Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)

Subject: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: GUEST,Corona Smith
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 11:44 AM

One of the tunes Jim Eldon learned from Billy Harrison years ago was called 'Freddy Archer' after the famous but ill fated Victorian Jockey. We have been playing the tune but we would like to know what the words are?

Does anyone know?

We might have to write our own if they don't show up!

Many thanks in advance,

Corona.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 01:59 PM

https://sites.google.com/site/jockeypedia/archer-fred

For those looking to assist with this request, not that Fred, Freddy and Freddie spellings may help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 02:10 PM

I have the CD of the Billy Harrison recording somewhere and will transcribe the words for you. It is a rare song and I have come across 3 other incomplete versions of it, 2 from gypsies.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: GUEST,Corona Smith
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 02:30 PM

Thank you folks!

Billy Harrison couldn't remember the words either! That's why Jim and I are looking for them.

Jim and I played at Beamish open air museum before xmas and in the pub there (the sun inn) there is a painting of Freddy on the wall.

This reminded Jim of the tune (which is a lovely little gem)

We remain curious about the words.

We have heard that there may have been a few songs about him as he was such a well known character in his day.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 03:43 PM

I am interested in this song as Freddy Archer was from Cheltenham, where I live. The recording I have in mind is of Arthur Richardson, not Billy Harrison. It was issued on CD by the Helions Bumstead Gramophone Company. Arthur had moved away from Suffolk to Yorkshire but Neal Lanham recorded him in the early 60s on a visit to Blaxhall. Here are his words:

A man has passed away, the sad truth we must say
Freddie Archer he is dead and on his dying bed
He gave to me the history of his record.

Twas on the Epsom course he rode the winning horse
For on Doncaster down to Manchester he was a star turn
For his horses seemed to fly as he passed those others by
And the crowds they would cheer him as he came on

No better on the course, ..? sat upon the horse
The beaming jockey they used to name him
For his horses seemed to fly as he passed those others by
And the crowds they would cheer him as he came on.

Now Freddie Archer he is done, tens of thousands he has won
No jockey on the racecourse was no better
His eye 'twas firm and true, he knew just what to do.
Did that bold and fearless rider Freddie Archer.


A verse printed in English Dance and Song (Christmas 1970) went:

A man has passed away, the truth to you I say
The boldest man that ever sat on a racehorse
Freddy Archer he is dead and on his dying bed
He gave to me this history of his record


And in Spring 1971:

Freddie Archer's dead and gone, all the races that he won
There was no one could say they were his master
His empty saddle now is all that we can show
Of the bold and fearless rider, Freddie Archer.

It was on the Epsom Dowms, that he rode those great reknowns
(2 lines missing?)
The bold and fearless rider, Freddie Archer.

And from my own collecting:
From Danny Brazil (Gloucestershire gypsy):

Freddie Archer is dead and gone and his mem'ry is hanging on
A brave man was young Freddie Archer
He rode on Epsom course and he rode the winning horse
A brave man was young Freddie Archer


From Biggun Smith (Gloucestershire gypsy):

Freddie Archer's dead and he's in his lonely bed
He was the greatest rider, Freddie Archer
Wherever he did ride, he was old England's pride
He was the greatest rider, Freddie Archer

It strikes me that these are all partial texts and that somewhere lurking is a complete song. I would be interested to know Billy Harrison's words to see if they are similar to the above.

Enjoy

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 12:30 PM

We did get a verse at least locally which Jim must have forgotten about. I can remember recording the verse about FA's dead and gone, all the races that he won. It will be on the BLSA website under my name. Searching the title should bring it up.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: Tradsinger
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 01:13 PM

You mean this one http://sounds.bl.uk/World-and-traditional-music/Steve-Gardham-Collection/025M-C1009X0006XX-1500V0

I have a distant memory that Mike Yates once showed me a printed copy. So we have lots of incomplete versions - frustrating.

Some years ago, I wrote the following and I think the last verse is one that I found somewhere:

You were born to be the champion, you were born to be the top
But deep inside you always felt that one day it would stop
You had friends and you had fortune, you have wealth and you had fame
But just what did it mean to you, was racing just a game?

