Lyr Req/Add: Dog and Gun? / The Yorkshire Couple

Subject: The Old Couple - comic song
From: Melbert
Date: 21 Oct 99 - 04:33 PM

Can anyone help me out with this song which I heard a year or two back in a folk program on BBC Radio2. I wrote down the name of the song and of the female duo who sang it and then cleverly lost the paper.

The song was basically an old (and corny) joke set to music (in the manner of the Bantam Cock, or The Rabbi and the Irish Priest).

The joke basically concerned an old couple approaching retirement, with the man worryiiong about how they would manage for money. His wife points to the row of houses opposite and informs heim that they, in fact, own the houses. She explains that every time they made love she put a few shillings away. He replies that she should have told him what she was doing and then he wouldn't have played away from home, so they could have bought the pub on the corner as well. She has to tell him that she has, in fact, bought the pub too - for the milkman!

I'd love to get a recording of the song if anyone can point me in the right direction.

Subject: RE: The Old Couple - comic song
From: Songbird
Date: 25 Oct 99 - 03:25 AM

Mel,

it was called the Yorkshire Couple and I believe Kate Rusby sang it on that programme. I liked it too so here you are. I hope you remember the tune.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE YORKSHIRE COUPLE (Jim Mackie)^^
From: Songbird
Date: 25 Oct 99 - 03:47 AM

The Yorkshire Couple

Its of a Yorkshire couple, this story I'll relate,
Who waited on retirement with apprehension great.
In their little mill tied cottage, said Amos feeling low,
We've to leave this house tomorrow, wherever shall we go.

Wherever shall we go, wherever shall we go.
We've to leave this house tomorrow, wherever shall we go.

Said Martha unto Amos, well don't you fret old lad,
The thought of your retirement, it ought to make you glad.
Since the minute we got married I've saved for a rainy day,
Each time that we made love I put half a crown away.

Do you see that row of cottages, down by Dog and Gun,
We hadn't been married but a year before I'd bought first one,
The second two years later, the third it brought me tears,
The fourth one took much longer, over twenty years.

Said Amos unto Martha, you know I love you so,
And now I see the wisdom of reaping what you sow.
But one thing vexes me though, why did you never tell,
If I hadn't of played away, I'd have had Dog and Gun as well.

Said Martha unto Amos, well you know I love you dear,
But when you said you were working late, well I knew where you were.
D'ye remember our old milkman, the one that were such fun,
Well I did the same wi' him, and I bought him Dog and Gun.
^^

Subject: RE: The Old Couple - comic song
From: Melbert
Date: 25 Oct 99 - 05:43 AM

That's the one!!!

Thanks a million, songbird

Mel

Subject: Old Dog & Duck
From: JCS
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 09:36 AM

I am looking for the lyrics of a song which I think is called "The Old Dog & Duck".

The theme is love and (in)fidelty.

I cannot remember exactly how the story goes but it is along the lines of every time the husband played away she had a visit from a lover. The money she put away each time went to buy the "Old Dog & Duck " - for the lover!!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE YORKSHIRE COUPLE (from Kate Rusby)^^
From: GUEST,Ed Pellow
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 09:55 AM

Kate Rusby sings it under the title "The Yorkshire Couple"

THE YORKSHIRE COUPLE

Its of a Yorkshire couple, this story I'll relate,
Who waited on retirement with apprehension great.
In their little mill tied cottage, said Amos feeling low,
We've to leave this house tomorrow, wherever shall we go?
    Wherever shall we go, wherever shall we go?
    We've to leave this house tomorrow, wherever shall we go?

Said Martha unto Amos, well don't you fret old lad
The thought of your retirement, it ought to make you glad.
Since the minute we got married I've saved for a rainy day
Each time that we made love I put half a crown away.

Do you see that row of cottages, down by Dog and Gun,
We hadn't been married but a year before I'd bought first one,
The second two years later, the third it brought me tears,
The fourth one took much longer, over twenty years.

Said Amos unto Martha, you know I love you so,
And now I see the wisdom of reaping what you sow.
But one thing vexes me though, why did you never tell,
If I hadn't of played away, I'd have had Dog and Gun as well.

Said Martha unto Amos, well you know I love you dear,
But when you said you were working late, well I knew where you were.
Do you remember our old milkman, the one that were such fun,
Well I did the same with him, and I bought him Dog and Gun.

