Subject: ADD: The Man They Could Not Hang (Matt McGinn) From: Tattie Bogle Date: 22 Jul 09 - 08:15 PM It was a subject that also interested the late Matt McGinn, who wrote a song about John Lee too. (So is performed with a scottish accent!) THE MAN THEY COULD NOT HANG (JOHN LEE) (Matt McGinn) CHORUS There was an old hangman in Exeter, And a fine old hangman was he, He had hanged a thousand or more, But he couldn't hang John Lee, John Lee, he couldn't hang John Lee. 1. Emma Keyse of Babbacombe was rich as rich can be, She had servants in her home, and one was Johnny Lee, John Lee, and one was Johnny Lee. 2. Johnny Lee was a bad, bad man, so the story said, So they threw him in the local can, When they found old Emma dead, so dead, when they found old Emma dead. 3. The judge he listened to the cons, and then he heard the pros, And it was clear that Johnny Lee had fewer friends than most, than most, had fewer friends than most. Chorus 4. The judge picked up his old black cap, he looked John in the eye, Said, "It falls on me to sentence thee to be hanged until you die, you die, to be hanged until you die". 5. James Berry was the hangman's name, and it filled his heart with glee, When they placed into his gentle hands the prisoner Johnny Lee, John Lee, the prisoner Johnny Lee. 6. He led him to the scaffold high, and then to John says he, "One last request I'll grant to you". "Close your trap" says Johnny Lee, John Lee, "Close your trap" says Johnny Lee. Chorus 7. James Berry pulled the lever down to send John Lee below, Then he began to curse and frown, when John Lee would not go, not go, when John Lee would not go. 8. Again and then again he tried, again and again he failed, Then word came down from London town, John Lee for a life in jail, in jail, John Lee for a life in jail. Chorus 9. 'Twas back in 1885 they tried to hang John Lee, In 1917 he sailed for far Amerikay, did he, for far Amerikay. 10. There he went and died in bed, in 1933, Here lies the man they could not hang, And his name was Johnny Lee, John Lee, and his name was Johnny Lee. Chorus You can also hear it sung on the Matt McGinn website. Thread #8178 Message #995182 Posted By: GUEST,Mary Ann 01-Aug-03 - 02:52 PM Thread Name: Songs about capital punishment. Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAN THEY COULD NOT HANG (Matt McGinn)
The Man They Could Not Hang Matt McGinn Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssEwwuaV7v4 |
Subject: Songs by Matt McGinn From: The Sandman Date: 19 Dec 15 - 01:34 PM Can anyone provide a list of all or some or even a few of the songs he wrote.here is one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkX3zcg10QE Matt McGinn Channel of YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZcCx0ATrTTYE3PBcPTnl0w |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Joe Offer Date: 19 Dec 15 - 03:58 PM I added this thread to our Matt McGinn group. As you can see, McGinn is prolific. Looks like I have a few duplicate threads to combine, though. One Matt McGinn parody that I really like is Down-a-Down, recorded by Pete Seeger. -Joe- |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: akenaton Date: 19 Dec 15 - 05:11 PM Bit snappy there Good Soldier! I knew Matt pretty well and have most of his vinyl stuff. A man of his time I think, don't believe he would be very impressed with our "liberal democratic society"....Matt said exactly what he thought, but with a sparkle in his eyes. We often discussed Cuban Communism over a couple of "wee halfs" |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Dave Hanson Date: 19 Dec 15 - 06:52 PM Most of Matt's songs are in the Book ' McGinn of the Calton ' well worth the buying. Dave H |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: MGM·Lion Date: 20 Dec 15 - 02:04 AM I recall a couple of excellent tracks on the old 'The Iron Muse' album, all those years back. ≈M≈ |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: The Sandman Date: 20 Dec 15 - 10:07 AM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxkOv3U9778 |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Tattie Bogle Date: 20 Dec 15 - 07:07 PM Have you not found his website? A mass of info and recordings of Matt himself, and by various admirers and at tribute nights there. See: Matt McGinn We do a Matt McGinn tribute night in Linlithgow every year, which has the approval of his daughters who sometimes have attended: we don't just sing the songs but act them out too, as you'll see from some of the clips on YouTube. The next tribute night(15th)will be on 5th March 2016. Here's maybe not the best example! Bar Steward |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Hagman Date: 20 Dec 15 - 07:17 PM To paraphrase Cliff from "Cheers," it's a little-known fact (or may in fact be well-known) that one of Matt's commercial hits "I Have Seen the Highlands" features a very young Peter Bellamy playing squeeze-box behind... a Bill Leader production, no less. |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Tattie Bogle Date: 20 Dec 15 - 07:25 PM As for books: apart from "McGinn of the Calton" there is a smaller book/pamphlet called "Scottish Songs of Today" ("today" being circa 1962-64)which includes a number of lesser-known songs of his: I usually try to do one of these every second year or so in the Linlithgow tribute night. Then there are others that are n neither of these books but some of my friends know and have performed. |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: GUEST Date: 21 Dec 15 - 02:10 AM Here's links to the recording of "McGiinn of the Calton" by Stramash which was also made into a TV programme https://www.mediafire.com/folder/a3w40y0a4nsyu/DIsc_1 https://www.mediafire.com/folder/7h4j7fs3pld1r/Disc_2 |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Tattie Bogle Date: 23 Dec 15 - 09:29 AM The song that Joe mentions is usually called "Two Feet Tall" and has a different refrain of "Hey Laily Laily Laily" rather than the "Down Down" that Pete Seeger sang. Matt and Pete were of course good friends, and it may be that Pete changed it for his own singing of it. The Hey Laily version is on the Matt McGinn website as "Two Feet Tall", and is on the "Honesty is out of the Fashion" album. We had fun staging that one, with someone having to shuffle around in their knees! As for a list of all his songs, there are 100 videos and recordings on the Matt McGinn website - as per the link I gave before. Some from Matt's original recordings, others taken at the various tribute nights. And even this does not cover them all...... |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: GUEST,Allan Conn Date: 23 Dec 15 - 09:38 AM Whole lot of songs in alphabetical order and performances by various folk on link below http://www.mattmcginn.info/ |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Tattie Bogle Date: 23 Dec 15 - 09:53 AM Er, excuse me, Allan, but that WAS the one I gave on 20.12.15. You don't see the full url as I used the text box facility in creating the blicky! Merry Christmas. |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: GUEST,Allan Conn Date: 23 Dec 15 - 12:41 PM Ach sorry never noticed that Tattie. Not always got enough time to open every link as working but better getting it posted twice than not at all :-) |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Tattie Bogle Date: 23 Dec 15 - 01:59 PM Aye, nae bother. It's a great resource: I think his daughters have something to do with keeping the site maintained and the content, even if not personally responsible for the tech of setting it all up. The person who has perhaps put the most clips on YouTube is BigManio, so worth looking at his channel. Now what am I going to sing this next year? |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Richard Mellish Date: 23 Dec 15 - 06:59 PM I've just tried that website. There's certainly some great stuff there BUT the site design is horribly gimmicky. The video pane hides some of the text, which therefore reads "The Matt McGinn W McGinn of the Caltc" (letter o partly covered so it looks like c). And when I play the songs they are accompanied by crackles, implying something awry somewhere. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE DUNDEE GHOST (Matt McGinn) From: Jim Carroll Date: 23 Dec 15 - 07:29 PM One of my favourites Jim Carroll The Dundee Ghost By Matt McGinn Noo a deid man seldom walks, he very rarely talks, (dead) It's no very often you'll see him running aroond, But I'm a refugee from a graveyard in Dundee And I've come tae haunt some houses in Glasgow Toon And I've come tae haunt some hooses in Glasgow Toon. Noo the reason I arose was to get masel' some clothes, (myself) For I really get helluva cold below the ground, And I whispered tae masel', "ah, I think I might as well Hang aroond a while and ha'e some fun, I'll hang around a while and ha'e some fun". Noo a chap put oot his light on a cold and frosty night, I showed him one of ma eyes and I skelped his head, (smacked) He said "Oh", and I said "boo" he says, "who the hell are you" ? I said, "don't be feart, I'm on'y a man that's deid, (afraid) Oh no, don't be feart, I'm only a man that's deid". Well the feller knelt and prayed and this is what he said; "Oh why, in the name of God have you picked on me" ? So I battered him on the lug and I pulled awa' his rug. (ear) "The reason", I said "is just tae let you see". "The reason" , I said, "is just tae let you see". Well he