Lyr Req: fathers grave

Subject: fathers grave
From: Rasta
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 11:54 PM

I was at a pickin party a few years ago and an old plumber friend sang this song with a ice cold beer in his hand (they are moving fathers grave to build a sewer) a really funny tune I think the Clancy Bros. did it way back when but I cant find the lyrics. Does anybody know this tune thanx and be happy -----RASTAAAAAA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Giac
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 12:01 AM

Here ya go.

MOVING FATHER'S GRAVE and MOVING FATHER'S GRAVE (2)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Catrin
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 12:04 AM

One of the things I think is amazing about mudcat, is that someone can post a request like this and get an answer in (literally) five mins!!

Way hay

Catrin

Subject: Lyr Add: FATHER'S GRAVE (from Tom Paley)
From: GUEST,Allan S.
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 09:21 AM

I heard it from Tom Paley as follows back in 1955

They are shifting father's grave to build a sewer.
They are shifting it regardless of expense.
They are shifting his remains
To lay down shit-house drains
Just to please some nearby residence.

But father in his life was ne'er a quitter.
I'm sure he will not be a quitter now.
But he'll dress up in a sheet
And haunt that shit-house seat
And only let them shit when he'll allow.

Now, won't there be some pangs of constipation?
And won't those shit-bound bastards curse and rave?
But they'll get what they deserve,
For they had the bloody nerve
To bugger up a British workman's grave.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 20-Aug-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: GUEST,Allan S.
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 09:42 AM

Sorry I just remembered the 2nd. Verse

Now what's the use of having a religion?
For when you die your troubles never cease.
For some high society twit
Needs a pipeline for a shit.
They won't let poor father rest in peace.

Subject: Lyr Add: MOVING FATHER'S GRAVE (Oscar Brand) ^^^
From: Tiger
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 04:00 PM

I've got a longer one. :-)

MOVING FATHER'S GRAVE - Oscar Brand

They're diggin' up Father's grave to build a sewer.
They're doing the job regardless of expense.
They are moving his remains
To make way for outhouse drains,
To irrigate some rich bloke's residence.

Now, what's the use of having a religion,
If, when you're dead, your troubles never cease?
Just because some bloody fool
Wants a pipeline for his tool,
They won't let poor old Father rest in peace.

Yes, they're diggin' up Father's grave to build a sewer.
They're shovin' his blasted coffin all around.
But Father's not the type
To make way for sewage pipe,
And he's not goin' to take this lyin' down.

And his ghost will rise up nightly in the crapper,
And he'll haunt the place from double seat to drain,
And the councilmen will quail,
The alderman turn pale.
They'll never try that ruddy trick again.

Now, Father, in his day, was not a quitter,
And I don't suppose he'll be a quitter now,
And in his winding sheet,
He will haunt that privy seat,
And nobody will sit he don't allow.

Now, won't there be some bloody consternation,
And won't the bastards rant and roar and rave?
Which is more than they deserve,
For havin' the bloody nerve,
To muck about a British workman's grave.

^^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 07:44 PM

Not that Max ever seems to mind, but there's some wasted space and effort here. First, this song's in the DT - which is why it's always worth looking there before starting a thread. Second, Giac pointed this out, and if subsequent posters had checked his link they could have posted only the bits in their versions that depart from the DT version, rather than re-keying the whole song.

Rasta, you asked about the tune, too, which is indeed a fine one. And that, as far as I can see, is not in the DT. I could send this to you - or to the Cat for that matter - as an image (gif, jpeg or whatever) if that's any use, but I've not yet mastered ABC or any other software for writing musical notation. Anyway, say if you still need tune, and I'll bite this bullet one way or the other.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 08:45 PM

Well, Tiger's version was a bit different from the two in the database, but not enough to warrant inclusion. I found the tune in Silverman's "62 Outrageous Songs," so I'll transcribe and post it sometime today. I think that makes five songs I'm transcribing today. I hope more of you learn to use ABC or a MIDI program like Noteworthy Composer.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 08:52 PM

The only problem is Joe, we have to shell out big bucks for that program. The shareware one only lasts for 30 days. I'll stick to ABC. I got a lot of tunes to add, but my questions are not getting answered!