Ed ^^

Subject: The Yorkshire Couple
From: Dorrie
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 04:57 PM

I don't know the full words if anybody knows the words please help. Dorrie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Yorkshire Couple
From: Branwen23
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 04:59 PM

can you post some of the lyrics to help get us started?

-branwen-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Yorkshire Couple
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 04:59 PM

Can you give us a line or two to identify the song better?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Yorkshire Couple
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 05:14 PM

You can find the song in the forum here

Ed

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Yorkshire Couple
From: JohnB
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 06:25 PM

Great song, never heard it before. What is the tune??? JohnB

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Yorkshire Couple
From: Dorrie
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 08:10 AM

THE ONLY BIT I CAN REMEMBER IS- If i hadn't played away i'd have had dog and gun aswell dog and gun as well dog and gun aswell oh if i hadn't played away i'd have had dog and gun aswell

Which is quite near the end but sorry i can't remember any more

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Yorkshire Couple
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 09:02 AM

Dorrie,

Did you follow the link I posted above?

Ed

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 02:19 PM

Anybody got a tune?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 02:49 PM

Joe,

Would a midi be OK? I really can't (be bothered to) understand ABC.

I'll try and dig a tape out and do something accurate - otherwise you'll have to rely on my memory - but that's the folk process, I guess...

Where should I send it?

Ed

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck
From: Dorrie
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 05:40 PM

Thank you thank you thank you sooooooooooo much it's been really bugging me. God in't mudcat ace love dorrie xxx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 07:03 PM

MIDI is the weapon of choice, Ed. Go for it. I'll really appreciate it. click on my name to e-mail me the MIDI, if you don't want to deal with MIDITEXT.
You sure contribute a lot of great songs and information.
-Joe Offer (click)-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 08:20 AM

G'day,
Thanks to Ed & Joe the tune for "The Yorkshire Couple" can be found here at the Mudcat MIDI site.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: Lyr Add: THE YORKSHIRE COUPLE (Jim Mackie)
From: JudeL
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 05:57 AM

DOG AND GUN

'Tis of a Yorkshire couple, this story I’ll relate,
Who're waitin' on retirement with apprehension great.
In a little mill tied cottage says Amos feelin' low,
“We're to leave this place tomorrow. Wherever shall we go?
    Wherever shall we go? Wherever shall we go?
    We're to leave this place tomorrow. Wherever shall we go?”

Said Martha unto Amos, “Now don't you fret, ol' lad.
The thought of your retirement it ought to make you glad.
E’er since that we got married, I’ve saved for a rainy day.
Each time that we made love I put half a crown away,
    Half a crown away, half a crown away.
    Each time we made love I put half a crown away.

“You know that row of cottages down by the Dog and Gun?
We'd scarce been married but a year before I’d bought first one.
The second two years later. The third it brought me tears.
The fourth it took much longer, all of forty years,
    All of forty years, all of forty years.
    The fourth it took much longer, all of forty years.”

Said Amos unto Martha, “You know I love you so,
And this just proves the wisdom of reaping what you sow.
But one thing puzzles me, though. Why did you never tell?
If I hadn't played away, I’d have Dog and Gun as well,
    Dog and Gun as well, Dog and Gun as well.
    If I hadn't played away, I’d have Dog and Gun as well.”

Said Martha unto Amos, “You know I love you dear,
But when you said you were workin' late, well, I knew where you were.
You remember our old milkman, the one that was such fun?
Well, I did the same with him and bought him the Dog and Gun,
    Bought him Dog and Gun, bought him Dog and Gun.
    Yes, I did the same with him and bought him the Dog and Gun.”


***
Don't know if you're still lookin for it but I got this version about 4 years ago in Chippenham. By the way, the Dog and Gun was a common name for a pub.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Yorkshire Couple
From: JudeL
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 06:09 AM

P.S. its sung to the tune of the female drummerboy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Yorkshire Couple
From: GUEST,Sooze (at work)
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 10:07 AM

I cadged the song from the singing of Kate Rusby although I don't think she has recorded it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Yorkshire Couple
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 01:17 PM

The lyrics were posted last year, here:  The Yorkshire Couple,  and there is a midi of the tune at the  Mudcat Midi Pages:

Click to Play

It was also posted back in 1999, here:  The Old Couple - comic song

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 01:40 PM

Les from Hull could come in on this, cos I know Maggie sings it, but i don't know whether the title is the same.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 01:48 PM

We now have 2 threads on this, could someone consolidate? The other is here It will make searching later a lot easier if it could be done......

