Lyr Add: Where Be That Blackbird To?

Subject: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: GUEST,Dodge (guest from Bristol, UK)
Date: 05 May 00 - 06:11 PM

Where be that blackbird to? I know where 'e be! 'e be in yon wurzel bush, And I be a'ter 'e! And 'e sees I, And I sees 'e, And 'e knows I be a'ter 'e, With a ruddy girt stick, I'll clobber 'e, Blackbird! I'll 'ave 'e !

(also known as "the Somerset National Anthem") [Somerset is a rural county in the UK]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: raredance
Date: 05 May 00 - 11:36 PM

So there is a basis for that old nursery rhyme about the blackbird pie. somebody had to out and get the birds.

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 May 00 - 11:37 PM

I did 2 Copernic searches, and came up with nothing.....find somebody in Somerset?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 06 May 00 - 12:54 AM

Well the "Goons" did it on one of their programs (The Rent Collectors) but surely there's an easier way to find it?

Rick

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: TerriM
Date: 06 May 00 - 08:37 AM

I know where there's a blackbirds nest
I know where 'e be
'e be in yon wurzel bush
An' I be arter 'e

'e spies I, I spies 'e
'E calls I a bugger and a liar
If I gets 'old of that blackbirds nest
I'll catch the bugger on fire

Down on the farm for four and twenty years
'e's tried to take the rise out of I
There baint no bird on this yere farm
Can 'ide it's nesy from I

I wish I was back 'ome in Dorset
Where the birds they fly so high
I claps my 'ands and I laughs like buggery
Just to see they blackbirds fly

That's an approximation of the vernacular, as best as I can do it. I've been singing this song for years and as far as I know that's all there is. I learned it in Wiltshire from a local singer who'd been singing it since he was a kid.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 06 May 00 - 09:57 AM

I larned it wuz up "yon Hawthorn Bush" and I be arter Ee.. Yours, Aye. Dave (the Oggie man)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: vindelis
Date: 06 May 00 - 10:08 AM

Sounds about right, I think the Yetties did a version, many years ago, when Bob Common was still with them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: Scrump
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 06:33 AM

The most famous version of this song was by the Wurzels. It was issued on the B side of their no. 1 hit in 1976 "Combine Harvester (Brand New Key)".

Their version was different from the one above. They said at the time they knew the song but couldn't find anyone who mcould tell them the proper lyrics, so they wrote their own. They still perform it at gigs today, as it's always been one of their most popular songs.

The chorus of their version goes:

Wur be thik blackbird to? I know wur 'e be!
'E be up thik Wurzel tree an' I be arter 'e.
Now I sees 'e, an' 'e sees I,
Buggered if I don't get'n!
Wi' a gurt big stick I'll knock'n down,
Blackbird, I'll 'ave 'e!
Dadadada da da, Dadadada da da,
'Ow's 'ee father?! Awright!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: Flash Company
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 10:23 AM

Bernard Miles used to do this when he did his 'leaning on a gate' monologues, which always ended with 'I'm gooin'ter sing te thee now'

Where be that blackbird?
I know where 'e be,
'e knows I, I knows 'e,
'e knows I be arter 'e,
Where be that Blackbird?
Round yon wurzel tree!
Good arternoon!

Another one he did was:-

Four seeds in an 'ole,
One for the rook and one for the crow,
One ter rot an' one ter grow,
Good Arternoon!

I wish I could remember all the monologues, there was a particularly good one about the effigy of a crusader in the local church with a grapic description of the statue with his dog at his feet, ending with the remark 'I reckon as 'ow 'e's the best bit o' sharpenin' stone in Hertferdshire'.
It goes on ' An 'is ol' missus is there aside him as well. 'er's no good tho, can't get any edge out on 'er at all!'

Lovely stuff!
FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: GUEST,Doreen
Date: 27 May 07 - 05:22 PM

l remember from living in a pub in the 60's, in Abingdon Oxon a song the older men used to sing. lt went something like this.
l wish l were back home in Berkshire where all they birds do flock round l. l claps my hands & l laughs like buggery & all they birds do fly away.
Where be that blackbird to, l know where he be,
he be up in yonder tree, & l be after he.

The rest l cannot remember but l'm sure there is someone out there, maybe from Abingdon that can.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: GUEST,.qargoyle
Date: 27 May 07 - 08:15 PM

Scrump!!!

