Lyr/Chords Add: July Wakes

Subject: July Wakes
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 17 Mar 00 - 08:12 AM

Does anyone know the words (and chords) of July Wakes. I first heard Mike harding singing it but I don't know whether he wrote it. Any information welcome.

Subject: Lyr Add: JULY WAKES (from Mike Harding)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 17 Mar 00 - 09:37 AM

JULY WAKES

Looms are swept an' t'brass is drawn
An' me an' Jack we'll be up at dawn
An' we're off to beg or steal or pawn
For t'July Wakes.

We've sweat for one and fifty weeks
An' human limbs, like looms, they'll creak
So we'll go and climb up Pendle Cheek
And rest us limbs.

We'll roam in t'woods an' sprawl in th'hay
An' watch great clouds swing up at play
And if they brast, we'll turn that way
And taste clean rain.

We'll follow rivers up to t'sky
And watch great fishes swimmin' by
An' we'll sup from brooks when we get dry
And stand up men.

Day's carefree till Jack, downcast
Watchin' larks and linnets racin' past
Hears the hooters moan through the linnet's blast
To 'ell wi' t'looms!

Cos Monday'll see us back in t'shed
Watchin' shuttles spewin' out miles and miles of thread
And we'll be weavin' fifty-one weeks of bread
And one of life.

This from Mike Harding's book,  Folk Songs of Lancashire  (Whitethorn Press, 1980), which I had forgotten I had.   He says, "The words for this song were written by Richard Pomfret and the tune was put to it by Stan Ellison."  No chords are given, so you'll have to work out your own!

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: July Wakes
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 11:06 AM

To Malcom Very many thanks for the words Joe