Lyr Req: Aaron Manby (Alan Burbidge)

Subject: Lyr Req: song about steamship - coal for burning
From: janemick
Date: 15 Feb 13 - 11:12 AM

I heard a song on the radio the other day, and I can only remember a few words from the last two lines of the chorus:

"she'll steam the very world around
If we but had the coal for burning"

Can anyone tell me what this song is called please?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about steamship - coal for burning
From: Snuffy
Date: 15 Feb 13 - 12:29 PM

Oil her up and grease her round
Keep the crank(?) and the big wheel(?) turning
she'll steam the very world around
If we but had the coal for burning

The song is called The Aaron Manby, which was the first iron steamship ever to go to sea.

Pre-fabricated only a mile from where I am now,in the heart of England's Black Country, the parts were assembled at Rotherhithe, London and her maiden voyage was from there to Paris.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about steamship - coal for burning
From: Snuffy
Date: 15 Feb 13 - 12:44 PM

Can't find any lyrics on the web, but I should have a recording of Michelle (Mitch) Reynolds leading the Shellback Chorus in Aaron Manby. I'll see if I can locate it tonight when I get home from work (or over the weekend).

In the meantime here's what Wikipedia has to say about the ship

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about steamship - coal for burni
From: Snuffy
Date: 15 Feb 13 - 04:02 PM

Aaron Manby was written by Alan Burbidge, and has been recorded by the Shellback Chorus, Derek Gifford, Jenkins' Ear, and possibly others.

I have been unable to find any lyrics on the web, so have transcribed this from the Shellback Chorus 2005 album All Hands on Deck. there are a few places where I am not completely certain of what is sung.

AARON MANBY
(Alan Burbidge)

        We'll grease her up, we'll oil her round
        To keep the crank and the big shaft turning.
        She'll steam the very world around
        If we but had the coal for burning.

You shellbacks all, attend my song
For you know your days will soon be ending.
Your time at sea will not be long
Since we got screw and compound engine

No pulley haul, no flowing sail
No shantyman to call it falling
Just funnel smoke and a siren's wail
And a donkey winch on a wire rope hauling

The bearings and the crossheads stance
Their soul in iron coal is blending
The crankflows and valve motion dance
Their stately pavane never ending

You bucko mates must mend your ways
For the stokers all are primed for trouble
The fireman you should pick or haze
He'll belt you with [blithe] spar or shovel.

He works below in sweat and grime
That stokehold hot as Hades can be
And a seaman's trade changed for all time
By a vessel named the Aaron Manby

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song about steamship - coal for burning
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 13 - 10:21 PM

The late Alan Burbidge wrote some dam fine songs ! Tony O'Neill does a damn fine job of his 'Warror for the W0rking Day'

Subject: RE: Req: about steamship/coal for burning-Aaron Manby
From: janemick
Date: 16 Feb 13 - 11:38 AM

many thanks for these replies - very helpful.

Subject: Lyr Add: AARON MANBY (Alan Burbidge)
From: GUEST,GUEST Louise
Date: 16 Feb 13 - 12:11 PM

Alan Burbidge was my husband - this is the official published version of the lyrics [no offence to Snuffy]

Chorus - We'll grease her up, we'll oil her round,
         To keep the crank and the big shaft turning -
         She'd steam the very world around
         If we but had the coal for burning.

You shellbacks all, attend my song,
For the days you know will soon be ending -
Your time at sea will not be long
Since we got the screw and the compound engine.

No pulley haul,no flowing sails,
No shantyman his chorus bawling,
But funnel, smoke and a siren's wail
And a donkey-winch on a wire rope hauling.

The bearings and the crossheads chant,
Their songs in iron chorus blending -
The crank throws and the motion dance
Their stately pavane, never ending.

You bucko mates must mend your ways,
For the stokers all are primed for trouble -
If a fireman you should kick or haze,
He'll belt you with slice-bar or shovel.

He works below in sweat and grime,
That stokehold hot as Hades can be -
And the seaman's trade changed for all time
By a vessel named the Aaron Manby.

Delighted to know that people are singing it!   Louise.

Subject: RE: Req: about steamship/coal for burning-Aaron Manby
From: Snuffy
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 07:37 AM

No offence at all, Louise - glad to have the right words. Some of the "mistakes" were where Mitch had slightly changed the words, but mostly they were down to my cloth ears!!

Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Aaron Manby (Alan Burbidge)
From: GUEST,Richard Lawson
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 09:27 AM

Hi Louise
I have just begun to learn the lovely Empty Echoes, and I hope to get the Steepholmers to sing it at a North Somerset ploughing match, and would like to know more about Alan Burbidge. Is there anything written about his life and work on the web? Thanks
Richard