Lyr Req: Have You Seen Bruce Richard Reynolds?

Subject: Sixties Great Train Robbery
From: polesden
Date: 07 Nov 99 - 05:42 PM

There is a song written in the sixties about the great train robbery about one of the robbers Bruce Reynolds These are the words I know and if anyone knows all the words I would be grateful

If you see Bruce Richard Reynolds He's a man we must detain He's wanted for the robbery On the Glasgow Euston train ------------------------------? ---------------------------brown? If you see Bruce Richard Reynolds He's wanted by the Crown

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sixties Great Train Robbery
From: polesden
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 04:04 AM

This song I believe was written and performed in the south of England in the sixties

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sixties Great Train Robbery
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 02:00 PM

get in touch with Frankie Armstrong. She used to sing this song. Burl

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sixties Great Train Robbery
From: polesden
Date: 12 Nov 99 - 01:56 PM

Does anyone know how I can get in touch with Frankie Armstrong with reference to the above reply?

Thanks Bob Merrett

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sixties Great Train Robbery
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 08:13 AM

Hello Polesden, you could try going via Frankie's record company. address, Fellside Records, 15 Banklands,Workington,CA14 3EW. Tel [phone]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sixties Great Train Robbery
From: sapper82
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 02:23 PM

Not a song I like. Renolds was criminal scum and with his scum friends destroyed the life of the driver, Jack Mills. As Jack was just an ordinary working man of course, he is ignored, but after the injuries he suffered he was never well enough to work on the mainline again and was restricted to Shunting duties, retiring due to ill health within a couple of years.
I think it was 6 years after he was clubbed by those thugs that he died of a cancer that was probably induced by the attack and his wife died very soon after.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sixties Great Train Robbery
From: GUEST,abeizer
Date: 17 May 06 - 04:34 PM

This song was recently covered by Alabama 3 on their album "Outlaw" featuring additional vocals by Bruce Reynolds himself.
Does anyone have a recording of the original?
My information was that it was written by Joe Dixon, an East End singer.

Subject: Lyr Add: HAVE YOU SEEN BRUCE RICHARD REYNOLDS
From: GUEST
Date: 17 May 06 - 06:40 PM

Have you seen Bruce Richard Reynolds? he's a man we'd like to find.
They say The Great Train Robbery, lads, he was the mastermind
And his gang they planned the greatest raid the world has ever known
They've stolen two and a half million quid and now the birds have flown

(chorus)
Have you seen Bruce Richard Reynolds? he's a man you must detain.
He's wanted for the robbery of the Glasgow / Euston train.
Age thirty-two, height six foot one, eyes grey and his hair is brown
Apprehend Bruce Richard Reynolds. he is wanted by The Crown.

Now Reynolds was the leader of a South-West London gang
While doing time in prison, lads, he heard about a plan
To rob a train, but it needed brains so Reynolds upped and said
When I've done my time, me and my lads we'll do the job instead

When Reynolds left his prison cell he started on his scheme
He combed the London underworld to find a daring team
He recruited all the experts lads and a partnership was made
By August '64 the scene was set for Reynolds' raid

On the night of August 12th me lads the raid went like a dream
One hundred and twenty mail bags were stolen by the team
And the hounds were soon in chase me lads but the fox was in his lair
Have you seen Bruce Richard Reynolds he is now a millionaire

They've robbed the mail-train the papers cried next day
They've stolen two and a half million quid and all got clean away
But the robbers left their fingerprints twelve men were soon on charge
But they only caught the brawn because the brains were still at large

By the grapevine came the news me lads that Bruce had made a vow
Well you've not grassed on me he said I'll not desert you now
And iron bars and prison walls they do not bother me
I've robbed the mail so I'll rob a jail and I'll set my raiders free

Well by August '64 my lads old Wilson left his cell
And by August of '65 Ron Biggs had left as well
Have you seen Bruce Richard Reynolds he's a mastermind you know
Well he's breaking in to all the jail's and he's letting his robbers go

from

www.philpreen.co.uk/folk/songs/trainrobbery.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sixties Great Train Robbery
From: Peace
Date: 17 May 06 - 06:47 PM

Sorry. The above post was me. Lost my cookie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sixties Great Train Robbery
From: Jim I
Date: 17 May 06 - 09:21 PM

I've got it on an old Nigel Denver record ("Rebellion" 1967)

There it is credited to one "Jim O'Connor"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sixties Great Train Robbery
From: Peace
Date: 17 May 06 - 09:23 PM

Thanks, Jim. The site I'd found the words on said author unknown.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sixties Great Train Robbery
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 May 06 - 11:54 PM

There is a track listing here for Nigel Denver's album "Rebellion!" (Decca LP SLK-4844, 1967) and it says the song title is BRUCE RICHARD REYNOLDS.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sixties Great Train Robbery
From: alanabit
Date: 22 May 06 - 02:44 AM

If nothing else, the song is a good example of how someone can become a folk hero, by being immortalised in song. Folk songs celebrate the bad, the weak, the unfaithful, the failures and the downright unpleasant as well. I tend to go along with Sapper's view here - although that does not affect the merits of the song in any way.
The lifting of a few used notes is not enough to give me a bad hair day - even bearing in mind that ultimately, I have to pay for that piece of work too... Sapper rightly reminds us of Jack Mills, the train driver. It is also worth bearing in mind that the criminal careers of the participants did not all end when their sentences were up. Both Roy James and Bruce Reynolds, I believe, notched up further convictions. Among other further offences was a major drug smuggling racket.
For the most part, Ronnie Biggs has led a miserable, fugitive life. He is now dying. We can enjoy the pictures of him sunning his arse on Brazilian beaches in the seventies, but his first wife and family may not be taking out those photo snaps so often. Buster Edwards committed suicide. Other members of the gang have been in and out of prison.
If I ever go in for crime as a career, I'll do it the way Woody Guthrie recommends it - with a fountain pen. The "Great" train robbers were really pretty small men.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bruce Richard Reynolds (Jim O'Connor)
From: GUEST,Lewis265
Date: 23 May 07 - 05:27 AM

