Lyr Req: Old Parkin Raine the Fiddler (R Watson)

Subject: Lyr Req: Parkin Raine - The Fettelrs
From: le cheffie
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 03:55 PM

Hi does any one have the words please for the Fettlers song
Parkin Raine written I believe by Richard Watson.

Thank you

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parkin Raine - The Fettelrs
From: GUEST,#
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 04:01 PM

Start at #77 and I hope it helps.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parkin Raine - The Fettelrs
From: le cheffie
Date: 14 Mar 15 - 04:04 PM

With a bit more searching I've found it thank you

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD PARKIN RAINE THE FIDDLER (R Watson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Mar 15 - 12:00 AM

From Poetical Works of Richard Watson by Richard Watson (Darlington: William Dresser, 1884), page 77:


OLD PARKIN RAINE THE FIDDLER.
A SONG.

1. Ye merry musicians of Teesdale,
Who love on the fiddle to play,
Who go unto concerts and parties,
Where music and dancing hold sway;
Your music is sweet, and you please us
With many a fine melting strain;
But the best of your corps is ta'en from us—
Our fav'rite,—brave old Parkin Raine!

CHORUS—
He's gone, "He's gone," and we'll never
At merry nights see him again;
But the people of Teesdale will ever
Remember brave old Parkin Raine!

2. So neatly the bow he could handle.
And few men could truer time beat;
We heard his performance with pleasure,
His tones were so mellow and sweet.
Though praised by the dalesmen around him,
He ne'er was conceited and vain:
A plain, unassuming, good fellow,
Was the fiddler—brave old Parkin Raine!

Chorus—He's gone, &c.

3. At fairs, plays, and sports we now miss him,
Where dale lads and lasses oft met
To follow the practice of dancing;
Those scenes we can never forget.
His polkas, quadrilles, reels, and hornpipes,
Kept toe and heel going amain;
Few men were so skilled in such music,
As the fiddler old Parkin Raine!

Chorus—He's gone, &c.

4. When farmers had finished their harvest,
They often for Parkin did send,
And got all their workers together,
A jovial evening to spend;
And many a stout country damsel.
And many a hard handed swain,
Kept up the enjoyment till morning,
To the music of old Parkin Raine!

Chorus—He's gone, &c.

5. He always was hearty and cheerful,
And ne'er in the least thought it wrong
To mingle with social people,
And sing a good old hunting song.
But the cry of the hounds pleased him better,
As they sped over hill, dale, and plain,
With the loud tally ho of the hunters;
A sportsman was old Parkin Raine!

Chorus—He's gone, &c.

6. By Stainmore and Brough they well knew him,
He did at their holly-nights play;
'Tis long since the holly was lighted,
The custom is now done away.
His fiddling and hunting are over,
He's gone from this drear world of pain;
But the people of Teesdale will ever
Remember brave old Parkin Raine!

Chorus—He's gone, &c.

[Vin Garbutt sings this song on "The Valley of Tees: Songs of West Durham – The Northumbria Anthology" (2002). There are a couple of videos on YouTube.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Parkin Raine the Fiddler (R Watson)
From: Betsy
Date: 21 Mar 15 - 07:53 PM

A great song ....
Vin Garbutt can be rightfully attributed for resurrecting this song and with a little story.....
Vin found the song in a poetry book - he was playing with the Teesside Fettlers at the time.
The Fettlers thing - necessitated them being in BBC Radio Clevend (Or Tees) and on occasion Vin met this guy (maybe a producer or something). On exchanging first names Vin said "Parkin" that's not a common name (it's a very large biscuit hereabouts ) and by the way I just found a song about a guy - Parkin Raine.
Everyone ended-up well pleased as the guy was his direct descendant.
Absolute beaut. of a song - about a guy who made himself available to lift spirits at every occasion - Weddings, Christening , big Birthdays and anniversaries and even funerals. He was THE Kiddo. You didn't "book" discos in those days centuries ago - Parkin Raine was the only game in town.