Lyr Req: John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)

Subject: Lyr Req: John Wille Lees
From: GUEST,Steve C
Date: 06 Apr 11 - 07:41 PM

Does anybody have the lyrics for "A pint of John Wille Lees" by Mike Canavan? I half remembered it from 30+ years back & wrote my own version many years ago. I would like to know how much of the original I have stolen! (I do credit Mike with writing the original when I play mine.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Pint of John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 12 Apr 11 - 06:27 PM

I have a little book of songs by Mike Canavan with with this in. It is 'somewhere safe' so it may take a while for me to find it but I will post the lyrics as soon as I can.

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHN WILLIE LEES (Mike Canavan)
From: Paul Reade
Date: 12 Apr 11 - 07:12 PM

Try this:-


JOHN WILLIE LEES
Mike Canavan

Down Middleton Junction there's a brewery so fine
Where they make a potion much sweeter than wine
And if you've never tried it then now is the time for
(chorus)
A pint of John Willie Lees, Willie Lees
A pint of John Willie Lees

Since the year 1830 come wind, rain or hail
The family of Lees have been brewing good ale
And in pubs round about you can say without fail:
(chorus)

I know t'other breweries so big and so grand
Have factories and offices throughout the land
I say you can keep 'em, just stick in my hand
(chorus)

Now my Uncle Albert were on his death bed
And the doctor of physic were shaking his head
We'd all give up hope until some bugger said:
(chorus)

Constipation were troubling Auntie Florrie, poor dear
So they gave her a barrel of John Willie's beer
She's been out on't bog now for nearly a year, with
(chorus)

Well it's good for your lungs and it's good for your heart
It cleans out your stomach, every last little part
It makes some men belch and other men ? whistle, does
(chorus)

So if ever you're travelling down Middleton way
You know what to do, you must make no delay
Go into the first public house there and say:
(chorus)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Pint of John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: Raggytash
Date: 13 Apr 11 - 03:25 AM

Ian, whilst you're looking in that little book does it have "don't bring that in 'ere lad" as in

Don't bring that in 'ere lad
the house has just bin cleaned
tak it back were it come from
yu' never know where its bin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Pint of John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 13 Apr 11 - 04:54 AM

As with everything 'somewhere safe' I couldn't find it on the first search last night. I'll have another go today.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Pint of John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: Vin2
Date: 13 Apr 11 - 09:25 AM

How about the balad of the Sad Cavalier....

The Ring 'o' Bells pub stands up Middleton Way
Wi tales of haunting you'll here the folks say
For down in the cellar lie buried the bones
Of a sad cavalier sleeping under the stones

Chorus.;..

Back and forth, year by year
Still walks the ghost
Of the sad Cavalier...

You can see/hear Mike most Monday nights at the Oddfellow on Oldham Road in Middleton. See
http://www.myspace.com/oddfellowsmondaynightatnine

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHN WILLIE LEES (Mike Canavan)
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 13 Apr 11 - 11:23 AM

Here are the words from the book 'Middleton Spree' by Mike Canavan which contains 10 of his songs. It is typed exactly as printed, including the 'nearl' in verse 5 which must be a typo rather than Lancashire dialect(?).

The other songs were :
The Ghost of the Sad Cavalier
Sat'day Matinee
Song of a City
On Nights Like These
Middleton Spree
Patch of Green
Why Don't You Sing?
Sunshine Song
Whistling Jimmy.




John Willie Lees                                                 Mike Canavan

In Middleton Junction there's a brewery so fine,
Where they make a potion much sweeter than wine,
And if you've never tried it then now is the time,
For a pint of John Willie Lees, Willie Lees,
A pint of John Willie Lees.

Since the year 1830 come wind, rain or hail,
The family of Lees have been brewin' strong ale,
And in the pubs round about you can say without fail,
A pint of John Willie Lees, Willie Lees,
A pint of John Willie Lees.

Now I know t'other breweries so big and so grand,
Have factories and offices throughout the land,
Well I say you can keep 'em, just stick in my hand
A pint of John Willie Lees, Willie Lees,
A pint of John Willie Lees.

Now my poor mate Charlie was on his death bed
And the doctor of physic was shakin' his head,
We'd all give up hope until some bright spark said:
A pint of John Willie Lees, Willie Lees,
A pint of John Willie Lees.

Constipation were troubling old Florrie, poor dear,
Till they gave her ten gallons of John Willie's beer,
She's been on the loo now for nearl four years,
With pints of John Willie Lees, etc,

It's good for your lungs and it's good for your heart,
It cleans out your stomach, every last little part,
It makes some men belch and other men - hiccup??
Does pints of John Willie Lees, etc

So if ever you're travelling down Middleton way,
You know what to do, you must make no delay,
Nip into the first public house there and stay
For a pint of John Willie Lees, etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Pint of John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 13 Apr 11 - 11:31 AM

In answer to Raggytash's question - I can't find "don't bring that in 'ere lad" in any of the songs in the book. The book was eventually found within arm's reach of the computer - after I had searched just about everywhere else. That must be one of the law's of nature - you always find something in the last place you look.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Pint of John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: GUEST,Steve C
Date: 14 Apr 11 - 06:34 PM

Thanks for all the help - looks like I only added 2 verses. I couldn't remember the 1st verse so wrote:

Now there is a brewery in Middleton town
Where they make a strong ale of famous reknown
It's made from Irk water all muddy & brown (the River Irk runs through Middleton)
Is a pint of John Willy Lees

plus

My girlfriend was feeling a bit under par
So I took her to the local & bought her a jar
She did a ton on the M1 & didn't have a car
Just a pint of John Willie Lees

I also changed the chorus (because I couldn't remeber it) to

John Willie Lees is a pint of the best
John Willie Lees will beat all the rest
John Willie Lees will put hairs on your vest (stolen from M Harding)
Will a pint of John Willie Lees.