Subject: Noteworthy Composer
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 09:34 PM

Hmmm. That's something I hadn't heard, Mbo. I wonder if somebody could try Noteworthy and see if they now have a thirty-day limit on use. It used to be that you could use the limited (unregistered) version of Noteworthy for as long as you wished, but that it could only save a file ten times (which should be more than enough). If I used a registered version on a file created on an unregistered version, the "unregistered copy" restrictions were removed.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Rasta
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 09:47 PM

THANX GIAC CATRIN ALLAN TIGER FIOR MBO AND OF COURSE bIG jOE allan is there an album tom paley cut this on or oscar brand , maybe i can look it up thanx again a big help THE RASTAAAAAA MAN

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: GUEST,Allan S.
Date: 30 Jul 00 - 09:15 AM

Not on any album I know of. I have a tape somewhere with Tom saying how he was promped to sing a Folk Song in an English class at CCNY. His friend said sing The british working man's Grave. Tom did not think it would proper however his prof. thinging it was a good labor song insisted. Tom sang it, the prof. agreed it was not proper. This would be in the late 1940's or so as I heard him sing it 1954.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 04:06 PM

The Clancy Bros. version that started this thread includes an added tune that goes: "My old man said follow the van but don't dilly dally on the way / Off went the van with the old man in it, I followed on .....?"

Can anyone out there complete this for me? I've listened to it over and over but I can't understand the lyric.

Thanks,

Dan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Mbo
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 04:09 PM

Sure Dan! It's the chorus to "My Old Man" and goes:

My old man said "Follow the van!
And don't dilly dally on the way!"
Off went the van with me old man in it
I walked behind with the old cock linnett
I dillied, I dallied, I dallied and I dillied
I lost me way and don't know where to roam
You can't trust the Specials like the oldtime coppers
When you can't find you're way home!!

Ha ha! My most favorite version of the song!

--Matt

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Shanti
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 05:26 PM

Thanks Mbo for the lyrics to the last verse of the Clancy version. I'd always thought the song itself was something from the English Music Halls, but if it was, it has certainly been confiscated by others. Of course, I have no idea who wrote it for the music hall stage.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: GUEST,Hutzul
Date: 06 Aug 00 - 12:19 AM

Question: I assume "old cock linnet" is an male bird, but why would you follow your father to the drunk tank with it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Mbo
Date: 06 Aug 00 - 12:26 AM

Because they were moving!

Look for "My Old Man" in the DT, and you can see the whole song. The Clancys only tack a bit of it on at the end of "Moving Father's Grave" for fun.

--Matt

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Micca
Date: 06 Aug 00 - 06:37 AM

Meebs, not only moving, but (I have always understood)doing a "Moonlight flit" that is moving to avoid paying the arrears of rent and to escape other debts.
and line 3 should, I think, read
" off went the van with my home packed in it
i followed on with my old cock linnet"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: GUEST,Dan
Date: 06 Aug 00 - 10:07 AM

Thanks, Mbo, for the "My Old Man" lyrics. It was the "cock linnet" that kept throwing me off. I always thought he somehow had found Molly Malone along the way and couldn't understand what the "cockle" was in!

Dan

Subject: Tune Add: MOVING FATHER'S GRAVE
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Aug 00 - 03:51 PM

MIDI file: SEWERMOV.MID

Timebase: 192

Name: MOVING FATHER'S GRAVE
Text: Generated by NoteWorthy Composer
Key: G
TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Start
0576 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 66 110 0432 0 66 000 0144 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 71 110 0528 0 71 000 0240 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 68 110 0094 0 68 000 0002 1 69 110 0528 0 69 000 0048 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 66 110 0432 0 66 000 0144 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 70 110 0094 0 70 000 0002 1 71 110 0528 0 71 000 0240 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0720 0 67 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Moving Father's Grave
M:4/4
Q:1/4=120
K:G
D8|BBBBBBAG|GF6B|dAABccB^A|B8|EEE^DEB3|EEE^DEB3|
EE^DEFGFG|^GA6D|-DBBBBBBA|GGF6|BdAABccB|^AB7|
-BEEE^DEB2|EEEE^DEB2|-BcdAABcc|BAG6|-G3/2||

I've also sent the tune to Mudcat MIDIs.
-Joe Offer-^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Bert
Date: 07 Aug 00 - 04:33 PM

Here's the rest of the story. I sing a slightly different version to any of those above. You can hear it in the Mudcat Radio Archives (can't remember which week).

