Lyr Add: Diesel and Shale (Cyril Tawney)

Subject: Lyr Add: DIESEL AND SHALE (Cyril Tawney)
From: GUEST,Jeff N.
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 08:25 AM

There is a note at the end of Diesel and Shale that implies the additional verse is only sung by Tom Lewis? The verse:

Oh Susie, Oh Susie, Oh won't you be mine?
Submariner's wives have a hell of a time
You'll live like a duchess with cash on the nail
If you don't mind the smell of the diesel and shale
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale,
If you don't mind the smell of the diesel and shale.

is actually an integral and essential part of the song, as it directly precedes and relates to the verse:

Keep walking, keep walking, you foolish young man,
You know that I never would give you my hand.
Your hair is too thin and your face is too pale,
Cause you spend too much time with your diesel and shale,
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale,
You spend too much time with your diesel and shale.

This can be heard on the recording Cyril made of the song on the album Navy Cuts..

Subject: ADD: Diesel and Shale (Cyril Tawney)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 May 23 - 03:10 PM

https://www.tomlewis.net/lyrics/diesel_shale.htm

DIESEL AND SHALE
Words by Cyril Tawney, new melody by Tom Lewis
(Recorded by Tom Lewis on Surfacing!)

On the fifth of November back in fifty-three,
The 'big man' at DOLPHIN, sure he sent for me:
"We've brought you here boy 'cos we wants you to know,
We've booked you a berth in the water below."; (with the ....)
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale, we've booked you a berth with the diesel and shale.

But when I protested: "I'm no volunteer!";
He said: "We ain't had one in many's the year,
But that's wee secret between you and me,
There's many's the pressed-man down under the sea.". (with the ....)
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale, down under the sea with the diesel and shale.

"Oh, doctor! Oh, doctor! I don't think I'm well."
"Well, never mind sonny, we'll very soon tell,
Try holding your breath while I count up to 'three',
There! That proves you're fit to go under the sea!". (with the ....)
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale, to go under the sea with the diesel and shale.

I went to the store-room to gather m' rig,
They gave me a sweater ten sizes too big,
I crawled down that boat like an old polar bear,
And I says to myself: "There's a smell in the air!". (and it's ....)
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale, there's a smell in the air and it's diesel and shale.

A blast on the Klaxon, a ring on the gong,
And then you go down where no mortal belongs,
Where the air's going bad and the bread's going stale,
And they mix you a nightcap of diesel and shale.
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale, they mix you a nightcap of diesel and shale.

We circled the 'Med' for a summer or two,
Where the water's so warm and the sky is so blue,
'Least that's what they tell me but I wouldn't know,
You don't see much sky when your stuck down below. (with the ....)
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale, when your stuck down below with the diesel and shale.

"Susie, oh Susie, won't you be mine,
Submariners' wives have a hell of a time,
You'll live like a duchess with cash on the nail,
If you don't mind the smell of the diesel and shale.".
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale, if you don't mind the smell of the diesel and shale.

Then the 'big man' at DOLPHIN he told me at last:
"It's time you went back to a ship with a mast!";
I'll feel just like Jonah leaving his whale,
But you know where to stick all your diesel and shale,
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale, you know where to stick all your diesel and shale.

Also see: https://grainger.de/music/songs/dieselshale.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Diesel and Shale (Cyril Tawney)
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 22 May 23 - 06:41 PM

Cyril used to sing

Oh, Crabby Oh Crabby We bid you adieu,
And Synagogue dick and the Black Mamba too,
I'll do all my travelling by road and by rail,
You know what to do with your diesel and shale.