ADD: 'Caunt and Bendigo' (Mike Waterson)

Subject: Lyr Req: “Gaunt and Bendigo” (Mike Waterson)
From: Hornpipe
Date: 07 Dec 23 - 07:38 PM

Does anyone know the lyrics (and background)of a song about a nineteenth century fight between someone (possibly “Gaunt”) and Bendigo that Mike Waterson used to sing in the 1980s?

I recently found an old handwritten note on the back of an envelope from 1982 (a cliché, but the literal truth!), with partial lyrics from the first two verses, which brought back the melody but I can’t find the actual song or complete lyrics anywhere. I had:

Ye ranting lads and ye sporting blades, come and listen to my song
Well I know that it will please you and it won’t detain ye long
It’s concerning of a ?? match that lately has been fought
‘Twixt ?? and Bendigo, two lads of the right sort.

Now on the nineteenth of September, eighteen hundred and forty-five
From ?? down to Nottingham… ?? … alive
Such a ?? sight was never seen, believe me it is so
Tens of thousands went to see the fight ‘twixt Gaunt(?) and Bendigo.

It popped into my mind recently and has been driving me crazy, and I’m hoping someone recognizes it and can put me out of my misery.

Thanks in advance!

Subject: ADD: Bendigo, Champion of England
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Dec 23 - 08:03 PM

Ooooh, lookie here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/65524/65524-h/65524-h.htm

BENDIGO, CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.
(A New Song on the Great Fight between Bendigo and Caunt, for the Belt and £400, which took place at Witchwood, on Tuesday September 9th 1845.)

Ye ranting lads, and sporting blades, come listen to my song,
I’m sure that it will please you well, and will not keep you long.
Concerning the great milling match that lately has been fought,
Between great Caunt and Bendigo, two lads of the right sort.

CHORUS
So we’ll drink success to Bendigo, who showed such gallant play,
For by his skill, he won the mill, and bore the prize away.

On the ninth day of September, eighteen hundred, forty five,
To Witchwood for to see the fight, the sporting coves did drive,
While some did laugh, and some did chaff, and of their man did vaunt,
Some bet their ten on Bendigo, and some on giant Caunt.

And when the ground was ready, both those champions quickly peeled,
Two braver men on England’s ground did never take the field,
The fancy swore they were top mark,—an honour to the ring,
Two stouter hearts had never met, since Langan and Tom Spring.

Both men shook hands, and the prize belt, it straightway was brought in,
There let it hang says Bendigo, till the best man does win,
That won’t be little Bendigo, then Caunt he did reply,
For I’ll belt your hide till you’re satisfied, then at him he did fly.

Is that the way? says Bendigo, here, take it back again,
He made a job of poor Caunt’s nob, and hammered it amain.
This furious work soon drew the cork of Caunt’s poor claret bottle,
While Caunt returned the compliment, made Bendi’s ribs to rattle.

Twenty four rounds these heroes fought, none could tell which was the best,
But Bendigo in the next round, struck Caunt on the left breast.
Which made him stagger round the ring, and fall upon the ground,
Says Bendigo, I’ll have the belt, and the four hundred pound.

But Caunt did boldly come again, and showed some gallant play,
Yet Bendigo would strike a blow, and quickly get away.
Until in round the eighty fourth, he gave some ugly blows,
Which left his mark on the staring part, and fairly spoilt Caunt’s nose.

Eighty eight rounds were fought, when Caunt he could not rise,
And all declared the Bendy cock had fairly won the prize.
The Tipton Slasher now may come, but soon he’ll get to know,
That he was not quite big enough to wollop Bendigo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAUCQF62hDc

Subject: RE: ADD: 'Gaunt and Bendigo' (Mike Waterson)
From: Hornpipe
Date: 07 Dec 23 - 08:09 PM

Joe Offer, you are too good to be true. thank you so, so much! Now to find a recording of it…

Subject: RE: ADD: 'Gaunt and Bendigo' (Mike Waterson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Dec 23 - 08:17 PM

How's this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAUCQF62hDc

Subject: RE: ADD: 'Gaunt and Bendigo' (Mike Waterson)
From: Hornpipe
Date: 07 Dec 23 - 09:00 PM

You really do put me to shame!! Yes, that is it. I heard Mike sing it in Edinburgh but Martin’s version is great too. Thank you so much!

Subject: RE: ADD: 'Gaunt and Bendigo' (Mike Waterson)
From: Reinhard
Date: 08 Dec 23 - 04:49 AM

Bendigo Champion of England was recorded by Dave and Toni Arthur on 1967, by Paul and Liz Davenport in 2011 and by Harp & a Monkey in 2019.

And A.L. Lloyd sang Heenan and Sayers on a 1962 Topic album with a similar first verse:

You ranting lads and sporting blades, come listen to my song.
I’m sure that it will please you well and it won’t detain you long.
’t was the seventeenth of April and thousands went with joy
To see the English champion and the bold Benicia Boy.

Subject: RE: ADD: 'Gaunt and Bendigo' (Mike Waterson)
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 08 Dec 23 - 07:08 AM

I had intended to correct the Gaunt to Caunt when attacked by an outage as the electricity industry describe their failure to supply.
Joe beat me to it!!
Somewhere in the rather large amount of live recordings I have garnered over the last sixtyish years I have a recording of Mike singing Bendigo (as he always called it and who are we to say otherwise?). It was recorded at the Friday folk club Mike, Ian Manual & Jill Pidd ran at the Rugby Pub on what was at one time the dockside of the Queen's Dock.
I was honoured to be asked by Mike to be one of the regular singers at the club.
I recall many joyous wasted hours in the pub and with the company.

Subject: RE: ADD: 'Gaunt and Bendigo' (Mike Waterson)
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 08 Dec 23 - 09:08 AM

MaJoC's €0.02: I used to live in Sneinton, a suburb of Nottingham. Down the end of our road was a pub called The Bendigo, with a statue of the man himself, fists raised for battle, on the roof of the entrance area. It's been too many years, and Herself keeps telling me I'm losing my marbles, but I vaguely remember being told that Bendigo was born round that area.

Subject: RE: ADD: 'Gaunt and Bendigo' (Mike Waterson)
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 08 Dec 23 - 11:37 AM

Bendigo was from the Nottingham area.
Some of your marbles are obviously working - I recall one of my Nottingham / Derby area pals pointing it out once.
I also recall a photo of it or they in a folk publication but no idea which one - there used to be loads!!