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 01:53 PM

Blowed if I know why people have started posting to this thread again, but I've put links in the latest thread to this one, and to another from 1999...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 01:57 PM

(hi, Malcolm!) I stuck it in the help forum too.

Subject: Yorkshire Couple, The
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 05:29 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics to a slightly bawdy song that I heard Kate Rusby perform in concert the other night called The Yorkshire Couple. The lyrics were about a couple who put away a crown every time they made love. Any help would be appreciated!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yorkshire Couple, The
From: GUEST,Willa
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 05:35 PM

There's been a thread about this within the last few months; you'll probably find it with a forum search. Otherwise, Les from Hull will probably help, 'cos Maggie sings it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yorkshire Couple, The
From: GUEST,Willa
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 05:38 PM

Can't do blicky's (yet) but the thread was in March; do a forum search putting Yorkshire couple in the subject line and you'll find it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yorkshire Couple, The
From: Pene Azul
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 05:38 PM

Here's that thread. Also, here are the lyrics.

Jeff

Subject: Lyr Add: THE YORKSHIRE COUPLE (Jim Mackie)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 07:53 PM

Here's the version in the Digital Tradition, the original in italics and a repaired version in regular typeface. Any suggestions for corrections?

THE YORKSHIRE COUPLE

Its of a Yorkshire couple, this story I'll relate,
Who waited on retirement with apprehension great.
In their little mill tied cottage, said Amos feeling low,
We've to leave this house tomorrow, wherever shall we go.
Wherever shall we go, wherever shall we go.
We've to leave this house tomorrow, wherever shall we go.

Said Martha unto Amos, well don't you fret old lad,
The thought of your retirement, it ought to make you glad.
Since the minute we got married I've saved for a rainy day,
Each time that we made love I put half a crown away.
Do you see that row of cottages, down by Dog and Gun,
We hadn't been married but a year before I'd bought first one,

The second two years later, the third it brought me tears,
The fourth one took much longer, over twenty years.
Said Amos unto Martha, you know I love you so,
And now I see the wisdom of reaping what you sow.
But one thing vexes me though, why did you never tell,
If I hadn't of played away, I'd have had Dog and Gun as well.

Said Martha unto Amos, well you know I love you dear,
But when you said you were working late, well I knew where you were.
D'ye remember our old milkman, the one that were such fun,
Well I did the same wi' him, and I bought him Dog and Gun.

@humor @aging @money
filename[ YORKCOUP
SB
apr00

---

THE YORKSHIRE COUPLE

It's of a Yorkshire couple, this story I'll relate,
Who waited on retirement with apprehension great.
In their little mill-tied cottage, said Amos feeling low,
We've to leave this house tomorrow, wherever shall we go?
    Wherever shall we go, wherever shall we go.
    We've to leave this house tomorrow, wherever shall we go?

Said Martha unto Amos, well don't you fret old lad,
The thought of your retirement, it ought to make you glad.
Since the minute we got married I've saved for a rainy day,
Each time that we made love I put half a crown away.
    I put half a crown away....

Do you see that row of cottages, down by Dog and Gun,
We hadn't been married but a year before I'd bought first one,
The second two years later, the third it brought me tears,
The fourth one took much longer, over twenty years.
    Over twenty years...

Said Amos unto Martha, you know I love you so,
And now I see the wisdom of reaping what you sow.
But one thing vexes me though, why did you never tell,
If I hadn't of played away, I'd have had Dog and Gun as well.
    Dog and Gun as well....

Said Martha unto Amos, well you know I love you dear,
But when you said you were working late, well I knew where you were.
D'ye remember our old milkman, the one that were such fun,
Well I did the same wi' him, and I bought him Dog and Gun.
    I bought him Dog and Gun...

@humor @aging @money
filename[ YORKCOUP
SB
apr00

---

There's a YouTube recording of the song here (click)

There is no listing for this song in the Traditional Ballad Index, in Roud, or or in the Folktrax archive.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Yorkshire Couple
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 05:44 AM

The song was written by Jim Mackie from Pontefract, who worked at The Quaker school in Ackworth!
His CD says he has a web site at www.jimackie.com

I think the song may have been added to by Roy Atkinson and I believe Dave Burland also sang it

It is not traditional!

Ray

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Yorkshire Couple
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 05:57 AM

Just north of Bradford, near Haworth, there is a hill with a few cottages and the Dog & Gun. Stayed there last year when playing locally.

