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Origin: I Belong to Glasgow (Will Fyffe)
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Subject: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: GUEST,Ann.John.Home@Virgin.Net Date: 19 Apr 00 - 04:26 PM I need the name of the person who first sang I belong tae Galsgow. Please can you help. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: Rick Fielding Date: 19 Apr 00 - 04:30 PM Well he may not have been the first, but I have Harry Lauder singing it on an old (quarter inch thick) 78. Rick |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: JulieF Date: 19 Apr 00 - 04:31 PM Harry Lauder was the name that immediately came to mind Julie |
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Subject: Lyr Add: I BELONG TO GLASGOW (Will Fyffe) From: GUEST Date: 19 Apr 00 - 04:37 PM The sheet music can be downloaded as a PDF from the University of Maine:
I BELONG TO GLASGOW
1. I’ve been wi’ a few o’ my cronies, One or two pals o’ ma ain.
CHORUS: I belong to Glasgow, Dear old Glasgow town!
2. There’s nothing in being tee-total, And saving a shilling or two. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: MMario Date: 19 Apr 00 - 04:37 PM according to a search I just did, Harry Lauder sang it, but Will Fyffe wrote it and performed it first. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: Mike Regenstreif Date: 19 Apr 00 - 04:59 PM John Greenway's liner notes to Jack Elliott's recording of the song say: "This great song of the British drinking Empire was written and first recorded by Will Fyffe, who inherited Harry Lauder's mantle as the leading Scots music hall entertainer." Mike Regenstreif |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: GUEST,John Eaves Date: 19 Apr 00 - 05:34 PM Harry Lauder sang it, but I don't know who wrote it - sorry! |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: Wavestar Date: 19 Apr 00 - 05:45 PM My taxi driver, the first time I was in Glasgow... I didn't know what to do but listen! *grin* Seriously, I don't know and can't help, but other people can and already have! -J |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: GUEST Date: 19 Apr 00 - 06:18 PM Will Fyffe wrote and sang and recorded it. Fyffe was a Dundonian (born in Dundee, other side of Scotland). After a music hall gig one night in Glasgow, in Central Station, he met a jovial drunk, and asked him if he belonged to Glasgow. "Yes, I do," said the drunk, "But tonight I feel that Glasgow belongs to me." Like any good C&W songwriter, Will Fyffe wrote the song and ran with it. Very few Glaswegians sing it. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: Art Thieme Date: 19 Apr 00 - 11:56 PM Jack Elliot sang it at the 2nd University of Chicago Folk Festival in 1962. I'll never forget it. 'Twas just great. Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: GUEST, Scottish Annie Date: 20 Apr 00 - 09:02 PM I did |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: GUEST,Rab Date: 21 Apr 00 - 09:15 AM What do you mean very few Scots sing this song? You should be at George Square after the pub shuts! And I don't think you'll find many Scots who don't know the song. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: TamthebamfraeScotland Date: 19 Jan 01 - 12:09 PM This song is sung by that great folk singer Kirk Douglas. He said that he was in a pub and this wee man came over to him and said "Excuse Mr Douglas, are you from Scotland?" Kirk then replied no I come from Russia, well the wee man said in that case I'll teach you a Scottish song, and that song was I belong to Glasgow. TRUE STORY |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: little john cameron Date: 19 Jan 01 - 12:15 PM YEAH RIGHT!!!! LJC |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: TamthebamfraeScotland Date: 19 Jan 01 - 12:19 PM Hello LJC. That's true, he telling the story in Glasgow a book thing, And That's what he told them, and also when he was on a chat show over here in Scotland, he also told that story. And when he was on both the chat show and the book launch. He sang I belong to Glasgow on British Televsion.
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: little john cameron Date: 19 Jan 01 - 12:28 PM Wid this be Kirk Douglas the movie star?If it is ah widnae pit too much store in whit he says.Will Phyffe wrote it an we've been drove daft wi aw kinds o edjits murderin it since.Harry Lauder has a lot tae answer for. ljc |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: TamthebamfraeScotland Date: 19 Jan 01 - 12:34 PM Hello LJC. Yes the movie star, as I say he did sing it on British Televsion, and yes he did murder it the reason I know because I watched him doing it on Televison. I couldn't believe it either but there he was singing Will Fyffe's song, I didn't say he recoreded it but he did sing it. Tom |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: TamthebamfraeScotland Date: 19 Jan 01 - 12:37 PM Hello LJC. If wish to disbeleive me then that's wish, but I know what I saw and I saw Kirk Douglas twice telling the story and singing the song both on British Televison. As I say He's is rubbish, but as I say Kirk Douglas the movie star sings I belong to Glasgow.
