Lyr Req: The Benefit Concert

Subject: The Benefit Concert
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 03:41 AM

I heard this years ago, sung by a one-armed blacksmith (no kidding!). I've never quite been able to remember it all, and I've since forgotten most of what little I did know. it starts like this ...

I've just come away from a benefit concert,
'Twould have saved me much pain if I'd never have gone.
With your kind attention I'll tell you the programme,
The names of the turns {...}

Well of course, we got the bills and tickets out upon the strap,
We couldn't pay the printer 'cos we hadn't got a scrap.
[...]

A lady first got up to sing "I'll be all smiles tonight",
The way she started bawling, well, I thought there'd be a fight!
One old collier at the back, he couldn't stand the pain;
He hit her with his clog, and oh,
She never smiled again!

Toi sing the next song of the night, a young man then arose,
He sang "The village blacksmith" till the sparks shot from his nose!

And the rest has faded. Put me out of my misery, please!

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Benefit Concert
From: lamarca
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 09:46 AM

We have a recording of Harry Boardman (I think) singing it - if no-one else posts the rest before this evening I'll try to transcribe it then.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BENEFIT CONCERT (Albert Shaw)
From: lamarca
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 08:54 PM

Here it is - it wasn't Harry Boardman, but a singer named Brian Clift. This was on a sampler collection from the British label Broadside Records called "A Feast of British Folk" from the late '70s; I've transcribed it best I can given the accent!

The Benefit Concert (from the singing of the late Albert Shaw)

First tune:
Well, I've just come away from a benefit concert
It'd served me much pain if I'd never have gone
It was held at the Manslaughter Arms around the corner
I'm the only one left out of a hundred and one.

This concert was held on behalf of Nobby Taylor
He'd just lost his mother, his only support
And for your kind attention I'll tell you the program
Of this little concert, the best of its sort.

Second tune:

Well, of course we brought the bills and tickets out upon the strap
We couldn't pay for the posters, cause we hadn't got a scrap
The room that we had rented would hold fifty at the most
But we got a thousand tickets off to satisfy our host!

Sixty special constables was ordered on the scene
They kicked all my front teeth out, oh, I wish I'd never'd been
The air was blue with language, it quite took away me breath
And to give the crowd amusement someone kicked a dog to death.

The chairman, he should have arrived, 7:30 was the time
But he dain't turn up until the clock was striking nine
He said "Please forgive me, gentlemen, your patience must be worn,
But I couldn't come before because me trousers was in pawn!"

And when the doors was opened, they all rushed to get inside
And the bloke what took the tickets, he got trampled on and died
And them who couldn't get a seat, they squatted on the floor
And they ripped the paper off the walls to admit a dozen more.

To do the first song of the night, one young fellow rose
He sung "The Village Blacksmith" till the sparks shot from his nose
He said "I haven't got a voice, it went when I was five,
But I'll fight the best bloke present just to keep the game alive."

A lady next got up to sing "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight"
And the way they started bawlin', well, I thought there'd be a fight
'Cause one old collier down the back, he couldn't stand the strain,
So he hit her with his clog, and oh! she never smiled again!

To do the last song of the night, they called on Ginger Giles,
To sing on this occasion he had walked for forty miles
He said "Good evening, gentlemen, I'll try to please you all"
And he busted off a-singing "Let Me Like a Soldier Fall".

The waiter hit him with his tray, and down poor Ginger fell,
And to finish off the evening all the crowd began to yell:

"The more we are together, together, together,
The more we are together, the merrier we shall be!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Benefit Concert
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 14 Sep 99 - 03:37 AM

Oh, thank you! You've made an old man very happy! I wonder if I can relearn it in time for Thursday night?

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Benefit Concert
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 14 Sep 99 - 10:46 AM

Actually, who was Albert shaw? I sure I should know, but I can't remember. Thet say your memory goes first. And they say your memory goes first ...

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Benefit Concert
From: lamarca
Date: 14 Sep 99 - 10:51 AM

Sorry, Steve, I don't know either - I just wrote down the info on the back of the album cover. I would guess he was an English music hall singer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Benefit Concert
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 03:55 AM

Well, there's only one way to find out ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Benefit Concert
From: Roger Boydon.
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 07:45 PM

Steve.

I actually saw Albert perform on many ocasions at folk dances and folk clubs at various venues around the Black Country in the 60/70s. especially the Robin Hood in Briely Hill. He was a great performer despite his ever increasing age and a pin could be heard drop when Albert sang. For more information contact the West Midlands Folk Federation. Try and contact John Yer or Dave Hunt of Dr, Sunshine fame. Well done on unearthing the words to the Consert Party, it brought many happy memories back to me. Now try and find the words to "Miss Tickletobys" (please excuse the spelling). another of Alberts favourite songs. Good hunting Roger.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Benefit Concert
From: lamarca
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 10:13 PM

Roger, the Broadside LPs that my version of "The Benefit Concert" came from were titled "Black Country Night Out, vol. 1,2&3" (I don't have the original records, just a Broadside sampler LP). Where is the "Black Country" in England? I assume it is (or was, thanks to Maggie) coal country, but as I am from The Former Colonies across the pond, I'm not familiar with where...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Benefit Concert
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 16 Sep 99 - 03:37 AM

The Black Country is a small part of the Midlands: it's more or less Walssall, Wednesbury, Wolverhamprton, Wednesfield - and anywhere else that starts with W - and, er, Dudley. Or else it's a state of mind, not a place.

Have a look here The Black Country Web, or here our own dear Mudcat Cafe.

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Benefit Concert
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 16 Sep 99 - 06:53 AM

Is Albert Shaw the man who sang the Black Country version of 'Matty Groves'? 'It was Easter time in Dudley town/A time to sing and shout/The folk all gathered in the Two Bulls' Yeds/To push the jug about'

If it is him, I remember him! It's been donkey's years since I saw him. He's in one of John Crane's illustrations to Bill Caddick's 'Vale' songbook. If I ever get Alzheimer's, it'll be years before anyone notices.

If you have that or any other songs of his, pleeeeze post 'em!

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Benefit Concert
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 03:29 AM

Well, I performed 'The benefit concert' last night at Bedford, with great success, though I say it myself. Remembered all the words, too - that must be a record!