Musing on whether it was the inspiration or not?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck / Dog & Gun
From: GRex
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 01:40 PM

The tune that I use is the same as the trad song 'The Female Drummer'

               GRex

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck / Dog & Gun
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 07:00 PM

That's the only tune I've heard to it too and it's sung a lot in Yorkshire.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck / Dog & Gun
From: JohnB
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 11:52 PM

They just don't listen to you Malcolm, not even ten years later..
On the brighter side, John Boden sang it on his Folk Song a Day blog
✓        Yorkshire Couple        2:32        29/08/2010        Track #67 from Jon Boden's A Folk Song A Day
Probably not available for free anymore, but avilable on the August CD or paid download.
The Kate Rusby version is on You tube but you have to search a bit, I forget what the title of the clip is, it is from a live concert.
JohnB.

Subject: RE: The Yorkshire Couple
From: Artful Codger
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 12:16 AM

Kate Rusby clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nLM0azB0H0

"Yorkshire Couple" is in the clip title (now), so it should be easy to find, unless you're searching for "Dog and Gun".

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Yorkshire Couple
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 05:40 AM

I often see Jim and his wife setting out in walking boots and hiking gear, so it isn't impossible that they know the Dog & Gun at Leeming, near Keighley. Lots of good walking in Wuthering Heights country.
That said, there are other real Dog and Gun pubs in Leeds, Bradford, Dewsbury and also north of Keighley, at Glusburn. Jim is from Pontefract, so Leeds or Dewsbury would be closer but not as interesting a walk.
Chances are the pub name was just a better rhyme than the Red Lion.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Dog & duck / Dog & Gun
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 06:00 AM

Please be sure that you check the other thread just above!

It is not a traditional song, but was written by Jim Mackie of Pontefract!

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Dog and Duck? / The Yorkshire Couple
From: GUEST,Paul the novice
Date: 27 Feb 14 - 08:34 AM

Hi
Does anyone know the chords to this song please.

I am a relative novic and would love to strum valong to this

Paul

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Dog and Duck? / The Yorkshire Couple
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 27 Feb 14 - 11:05 AM

Ray is correct - the estimable Jim Mackie of Pontefract is indeed the author. But the final verse was added later, by (I believe) Roy Atkinson (not of Pontefract!), and the song is almost never heard without that final verse.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Dog and Gun? / The Yorkshire Couple
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Mar 21 - 06:19 PM

Other songs to this melody:
Yellow's on the Broom
Your Daughters and Your Sons (Tommy Sands)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Dog and Gun? / The Yorkshire Couple
From: GUEST,JeffB
Date: 02 Mar 21 - 05:20 AM

The inspiration for the song is likely to be "Owd Ailse’s Thrift", a poem by William Barron (1865 – 1927), who wrote in Lancashire dialect under the name Bill o’ Jacks. In the poem, an old weaver comes home to tearfully tell his wife that he has been dismissed because he is now unable to keep up with the younger weavers, whereupon his wife informs him that she had saved and bought their house long before. Although the story seems far-fetched, a note to the poem on the allpoetry.com website says,

"The facts of this piece seem unlikely given the conditions existing at the time but it is a matter of fact that, in 1883, it was shown, in the very unpoetical atmosphere of the Blackburn County Court, that a Mrs. Houlgrave, whose husband never earned more than twenty-two shillings a week, had not only brought up a family, but had, unknown to her husband, saved £364 out of his earnings. A sum easily worth a hundred times more today!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Dog and Gun? / The Yorkshire Couple
From: The Man from UNCOOL
Date: 03 Mar 21 - 08:08 AM

Jim Mackie's website, given above in 2010, seems now defunct. A search for the same, using 2 'm's, led to a lumber supplier in the US. The only results to a search for JM on Mudcat is this thread, and I get nothing at all on the wider Net, using "Jim Mackie" Pontefract.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Dog and Gun? / The Yorkshire Couple
From: cnd
Date: 03 Mar 21 - 10:08 PM

Here's how the site appeared in 2010, when padgett shared the link:

https://web.archive.org/web/20100525194937/http://www.jimackie.com/

Not much on there. Looks like his site went offline some time between September 2017 and March 2018. The contents never changed much that I saw.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Dog and Gun? / The Yorkshire Couple
From: r.padgett
Date: 04 Mar 21 - 03:24 AM

Jim wasn't a young lad in 2010 ~ not seen or heard of for sometime

Ray