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: little john cameron Date: 19 Jan 01 - 01:08 PM Tom ah dinnae mean Kirk never sang it,ah mean ah dannae believe the story aboot the wee man.Bein fae Glesca he wis probably takin the micky oot o anither yank tourist. Susannes´s Folksong-Notizen
[1990:] When considering music hall in Glasgow, it would seem to anyone but a Glaswegian that I have no option but to print I Belong To Glasgow in this book. Except that I have never heard anyone but paid entertainers sing it in Glasgow!
In the Blythman ceilidh house in Balgrayhill one night were some pleasant American visitors. The songs were good, but eventually one of the guests said, 'We're rather puzzled that you have not yet sung your own local song for us.' We had been singing them our own local songs all night - which one had we missed out? I Belong To Glasgow. There was an awkward silence, and an explanation along the lines of 'We don't play that kind of music here, stranger.'
Why don't we sing it? It's a fine song. Perhaps it is too nakedly honest about not feeling good about yourself unless you are drunk. Maybe we resented the fact that it was written by a Dundonian [sic!], Will Fyffe, and the verses and 'patter' more fit the cliché of the tight-fisted Aberdeen man than the openhanded Glasgow drunk.
[1991:] Written by Aberdonian music-hall singer Will Fyffe (1885-1947). (Ewan McVicar, notes 'I Was Born In Glasgow') |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: little john cameron Date: 19 Jan 01 - 01:11 PM So, mibbe Harry never sang it efter aw. ljc |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 19 Jan 01 - 02:05 PM But with Harry Lauder from what I've heard, the song was only the climax and conclusion of a long and hilarious stream of patter that led up to it. I once knew someone who had that patter off pat. Does anyone have it to share with us?
Another man who sang it to great effect was Alex Campbell - I believe that's who Jack Elliott may have got it from. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: little john cameron Date: 19 Jan 01 - 03:48 PM Tom ,notice the similarity tae the the post on the 19april. Ah checked aw the Hrry threeds an there is nae mention o him daein I.B.L.G..excapt the ane ah postit above.Ah aye thocht he sang it. ljc |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar Date: 19 Jan 01 - 05:48 PM On an album released in the UK in the late 50s Rambling Jack Elliot did Will Fyffe's patter from the 78 old record. That was before Alex Campbell came back from being a blind blues singer with a white stick and tin cup in Paris, regained his sight, married Peggy Seeger and became a folkie in London - 1961. As far as I can tell Harry Lauder never ever sang or recorded the song. I don't off hand recall where I got my info, but probably from Jack House's Music Hall Memories book which is not immediately to hand.Jack's research was usually spot on, as he mostly got Joe Hendrie of the Glasgow Room to do it for him - allegedly. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: little john cameron Date: 19 Jan 01 - 06:44 PM Ewan,ah had a feelin Jack was behind it somewhere.Between him an big Hamish there was a lot o confusion aboot wha said whit. ljc |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: Mike Regenstreif Date: 19 Jan 01 - 08:27 PM I don't know about any of the other stuff that Ewan McVicar attributes to Alex Campbell, but he certainly did not marry Peggy Seeger in 1961. Mike Regenstreif |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 19 Jan 01 - 08:44 PM He did have a sense of humour,though... Malcolm |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: sheila Date: 19 Jan 01 - 08:50 PM Mike - What year was it, then? Or are you saying that Alex never married Peggy Seeger? Alex told me about the marriage himself, in Sandy Bell's in 1965 or 66. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: Murray MacLeod Date: 19 Jan 01 - 08:55 PM So who is singing it on Rick's old 78 ? Murray |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: Dr. Sunshine Date: 19 Jan 01 - 09:33 PM Alex sure did marry Peggy...Alex also told me that in about 65/66.I believe so that she could get a work permit to stay in UK..Also easy to see it as one of the reasons Ewan McColl disliked him!!But Alex was a great and generous man and a wonderful singer and raconteur. Davie |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: Mike Regenstreif Date: 19 Jan 01 - 09:39 PM Sheila, I've talked at length with Peggy Seeger about her life and music and she's never mentioned Alex Campbell to me. She became involved with Ewan MacColl in 1956 or '57. The first of their children together was born in 1959. Peggy and Ewan were pretty inseparable until his death in 1989. Mike Regenstreif |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: little john cameron Date: 19 Jan 01 - 09:58 PM Here's whit Ewan said aboot it Alex had just returned from being a busking blind blues singer on the streets of Paris, and had briefly and platonically married Peggy Seeger so she would not be deported from the UK, but Alex's eclectic approach was worlds away from Ewan MacColl's purism. ljc |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: Murray MacLeod Date: 20 Jan 01 - 12:34 AM I don't know the truth here, but I will find out tomorrow. One thing for sure, Alex Campbell, although a wonderful entertainer, was a hopeless alcoholic whose imagination stretched the bounds of reality. Murray |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: TamthebamfraeScotland Date: 20 Jan 01 - 06:17 AM Hello LJC, I'm sorry, I thought that you meant that Kirk Douglas Didnae sing it,as you say maybe the story is false, mind you I'm not so sure. I maybe Daft in thinking that, but then again I'm daft anyway. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: GUEST,Dita (at work) Date: 20 Jan 01 - 09:31 AM Dear Murray MacLeod, Alex Campbell was never a hopless anything. Alex was a kind, generous, warm human, sure he drank and smoked to excess, but that was not uncommom in the time and circle in which he lived. I never heard Alex (in public or in private) say a bad word about anyone. Would that there were more like him. . love, john. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: sheila Date: 20 Jan 01 - 10:00 AM Re: Alex & Peggy - What Alex said to me, was that Peggy would have been forced to leave Britain, unless she had a British spouse, and Ewan was not at that time free to marry her. He said he was paid for his trouble, and there was a song I faintly remember from the 60s, which obliquely refers to this. Although we were in Sandy Bell's at the time, he was reasonably sober. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar Date: 20 Jan 01 - 10:03 AM I am too long in the tooth to believe anything unequivocally, but the story as given above is I have always understood correct. However, my assertion on dates is quite probably up the lum - could have been somewhen in the 50s. And it may indeed never have happened - I'd like to know better. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: Murray MacLeod Date: 20 Jan 01 - 11:20 AM The information I have just been given is that the marriage was genuine and for real on Alex Campbell's part, and that he became hurt and disillusioned when Peggy Seeger "ditched" him. But, like I said earlier, that may just have been the drink talking. As for him being just a social drinker, I don't think so. Doesn't mean he was a bad person however and I never meant to suggest anything of the kind. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: GUEST,Dita (at work) Date: 20 Jan 01 - 01:11 PM Murray MacLeod, I was not suggesting that Alex was mearly a social drinker, I just took exception to the word "hopless". I cannot recall any recording among the many hundreds that he made that were marred by drink, or ever saw him incapable to perform. I felt your remark to be dissmisive of one of the finest people it has ever been my privlige to know. On the subject of the thread, Alex is the only singer, Scot or otherwise, living or dead, that I can think of that I would gladly listen to perform this song, (including Will Fyffe). The same goes for "Wild Rover." "You'd take a song I'd heard a hundred times, When you sang it I was hearing somthing new. The songs made you cry, that wasn't any act, You believed in every word of them, your heart was true." love, john. |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 20 Jan 01 - 02:03 PM If Alex had known when to stop drinking he'd still be with us today, and I think everyone who ever knew him wishes he was.
But no matter how much he'd had, and I can think of a fair number of times he'd had a great deal more than was wise, I can never remember him saying a bad word about anybody, including people whom he might have had reason to dislike.
Alex's eclectic approach was worlds away from Ewan MacColl's purism. ljc Hell ye!
But Alex Campbell admired Ewan MacColl. And if it wasn't reciprocated, that was Ewan MacColl's loss.
Alex wrote a little book of songs and talk called Frae Glesga Toon in 1964 (dedicated to Derroll Adams whomdied last year). Here is the ending of it:
Looking at the British folk revival, I can only say that despite the silly schisms, it has never been healthier. If our younger singers will but lay their foundations in the songs handed down to them by their own people, they will have a rock upon which to build. Knowing their own heritage they can only come to dig the folk heritage of other peoples, and in so doing help to realise the one world which is coming.
I believe moreover that the real strength and hop e of the revival lies in the singers who are making songs, people like Ewan MacColl, Leon Rosselson, Karl Dallas, Enoch Kent, Cyril Tawney, Sydney Carter, Dominic Behan, Matt McGinn and Ian Campbell, people who, whilst writing for today, are creating for the future.
As the minister said "Let us join together to sing…"
Hell ye!
(And whoever wrote it or sang it, that spiel that Jack Elliott did with the song was great, and if you could find it and post it, Ewan, it'd be good to see it. I know the very man I'd like to give it to.) |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: GUEST,Dita (at work) Date: 20 Jan 01 - 02:27 PM McGrath of Harlow, Thanks for that quote from Alex, could you post publishing details of the book. I know it is long out of print, but the details will help me search for it. (I've got a couple of eye teeth going spare .......) love john. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BEEN ON THE ROAD SO LONG (Alex Campbell) From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 20 Jan 01 - 04:12 PM It's more of a pamphlet than a book – only 52 A5 pages. Including 48 songs and some great stories. Full title is From Glesga Toon – The Songs and Stories of Alex Campbell; published at the end of 1964 by Folk Scene publications, Ashputtel, The Street, Woodham Walter, Essex, England; printed by The Owl Printing Company, Tollesbury, Essex. It's a transcription of tapes he had made, and the man who transcribed them, was called John Clark. Illustrations by Stuart Wallace and the cover by Ken Lawton. And I think Folk Scene may possibly have had something to do with the English Folk and Dance Society under Peter Kennedy, who had a magazine with that name around that time.