So goodbye Freddie Archer, your racing days are o'er
And you have passed the post, my friend, where men return no more
And by your own hand, Freddy, your life you took away
And died undefeated, the champion of the day

When you were just a lad, my friend, on Gloucestershire's green hills
You knew that you were special, you had nerve and you had skill
And in the lanes of Prestbury you spent your childhood days
Not knowing what the future held when fortune had her way

The will to win was strong in you, you had to be the first
You drove hard all the beasts you rode, to win you whipped and cursed
Wheel of Fortune, Balcardine, St Simon and Ormonde
You rode them like no other could, to your touch it would respond

How did it feel now, Freddy, when you neared the winning post?
With the shouting ringing in your ears, what was it mattered most?
Was it for the money, the glory or the fame?
Or was it those rich friends you made, they used you just the same.

You were the toast in every home, of earls and dukes so grand
And 'Good old Freddy Archer' was a byeword in the land
It's true you had your critics, but you showed them who was king
When you were thundering down the turf, or in the winners' ring.

But all your fame could not hold back the cards that fortune dealt
It could not bring you happiness, it could not bring you wealth
And as you lay on your sickbed, what thoughts went through your mind?
And as the fever took its grip, what comfort did you find?

Were you a lad of ten once more on Gloucestershire's green fields
Or were you gliding o'er the turf, and did it all seem real
What finally made you do it when you couldn't turn and run
And in the end, what made you squeeze the trigger on the gun?

So goodbye Freddie Archer, your racing days are o'er
And you have passed the post, my friend, where men return no more
And by your own hand, Freddy, your life you took away
And died undefeated, the champion of the day.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: GUEST,Corona Smith
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 01:53 PM

Wonderful info everyone thank you.

Especially tradsinger!

If I come across any other versions I will return and post them here.

I'll show this thread to Jim when I see him later in the week.

Corona.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 02:33 PM

To save you a bit of bother here's a transcription of the verse I took down from an anonymous singer aged 88 at Pidd's Rest Home, Margaret Street, Beverley Road in 1970. The singer had been a butcher and was born and lived in Beverley.

Freddie Archer's dead and gone, all the races that he won,
There was no one could say they were his master.
His empty saddle now, is all that we can show
Of the bold and fearless rider, Freddie Archer

......
And it was on the Epsom Downs that he rode those great renowns,
The bold and fearless rider, Freddie Archer.

Thanks for the clickie, Gwilym. If you follow Gwilym's pointer you can listen to the tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 02:40 PM

Gwilym,
Where did you get the second verse of your compilation version? Was it from the recording you mentioned? I have the same verse from This England magazine Winter 1979. It comes also from Gloucestershire.

Goodbye Freddy Archer, your racing days are o'er
And you have reached the post, my lad, where men return no more
And by your own hand, Freddy, you caused the world to say
That you died broken-hearted, the champion of the day.

Sent by F Price, Quorn, Leics. He enlisted at Stroud in 1914 and learnt this from an older soldier.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: Tradsinger
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 06:30 PM

Ah Steve, yes I am sure that I got it from either This England or its sister magazine Evergreen, but I lost track of the reference. The difference is that the This England version has the phrase "you caused the world to say". whereas I had "your life you took away", which I think is better and which I think I got from Evergreen. Anyway, I am in the process of putting together a collated version which I will unleash one day on YouTube.

Cheers

Tradsinger (alias Gwilym)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: GUEST,Corona Smith
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 07:13 PM

I just wrote a long reply to this thread and it seems to have vanished. Just wondering if it was deleted? Did I stray off topic or something?

If it was I won't bother saying it again!

Gwilym, is the long version above a compilation of collected verses or did you add some of your own?

There are some great lines in there.

Corona.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: Tradsinger
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 02:49 AM

Hello Corona

It's all my own work apart from the "Goodbye Freddy Archer" verse.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Freddy Archer (victorian jockey)
From: GUEST,Corona Smith
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 07:08 AM

That's great Gwilym, thanks!

I have a couple of alternate verses I am working on. I'll post them here when they have been ironed...

Many thanks to Steve too.

Jim mentioned that you might know some of the verses.

Corona.