal-da-ral, dal-da-ral-day! Sleepy Treorchy was bathed in white light When the shuddering hulk took off in the night. A deafening scream an then a great roar, And up past the houses old Morgan did go. Sing fal-da-ral, dal-da-ral-day! His heat-shield was glowing like anthracite coal And we prayed down in Cardiff, in mission control. The barrow wheels dropped as was previously planned And old Morgan prepared for Bethania to land. Sing fal-da-ral, dal-da-ral-day! He landed like linen on a crusty old crater: Dai said he'd get there lunar or later! So off Morgan went in the moon's swirling dust, To collect some rock samples from a crater's hard crust. Sing fal-da-ral, dal-da-ral-day! A strange piece of rock soon old Morgan found, Just lying there shining on the dust-covered ground. He picked it up closely and he let out a call 'Cos written right through it in Welsh was 'Porthcawl'! Sing fal-da-ral, dal-da-ral-day! Copied from "Max Boyce: his Songs & Poems" Published by Panther Books(1976) 586 04621 6 *'Mog' is a contraction of the name 'Morgan' The ship's name 'Bethania' may well be linked to the "Bethany Baptist Church" of which there are several in the Welsh valleys. NP _______________________________________ On a linked note, a new television series Rocket Man Stars Robson Green as a widower obsessed with putting his late wife's ashes into space. In the first episode he is seen having constructed a rocket, and the name on it (when the camera pans down) is 'Bethan 1'. Will there be a 'Bethan 1A'? It is quite possible the makers are aware of Max Boyce's song. Also Robson Green's central character is called 'George Stevenson', and he's a skilled engineer who came to South Wales to build trains. Now why does that name ring a bell?? CHEERS Nigel |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: GUEST,crazy little woman Date: 04 Nov 05 - 01:14 PM That's an improvement, though I don't care for the attempt to rhyme roar with go in the third verse. It just doesn't work. Why couldn't "Bethania" be the name of his beloved? Lots of craft have been named for the owner's true love. thanks for posting that, Nigel. |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: Nigel Parsons Date: 04 Nov 05 - 02:06 PM No problem. I fully intended posting it after I refreshed the thread on Tuesday night, but didn't fancy all the typing involved when I got in from the Folk Club CHEERS Nigel |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: Splott Man Date: 07 Nov 05 - 04:42 AM It rhymes in Glyn Neath! |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: GUEST,Besty Date: 19 Dec 05 - 03:41 PM I think Bethania is probably a clever play on the English Britania, as in Rule Britania. |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: HuwG Date: 20 Dec 05 - 08:17 AM "Bethania", from Bethany near Jerusalem in Israel, was the name given to a few Methodist or Congregationalist chapels in South Wales. Chapel names with Gospel or Old Testament connections such as "Calfaria" were common in the late nineteenth century. |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: GUEST,kevin Date: 14 Sep 06 - 12:17 PM Puff Call is the way most welsh people pronounce the word Porthcawl. One of Wales' most famously unnattractive seaside resorts. Also known as hiya-butt bay |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: GUEST Date: 17 Nov 07 - 05:25 AM actually it was a agood ole welsh name bethania thats how it is said in welsh coming from a welsh speaker got to say though this song is one of max best that and rhonnda grey |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: GUEST Date: 17 Nov 07 - 05:29 AM a lot of welsh chaples were called bethania from where we are from in an old mineing comunity where a lot of my song are writen about take care Max |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: GUEST,Eric The Viking Date: 16 Nov 08 - 04:28 PM Instead of Puff call Read Porthcawl a traditional Welsh seaside resort |
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Subject: RE: Welsh Space Odessy - Oddity? From: pavane Date: 17 Nov 08 - 03:39 AM I do recall seeing Max sing this at the Ivy Bush, c1972. (I think he was there as a floor singer, just did a couple of songs, but can't remember for sure) I can confirm that Bethania is correct, and I am sure it should be Moc the mechanic. Moc (without a K!) is a common abbreviation for Morgan, at least around here, as I do know others. I also have the LP, (Live at Treorchy) but it is somewhere in the loft, not easy to access. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Morgan the Moon (Max Boyce) From: GUEST Date: 23 Feb 12 - 11:45 AM Well, it certainly is not 'Mock'. Mog is short for Morgan - a final 'g' can sound like a 'k'. 'Go' and 'roar' can rhyme if you say 'gohr', as they do where Max comes from. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Ballad of Morgan the Moon (Max Boyce) From: GUEST,999 Date: 23 Feb 12 - 01:13 PM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBrjdQIH8uw Max Boyce doing 'The Ballad of Morgan the Moon' on Youtube. |
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Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Ballad of Morgan the Moon (Max Boyce) From: GUEST,Chrisa Date: 03 Dec 12 - 10:09 AM It's Porthcawl, not puff ball, and the rocket is called Bethania, not Bethnal - there are a few other minor mistakes, and the original was much longer. Will have to try to find the full lyrics |
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Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Ballad of Morgan the Moon (Max Boyce) From: Nigel Parsons Date: 03 Dec 12 - 12:05 PM Guest:Chrisa Full corrected words are already above in my post on 4 Nov 05 (From Max's songbook) Cheers |
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Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Ballad of Morgan the Moon (Max Boyce) From: GUEST,999 Date: 03 Dec 12 - 12:54 PM Good work, Nigel. |
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