Thank you for the posting - your verses - are those I have from a Sommerset Lad tape by the Wurssels....and it also included the wonderful marriage proposal song of Combine Harvester.

THANX,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 06:16 PM

Sally in Plymouth, Devon

Our version of this lovely old ballad was sung to us by our father (born in 1914).   He was born in Cornwall but lived most of his life in Devon although he had Somerset roots.

Be I Ampshire, be I buggery,
I be up from Fareham.
I've got a wife and fourteen kids
and she knows how to rare em.

Where be that blackbird boy
I know where ee be -
Ee be in the turnip fields
And I be after ee.

(it now gets a bit woolly!! but it ends with)

See them fly,
Cor bugger my eye, you can't keep the flies off
them turnips sides!!

Hows your father - Alright!!!

All this was sung to a charming tune!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: GUEST,Anon
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 03:45 PM

I learned it this way from my grandfather who was from Brixham, Devon:-

Where be that blackbird to?
Us knows where 'e be.
Up behind the fuzzy bush,
Us be after 'e.
'E be following us all day,
Us be following 'e.
Where be that blackbird to?
Us know where 'e be.

What about the tune for each of these version? Are they all the same?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 04:32 PM

I have no memory of ever consciously learning this (and I've certainly never sung it) but in Dorset it's:

Be I 'ampshire, be I buggery,
I comes up from Wareham,
I've got a girl with calico drawers
And I knows how to tear 'em.....

Where be yon blackbird to?
I know where 'e be
He be in yon wurzel bush and I be arter 'e.
'E sees I and I sees 'e
And 'e knows I be arter 'e
With a bloody great stick I'll knock 'e down
Blackbird,I'll have 'e.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: GUEST,Cornishmessenger
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 06:10 PM

The version I was told when I was little is

Where be that blackbird be,
I know where 'e be,
'e be up that cider tree,
and i'll be after 'e,
'e sees I and I sees 'e,
bugger if I don't get him,
With a bloody great stick I'll knock 'im down,
Blackbird I'll have 'im,
da da da da da da, da da da da da da,
hows ya father .... alright.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: GUEST,doc.tom
Date: 23 Feb 08 - 04:25 AM

From N. Devon:
Be us down sir? Be us buggery!
Us be up to Barum
Where all the girls wears calico drawers
And we knows how to tear 'em.

From N.Devon / N. Cornwall
Where be that blackbird to?
I knaw where he be.
He be up yon Wurzel bush
I be arter he.
Ee sees I, and I sees ee
An ee knaws what a bugger I be
Wi'a bloody great stick I'll scatter ee.
Cor bugger Jagger
(frequently followed by 'And we'll all go back to Oggy land' etc.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: GUEST,Lemondo
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 11:37 AM

I know this version:

Wur be that blackbird be?
I be a'der ee
ee be up yon Wurzel tree
and I be adder ee

Well I sees 'im
and ee sees me
with a ruddy gert stick
i'll be adder 'ee

cocker i'll 'ave ee

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: GUEST,Martin
Date: 13 May 10 - 05:47 AM

This is the version that was sung by Devon soldiers in Kenya, 1953-5:
Where be that blackburd to? I know where 'e be
'E be up yon zickmore tree, an' I be after 'e.
'E sees I, an' I sees 'e, buggered if I shan't 'ave 'e
Wi' a gurt big stick I'll knock 'e down
Blackbird, I'll 'ave 'ee!

I'm not sure if the following was part of the same song, or a different one:
Oh, 'ow 'appy us shall be
When us gets to the West Country
Where tiddy-oggies grows on trees
Cor bugger Janner!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
From: JeffB
Date: 13 May 10 - 08:42 AM

I've been told that the blackbird is really a crow, not the cute songster with the yellow beak.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where Be That Blackbird To?
From: GUEST,Andy King
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 12:06 AM

My skittles team in Taunton back in the early 80's used to add a bit at the end.

"How's yer father?"

"ALRIGHT!"

"How's yer sister?"

"SHE'S TIGHT!"

"How's xxxx? (insert random team member's name, usually the top skittler on the night)

"HE'S SHITE!