At least now I can credit the right verses to Mike!!

Remember hearing the Sad Cavalier at the Ring of Bells - very atmospheric. Thanks again.

(Couldn't find a copy of Mike's book but found a copy of his LP (some songs) on Ebay - looking forward to some quality listening when it arrives)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Pint of John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: JHW
Date: 15 Apr 11 - 09:45 AM

There's been a thread recently about folks with Two Christian Names and JW was the first to come to mind

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T BRING THAT IN HERE LAD (M Canavan)
From: GUEST,Kat
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 09:09 AM

Old thread I know but any good? (from memory i'm afraid. me mam had his tape but it's lost now)

oh when i was a lad our council house
was tidy as a bright new pin
and when i came home with me pockets full of junk
me mam wouldn't let me in

and she said
don't bring that in here, lad
the house has just been cleaned
take it back where its come from
you never know where its been

well just nearby was a refuse dump
and that's the place i'd roam
and when i found a pile of old rubbish
i'd take it to me mam at home

but she'd say
don't bring that in here lad
the house has just been cleaned
take it back where its come from
you never know where its been

well i found a telly and a gas stove
tin pans and a whole lot more
but when it took them back to our house
she'd be waiting at the door

and she said
don't bring that in here, lad
the house has just been cleaned
take it back where its come from
you never know where its been

well i found a dirty great mongrel dog
so i chucked its collar away
and i took it back to show me mam
i said it was a stray

but she sad
don't bring that in here lad
the house has just been cleaned
take it back where its come from
you never know where its been

well one year i started courting
the young girl of me choice
but when i took her back to our house
i heard me mother's voice

and she said
don't bring that in here lad
the house has just been cleaned
take it back where its come from
you never know where its been

take it back where its come from lad
you never know where its been

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Pint of John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 09:31 AM

THANK YOU CAT!!!!!

The only problem now is I can't remember the tune to the verse

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Pint of John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 09:48 AM

Sad that Mike is no longer with us :-( He once did us a night at Swinton with nothing but his own compositions and still had some to spare! Very funny and clever bloke, sadly missed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 16 - 04:44 PM

I know the tune well but sadly have no way to convey it!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 16 - 04:51 PM

I remember two more from being very young and hearing his songs - the one about being a hero and the one about a swimming pool. Oh, and I loved the one 'I belong to Manchester City, where the air's so gritty, the starlings cough...'
That 'Don't That In Here' always sticks with me best though, because me and me mam used to sing it as we drove home to Ashton-Under-Lyne to visit her parents :D
My grandad's a big fan, has an old vinyl somewhere. I'd love a CD of Mike's songs so my own kids'll know 'em one day. I've been trying to teach my partner what I remember of the songs I knew, so he can play them for me on his guitar, but my out of tune, misremebered versions are hard for him to do anything with!
Hope my 'fairly confident' shot at the lyrics was helpful for you?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jan 17 - 04:48 PM

Ey up all. Dunno if anyone still watches this thread but I have Mike's 'Some Songs' record in my possession. I am working out how to get it from record to computer, and then maybe to YouTube or something, or maybe I could do some CDs or something... Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: GUEST,Kat
Date: 23 Jan 17 - 05:30 PM

(I mean I'm guessing there are still CDs and records out there somewhere so hey, buy them obv! :D But still, not everyone has CD/record players now. I'm not intending to step on anyone's copyright or sell anything, I just think his lovely songs should be available for people to hear and perhaps he can reach new folk :) )

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 23 Jan 17 - 05:31 PM

Dunno if anyone still watches this thread....

If you keep posting, people will keep watching :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: GUEST,Steve c
Date: 15 Oct 17 - 02:49 PM

Hello, this is Steve – Mike's son. Fantastic to know some people still remember and like my dad's music. I run St Annes Folk Club near Blackpool on the first Saturday of each month, which I set up to keep my dad's songs going. I do the opening slot before handing over to the headliner. Hoping to get all my dad's stuff on YouTube soon, just in case anybody wants to hear some of his songs again. All the best, Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Oct 17 - 03:47 AM

Hi Steve, please keep us posted when you get songs on YouTube

Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Mar 20 - 02:00 PM

I was just browsing 10 or so digitized tapes I made from UK radio folk programs back in the early 1980s and came across a live set done by Mike on BBC Manchester ca. 1979-1982, including:

The knocker up man, Our council house in Manchester, Days in the cubs, I belong to Manchester city, and Gay Paris. I think those are the track names based on the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Willie Lees (Mike Canavan)
From: GUEST,Steve Canavan
Date: 05 Oct 20 - 06:48 PM

I’ve just seen this last comment – I don’t suppose there is any chance I could get my hands on those tapes is there? I would love to hear my dad in action, especially singing the Gay Paris song which I’ve ever heard him do before.