brought the polis in and I belted him on the chin, (police(man) The polis turned aroond and he blamed my friend. And he marched him aff tae jile and he'll be in there quite a while, (off to gaol) But I'll see naebody taks his single end, (House of one apartment, flat) Oh, no, I'll see naebody taks his single end. Noo the polis thought him daft and a lot of people laughed When the feller said a ghost was in his hoose, But what the feller said was true and I might be visiting you, So just remember. I'm still on the loose, Aye, just remember, I'm still on the loose. |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: GUEST,Anne Neilson Date: 23 Dec 15 - 08:49 PM A favourite song of mine too -- sung by Bob Blair on our group's (Stramash) CD. of Matt McGinn songs, 'McGinn of the Calton'. And just to confirm, Stramash used 'Two Feet Tall' as our encore! |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: GUEST,kenny Date: 24 Dec 15 - 03:20 PM I always liked "Lots Of Little Soldiers", which was recorded in the 70s by Barry Dransfield, and has been sung in recent years [ in Scotland ] by Barbara Dymock. |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Jack Campin Date: 01 Oct 19 - 03:13 AM This was just posted on the "Lost Glasgow" FB group: For Christmas he bought her a wee golden ring But later it made him embarrassed He’d forgot the first thing to turn green in the spring Is jewellery bought at the Barras. Matt McGinn |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Jim Dixon Date: 30 Dec 19 - 06:48 PM These are all the songs I can find on Mudcat that were recorded by Matt McGinn: 100,000 Unemployed Bannockburn Biddie McGrath Big Sammy Boomerang Butchers of Glasgow Christine Coorie Doon Down-a-Down Honesty Is Out of the Fashion I Have Seen the Highlands I'm Looking for a Job If It Wisnae for the Union Lady Chat Loch Lomond Lots of Little Soldiers Magic Shadow Show Manura Manya Old Johnny Bull On the Beach at Portobello On the Road from Aldermaston Polly Had a Poodle Rap Tap Tap Rob Roy Macgregor Skinny Ma Linky Long Legs St Columba and the Masons Take Me Back to the Jungle The Ballad of John McLean The Ballad of Q4 The Big Effen Bee The Big Glasgow Polis The Can o' Tea The Depth of My Ego The Dogs' Party The Dundee Cat The Dundee Ghost The Footba' Referee The Foreman O'Rourke The Gay Liberation The Hielan' Man The Man They Could Not Hang The Pill The Red Yo Yo The Rolling Hills of the Border The Swan Necked Valve The Wee Kirkcudbright Centipede The Witches' Song Three Nights and a Sunday Tinny Can on My Tail Troubled Waters We'll Have a May Day Willie Macnamara |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Jim McLean Date: 31 Dec 19 - 01:52 PM Recorded by Matt but not all written by him as I wrote Lady Chat. |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Tattie Bogle Date: 03 Jan 20 - 07:47 PM And there are some on YouTube that he sings, but were not written by him: e.g. The Jeely Piece song, written by Adam McNaughtan. |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: GUEST,ann Date: 20 Jan 20 - 04:07 PM Hi What's the name and lyrics of the song which was sung yesterday at the burnt barns? It's about going underground. Thanks |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: GUEST,Observer Date: 20 Jan 20 - 05:15 PM Two of his best: 1. Rolling Hills Of the Borders 2. His lyrics to "Loch Lomond" |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Jack Campin Date: 21 Jan 20 - 06:08 AM The "going underground" song will have been "Coorie Doon" aka "The Miner's Lullaby". |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Jim McLean Date: 21 Jan 20 - 11:25 AM Lyrics to Loch Lomond "As sung by Matt McGinn". The Corries also recorded this but I don't know who wrote it. |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Date: 21 Jan 20 - 01:50 PM I always enjoyed Matt's visits to our club in Marsden, South Shields in the 60s. in later years, I was interested to find that the words of 'Coorie Doon' had been used in the glossy commemorative book about the 25th anniversary, in 2018, of the closure of the Arigna Mines in the Leitrim/Roscommon area of Ireland. In the years before closure of the coalfield, Scottish experts had been advising the mine owners (Ireland's mines were always privately owned) about keeping it all afloat- maybe that's how the song finished up as an anthem for the Irish miners? |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: topical tom Date: 21 Jan 20 - 03:38 PM Did Matt not also write "The Pill" or was that already mentioned? |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Jim McLean Date: 21 Jan 20 - 07:44 PM The version of Loch Lomond sung by Matt is a traditional version printed in Robert