And that's when we were being polite. Happy days, that I don't ever get in Enfield now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where Be That Blackbird To?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 04:10 PM

Oi wish Oi was back down in Wuster (Worcester)
Where the burds all flock round Oi
Oi claps moi ands an lafs loik buggery
Just to see the blackburd fly

Oi sees the blackburd fly
E knows where Oi be
E knows Oi be a'ter e
En oi knows where E be
tweny foive yers Oi lived on a farm
en e can't take the mickey out of Oi

As Oi (I!) remember the song as we sang it
In the pubs round about Bewdley, Kidderminster, Rock, Far forest
Kinver and where ever

Peter Wiggin Gordon's Bay
Capetown South Africa
Mobile [phone]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where Be That Blackbird To?
From: GUEST,fretherne
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 01:28 PM

These were sung in Nympsfield and Uley in the 1960s. Often singing this song seemed to precede a fight.

phonetic

Oi know wur there;s a blackbird;s nest
I know wur he be
He be in yon turnip field
And I be arter 'ee

'E soies oi
Oi spies 'e
'E cals oi a bigger an' a liar
Thur aint no bird on this yer farm
Coz I set the bugger on fier

Workin' on a farm
Four and twenty years
You can't take a rize out of oi
Thur ain't no bird on this yer farm
coz I set the bugger on fire

Oi wish oi wur
back home in Uley
Wur all the birds
Do flock round oi
I 'ud clam my hands
and fart like buggery
Just to see that blackbird fly.

Each verse had a separate tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where Be That Blackbird To?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 02:59 PM

My Dad used to tell us children this rhyme:

Where be that blackbird to?
Us knows where 'e be
'e be in yon turnip field
Us be arder 'e
'e sees us
And us sees 'e
Each we sees the other
....bugger

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where Be That Blackbird To?
From: GUEST,Ethel
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 08:37 PM

I saw this as a wall hanging in the Oxfam shop in Glastonbury but when I went back to get it , it had been sold. So pleased to have found it and thanks to all who posted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where Be That Blackbird To?
From: GUEST,melita
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 10:45 AM

brings back memories

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where Be That Blackbird To?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 01:57 PM

I first encountered the expreesion "Where's that to ?" back in 1964 at HMS Heron (RNAS YEOVILTON) in Somerset and still find myself saying it sometimes ! The song itself seems to have many versions and variations depending on which county one finds oneself in ; in the Royal Navy ,usually after drinking too much scrumpy , it was customary to sing "We'll all go back to Oggieland" after the Blackbird song.Later ,I encountered the Wurzel Song ;
Life's a farce, sitting in the grass ,all by yourself in the moonlight
   ( Aaaaaargh !)
Makes no sense , sittin' on the fence , all by yourself in the moonlight (Aaaaaargh ! )

Makes no sense, sittin' on the fence , all by yourself with a Wurzel up your nurzel ......can't remember any more
.....not forgetting "There's an old cock pheasant ,and he aint too pleasant , up the Clump ( up the Clump ,up the Clump ) " etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where Be That Blackbird To?
From: GUEST,Moonraker
Date: 01 Jul 15 - 09:24 AM

The Blackbird song was sung in a pub in Liddington( near Swindon) onSaturday nights in the 1970's. Different lines not mentioned were. Be I Bassett be i buggery I comes up from Wareham. I got a wife and fourteen kids and I knows how to rare um. Ther was also a chorus line of which I can only remember The fly the fly the fly be on the turnip-------------------------------------------??????!!!!!!! The more I try to keep fly off yon turnip.wyeuyfkvjydhtdjuglihjtmdthrsukygiljkhcyrsuytlojhcteauy Ljgxtrdjkvhfxyttnnfxuyg Dublisyfiuglih Dying Sigh Day Cuff hail Fighting Fgghjkklcvuik Etbd'

I got a wife and fourteen kids And I knows how to rare em. The fly. The fly. The fly be on the turnip. Cor bugger I I'll get that fly and keep 'im off yon turnip. 1970's pub in Liddington near Swindon. Also be I Bassett be I buggery I be up from Wareham. A long time ago and I live In Dorset now.

kids and I knows how to rare um. There was also a chorus line of which I can only rember

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where Be That Blackbird To?
From: GUEST,Moonraker
Date: 01 Jul 15 - 09:32 AM

Sorry about the the above ,to much cider and too much technology! It's all in there somewhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where Be That Blackbird To?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 01 Jul 15 - 09:44 AM

For Moonraker.

http://www.nationalanthems.us/forum/YaBB.pl?action=print;num=1166051852