ITS BY A BAND CALLED ALABMA 3
ive seen them live and theyre awesome

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bruce Richard Reynolds (Jim O'Connor)
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 02:36 PM

Alabama 3 also preformed this song. i think the missing lyrics are; his height is six foot 1 his hair is brown

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bruce Richard Reynolds (Jim O'Connor)
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 02:41 AM

Jim O'Connor was a member of The Critics Group.
May have a recording of him singing it here somewhere - I'll look when I wake up.
Tend to agree with comments about B.R.R., but I probably wouldn't have liked Robin Hood or Dick Turpin either.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bruce Richard Reynolds (Jim O'Connor)
From: GUEST,Kersh
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 06:06 AM

Knight Bruce Richard Reynolds, what a Man
Such loyalty commands a true respect
I'd work for him any day, brains and integrity.

Original song by Nigel Denver and on youTube
Alabama 3 covered it, one of A3 is Reynolds' son (also on YouTube)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bruce Richard Reynolds (Jim O'Connor)
From: GUEST,TedNugent
Date: 29 May 09 - 07:58 AM

Nick Reynolds, the harmonica player, is his son. You don't hear about Alabama 3 in his autobiography - autobiography of a thief, though, because it was written in 1995. Alabama 3 did the theme tune to the Sopranos as well and have never made a duff album. I believe D Wayne and Larry Love changed the lyrics slightly for the cover and also arranged it differently to the original.

As for Bruce Reynolds, its unfair to call him 'criminal scum' and it's ignorance of the highest degree to believe that cancer can be 'induced' by a blow to the head. Besides, it was confirmed at an inquest into Jack Mills' death in 1970 that the two incidents were unlinked. If you read his autobiography you will see he was actually a regular guy with regular problems and thoughts who just got in with the wrong crowd, however, I appreciate that there will be a slight bias to the book. Bruce Reynolds is one of many victims of an unjust system which rather than make criminals into good men, makes good men into criminals.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bruce Richard Reynolds (Jim O'Connor)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 May 09 - 02:46 PM

Allmusic.com lists a song called HAVE YOU SEEN BRUCE RICHARD REYNOLDS? recorded Alabama 3 on their album "Outlaw," 2005.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Have You Seen Bruce Richard Reynolds?
From: GUEST,Mike Turner
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 07:39 AM

@Jim Carroll

Hi Jim, many years no see - you may not recall, I was one of the Grey Cock crowd.

I never heard Jim singing this, so if you have a recording I'd very much appreciate a copy.

Cheers,

Mike

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Have You Seen Bruce Richard Reynolds?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 08:09 AM

Hi Mike,
Long time.....
Couldn't find a recording of Jim O'Connor singing it last time, but have had a tidy-up since so I may have more luck now.
Will have to wait till I come back from Bonnie Scotland (weeell - Glasgow) - be in touch.
Jim Carroll

Subject: Glasgow!
From: GUEST,Mike Turner
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 03:06 PM

Hi Jim,

We have a flat in Paisley, where I'll be staying this Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun. Any chance of meeting up in the Glasgow area? I hardly see anyone from the old days now, since moving up here twice (1981-6, 2003-date).

We could take this conversation offline - email me at [e-mail].

Cheers,

Mike

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Have You Seen Bruce Richard Reynolds?
From: sapper82
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 11:11 AM

GUEST,TedNugent

"As for Bruce Reynolds, its unfair to call him 'criminal scum' and it's ignorance of the highest degree to believe that cancer can be 'induced' by a blow to the head. Besides, it was confirmed at an inquest into Jack Mills' death in 1970 that the two incidents were unlinked. If you read his autobiography you will see he was actually a regular guy with regular problems and thoughts who just got in with the wrong crowd, however, I appreciate that there will be a slight bias to the book. Bruce Reynolds is one of many victims of an unjust system which rather than make criminals into good men, makes good men into criminals."


Sorry Ted, but that is a load of bullshit.
First, "Regular guys" do not get involved in criminal gangs.
OK, were he to have had mental problems I might have some sympathy, but otherwise he made his choice and the consequence is down to him.
No one forced him to get involved.

Second, Though unproven, there is a fair amount of evidence that some cancers can be triggered by stress, and let's face it, after the savage beating he received that robbed him of his health the job, Jack Mills had more than enough of that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Have You Seen Bruce Richard Reynolds?
From: GUEST,Malcolm
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 05:08 PM

Has anyone got the guitar chords for Bruce Richard Reynolds, thank you

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Have You Seen Bruce Richard Reynolds?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 06:14 PM

How can anyone say the Bruce is scum

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Have You Seen Bruce Richard Reynolds?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 06:27 PM

Does anyone know if Bruce Reynolds still lives in London,

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Have You Seen Bruce Richard Reynolds?
From: GUEST,Guest (NightWing)
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 06:53 PM

Professional criminals qualify pretty well as "scum" ("Have You Seen Bruce Richard Reynolds?", "Jesse James"). So do psychopathic killers ("Ballad of Billy the Kid"). I sing and play the songs occasionally, but not very often.

BB,
NightWing