And good luck in trying to track down a copy, Dita. Maybe it would be possible to get together a new edition – there are some good songs in there, and I don't think people realise how much impact the man had on so many performers.
For example, I hadn't realised until just now that Sandy Denny's first recorded performance was on a record called Alex Campbell and friends. And here is a song by Alex which he put on that record, and Sandy Denny later recorded it herself. Not in the DT so far as I could see, but worth remembering:
I've seen what was war, so long
Seen the world in the shadow, so long
Yet hope is in me, so long
I've travelled the road, so long
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: Susanne (skw) Date: 20 Jan 01 - 04:29 PM McGrath - is Alex's book still available (second-hand) ANYWHERE? I'd love to have it but haven't even found it in libraries. Moreover - is anybody writing Alex's biography before all the other people who knew him will also be unavailable? It ought to be a great read! In the notes for a compilation album I read that Alex had started out in the British Foreign Service, not found it to his liking and gone off to Paris to train as an opera singer. (He certainly loved opera all his life.) In another book, the story read quite differently: He'd been chicked out of the oreign Service for beating up two subordinates, taken his savings, gone to Paris to study opera, got through the money in record time, and developed the 'blind blues singer' act mentioned above. (Sorry for thread creep. Let's start a thread on Alex Campbell!) |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: little john cameron Date: 20 Jan 01 - 09:30 PM http://www.folkworld.de/4/inside.html |
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Subject: RE: Who sang - I belong tae Glasgow? From: GUEST,Dita (at work) Date: 21 Jan 01 - 04:23 AM Thanks McGrath of Harlow for the details. Alex's headstone reads simply Alex Campbell - So long. love john. |
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Subject: RE: Origin: I Belong to Glasgow (Will Fyffe) From: GUEST Date: 07 Jun 22 - 11:18 AM I Belong To Glasgow, the song by Will Fyffe. My name is Joe and I was born there, in 1980. The first recorded version is by fife in 1921. in 1911 he went to that town and drunk wine in a pud, and heard the words from Harry Lauder. The one we know today is the 1927 version. When I went to Edinburgh in 1987 the song I was encouraed to learn it after hearing the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra version on vinyl, the medley included Loch Lomond, The Song Of Aberdeen, and Westering Home. I listened to this all the time when i was just a child at the home. My bandmate sung all the Scots songs very well and I accompanied on accordion. |
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Subject: RE: Origin: I Belong to Glasgow (Will Fyffe) From: GUEST Date: 08 Jun 22 - 03:19 PM The corny spoken theatrical element of the song is an acquired taste to 21st century ears, and interrupts the song. For what it's worth, all Will Fyffe's credited songs can now be claimed as public domain, as he died 75 years ago. The earliest mention of the song under that title in any newspaper I know of is 1921, and associated with Will Fyffe. |
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Subject: RE: Origin: I Belong to Glasgow (Will Fyffe) From: GUEST Date: 08 Jun 22 - 05:53 PM I think you'll find it's the opposite way round to the way you think, in that Fyffe wrote it and tried to get Lauder to record it, but he was already a star and didn't bite on it, maybe due to the boozy nature of it all. So Fyffe had the recording. According to Wiki the first recording was 1920.. (it may have been written in that year, but I can only see the first performance use in 1921 newspapers. From Songfacts " Will Fyffe. According to Richard Anthony Baker in British Music Hall: An Illustrated History, this was one of two songs Fyffe wrote for Harry Lauder while touring in revue, but Lauder rejected them both." Anyway, it's public domain now. |
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Subject: RE: Origin: I Belong to Glasgow (Will Fyffe) From: GUEST Date: 09 Jun 22 - 07:46 PM I didn't realise that Will Fyffe died after falling twenty feet out of a window. Medical problems from his ears rather than drink. The P & J put the following in his obit. The thing here is, when is writing down and directing orchestral arrangement, composition? Maybe the reporter got the wrong end of the stick? " He (Fyffe) was an old friend of Mr Haydn P. Halstead, former musical director of the Tivoli Orchestra, who, in an interview with a reporter of " The Press and Journal " last night, claimed he wrote the music to Will Fyffe's song, " I Belong to Glasgow." Aberdeen P & J, 1947. |
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