Ford's Songs and Ballads. |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: GUEST,Bob Blair - Guest Date: 22 Jan 20 - 05:58 PM Matt used go stay with us when he came south in the 1960's when I helped to run the Grimsby folk club with John Connolly and Bill Meek. Lots of lovely stories and memories of those days. When I moved back to Scotland and helped form Stramash we worked up a programm to launch his book " McGinn of the Calton" It was a real pleasure to do that show in front of Glasgow audiences. Get them singing along with some of Matt's chorus songs and then hit them with one of Matt's more serious songs like Kevin Mitchell singing "Deep In My Ego" Talk about hearing a pin drop! There's a link to Stramash's Greentrax recording thats still active in a post above if anybody would like to hear it. Just today however I was pointed in the direction of another video recording that Stramash had done on Matt, which includes one of his lesser known songs "Paper and Board" It was included that night because, as Adam McNaughtan says in the intro, that we wanted a song where Stramash knew the chorus and the audience didn't. ( to begin with that is) Never heard it sung before or since Here's the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72hdOxjtveA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72hdOxjtveA He was a dear friend and sadly missed. Bob Blair |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Joe Offer Date: 14 May 20 - 12:00 AM Are these lyrics from the DT right? THE WEE KIRKCUDBRIGHT CENTIPEDE (Matt McGinn) Oh, the wee Kirkcudbright Centipede, oh, she was very sweet She was very proud of every one of her hundred feet Early every morning, her neighbors came to glance She always entertained them with a beautiful little dance. Chorus As leg number 94 gave 95 a shunt Legs number 1 and 2 were twisted out in front Legs number 9 and 10 came wriggling up the side 73 and 74 were doing the parlor glide. Now her neighbor, Jenny Longlegs, with jealousy was mad She went out and bought herself a pencil and a pad She came to look one morning, she made a careful note Of every step the centipede made and this is what she wrote: Chorus (substitute Well for As) Now with her exact notations, little Jenny Longlegs tried To dance just like the centipede, she failed and nearly cried She grabbed hold of the centipede, and said, "Now have a look, Show me how to do this dance I've written in my book." (no chorus) The centipede said, "Do I do that?" tried to demonstrate She hadn't thought it out before, and didn't do too great Her hundred feet got twisted and she wound up in a tangle She fractured 14 kneecaps, 7 shinbones and an ankle. Chorus (this verse only) As legs number 1 and 2 were tied with 3 and 4 Legs number 5 and 6 were canceled on the floor Leg number 17 was attacked by number 10 98 and 99 will never dance again. Oh, the wee Kirkcudbright Centipede she suffered in terrible pain And all the bugs were very surprised the day she danced again And now she tells her neighbors, anyone who comes to see, "Never try an explanation of what comes naturally!" Chorus filename[ KIRKCPED DR oct99 |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Jack Campin Date: 17 May 20 - 10:40 AM Joe - check your email. I've send you photos of the relevant bits from the book. |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Jim Carroll Date: 18 May 20 - 10:59 AM UP WI' THE CREAM FOR ME Jim Carroll |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Tattie Bogle Date: 19 May 20 - 06:54 PM Just managed to get our annual Matt McGinn tribute night in on the first Saturday in March in Linlithgow - perilously near to Covid lockdown. Great night, but all seems a bit of a dream now after 8 weeks in lockdown! |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Jim Dixon Date: 24 May 20 - 03:13 PM Joe: Lyrics to THE WEE KIRKCUDBRIGHT CENTIPEDE were posted by Dale Rose on 9-Aug-99 in another thread: Songs about bugs, insects, spiders, snails, worms. I just listened to Matt McGinn's recording on Spotify, and I believe the lyrics posted by Dale are accurate. There are numerous differences to the version in the DT; for example "parlor glide" should be "Palais Glide"--the name of a popular dance from 1938 which is demonstrated in this old British Pathé newsreel. |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Tattie Bogle Date: 24 May 20 - 03:18 PM Correct, Jim! |
Subject: RE: Songs by Matt McGinn From: Jack Campin Date: 24 May 20 - 03:21 PM I emailed Joe Offer a photo of the relevant pages from the book (which have at least one significant difference from what's in this thtead) but never got an acknowledgement. |
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