Lyr Req: 'Whur be yon blackbird too?' Wurzels

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DORSET BLACKBIRD
From: wildlone
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 02:44 PM

The Yetties do a slightly different version to the Wurzels which is somthing like this.

THE DORSET BLACKBIRD.

I know where there's a blackbirds nest,
I know where he be,
He be up yon wurzel bush,
An I be after he
He see's I, I see's he,
He calls I a bugger an a liar.
If I gets hold of thic blackbirds nest,
I'll catch the bugger on fire.

Down on the farm for 4 an 20 years,
He's being trying to take the rise out of I.
There aint no birds in these yere parts,
that I hav'nt got scared higher.
I wish I was Back home in Dorset,
Where the birds the fly so high.
I'll Clap my hands and laugh like buggery,
Just to see they blackbirds fly.

I hope I have got the words right.
dave

Subject: RE: 'Whur be yon blackbird too?'
From: Pene Azul
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 02:29 PM

TerriM's post of this is here (click).

PA

---

Thread #21135   Message #223986
Posted By: TerriM
06-May-00 - 08:37 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Where be that Blackbird to?

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.

---

For the sake of completeness, I pasted a copy of Terri's post here.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: 'Whur be yon blackbird too?'
From: TerriM
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 02:12 PM

I know that I just posted the words to this sometime in the near past but cannot do a clicky. I'll go look but it will have to be later as we're off to the pub....if I can still focus, that is :)

Subject: RE: 'Whur be yon blackbird too?'
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 12:05 PM

As I learned it, from a resident of Somerset, England, many years ago, the song went like this:

Where be yon blackbird to?
I know where 'e be!
'E be up yon wurzel tree
An' I be a'ter 'e!
Well, 'e sees I, an' I sees 'e,
An' 'e knows I be a'ter 'e,
With a bloody great stick, an' 'alf a brick
An' blackbird, I'll 'ave 'e!

The story I heard was that this song used to be sung by young farm boys, whose tedious task it was to scare away birds from newly seeded fields. And I'd guess that the "Blackbird" (or "Black Bird") was probably a crow - they being notorious plunderers of arable fields.

Hope this helps somebody.

Subject: RE: 'Whur be yon blackbird too?'
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 11:04 PM

Lyrics don't seem to be available on the Wurzels page.  I know that I've come across this song recently, but I can't for the life of me remember where.  Here, at any rate, is a bit of it, from The Rent Collectors (Goon Show, January 17, 1957):

Where be that there blackbird to?
I know where he be.
He knows I, I knows he,
He knows I be after he!
Where be that blackbird to?
Up that wurzel tree! Hoi!

Malcolm

Subject: RE: 'Whur be yon blackbird too?'
From: little john cameron
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 06:18 PM

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~gunning/ajcutler.html

Subject: RE: 'Whur be yon blackbird too?'
From: little john cameron
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 06:16 PM

Here's the addy for the worzels
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~gunning/ajcutler.html
LJC

Subject: RE: 'Whur be yon blackbird too?'
From: little john cameron
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 05:59 PM

That was recorded by "The Worsels" about 10yrs ago
LJC

Subject: 'Whur be yon blackbird too?'
From:
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 05:50 PM

When I was growing up in Somerset during the 40s, I remember a song > which I believe was entitled "Where be yon blackbird too?". I don't know > if this was a genuine folk song or simply a ditty used to exploit the > West Country dialect. I recently heard a snatch of the same song in a > "Poldark" video which was set in 1700s Cornwall which suggests some > validity to the song. > > I would very much appreciate any information or sources that you can > suggest; I would particularly like to learn the rest of the lyric. > > Sincerely yours, > > Nick. Nichols