Bert.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Big Red
Date: 07 Aug 00 - 06:26 PM

Does anyone know the author of FATHER? Or when the song first surfaces? I have the words and music in an old book but no author noted. The book is a paperback from the 60's and is falling apart. Apparently all the songs were "traditional" as no authors are given.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Bert
Date: 08 Aug 00 - 11:22 AM

I would guess it's a Music Hall song, about a hundred years or more old.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 08 Aug 00 - 03:42 PM

The illustrator Charles Keeping included it in a wonderful collection of music hall and parlour songs, "Cockney Ding Dong," published by Kestrel Books (in association with EMI Publishing) in 1975. It's a well researched book, and the fact that the credit for this song is "collected by Charles Keeping" suggests to me that finding out who wrote it will not be easy.

My guess though is that it was indeed written. It's surely too polished a song to have just grown.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Bert
Date: 08 Aug 00 - 03:46 PM

In 'Songs of Peace, Freedom and Protest' Tom Glazer claims it was 'collected' in 1967.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 10:10 PM

G'day,
Thanks to Joe the tune for "They're Moving Father's Grave To Build A Sewer" can be found here at the Mudcat MIDI site.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Bugsy
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 05:00 AM

Has anyone got the guitar chords to this please?


Cheers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Lighter
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 07:57 AM

The song was sung in the British army during World War II. Regardless of the actual history of the London sewer system, as Bert noted above, I'd be surprised if the song itself appeared before the 1930's. The style of humor seems rather modern.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 08:51 AM

This style of British humour goes back to Chaucer and I doubt it was new then.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Lighter
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 09:01 AM

Right, but I meant the *verbal* style.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Feb 07 - 03:12 PM

So in summary no one can trace this song back before World War 2 but suspect it was composed in the 1930's.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 11:54 AM

Charley, that's my guess only. A further guess is that, as the title might suggest, it started as a parody of socialist-type songs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 04:27 PM

Though the first version is said to be taken from the Clancy Bros. Live in Ireland album, the words I remember from there are different:

verse 1, line 3: nine-inch > five-inch
verse 2, line 2: If while you're dead your troubles never cease
verse 2, line 3: If some posh city chap wants a pipeline to his privy
(This is the only 3rd line in this song without internal rhyme. Was it maybe changed because the audience is expecting an apposite word that rhymes with chap?)
verse 2, line 4: They'll never let a British workman rest in peace
(O rest in peace...)
verse 3, line 3: For when the job's complete, he'll haunt that privy seat
verse 3, line 4: He'll only let 'em sit when he'll allow
verse 4, line 2: And won't those city chappies rant and rave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Gurney
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 01:25 AM

I've always sung 'They're moving Grandpa's grave.'

A linnet was a popular songbird to keep, once. A finch, I think. Replaced in people's affection by the canary. Or perhaps canaries were bred from them, because I think they are also finches.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: GUEST,Bert-repost from 19 Feb 2015
Date: 21 Feb 15 - 02:33 PM



British Workman's Grave   
Traditional
                                           D             A         E7
They are shifting Daddy's bones to build a sewer
                   A                         D                      A
They are moving them regardless of expense.
                                           D                   B7                        E7
They are shifting his remains just to lay down karzi drains
       A               E7             A
To satisfy the local residents.
   E7    A
Gor blimey!

Now what's the use of having a religion?
If after death your troubles never cease
'Cause some high society twit, wants a place to go and sit
they won't let the poor old geezer rest in peace peace.
Gor blimey!

In his life the Old Man never was a quitter
And I don't think he'll be a quitter now.
no he'll dress up in his sheet, and he'll haunt the karzi seat
And only let them in when he'll allow.
Gor blimey!

Now won't there be some pangs of constipation
And won't those high born bleeders shout and rave!
But they'll get what they deserve, 'cause they had the bloody' nerve
To desecrate a British workman's grave.
Gor blimey!
To desecrate a British workman's grave.

I learned this from Tom Glazer's book 'Songs of Peace, Freedom and Protest.

I added the karzi and the Gor Blimey bit because it seemed to fit.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Oct 17 - 09:59 AM

This old ditty came back to me this morning.

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jan 18 - 09:54 AM

I have recently been told that 'They're Moving Father's Grave' was written by Jimmy Kennedy, a song writer from Northern Ireland who is said to have written over 2000 songs in his career of which 200 became worldwide hits, including 'Isle of Capri' and 'Red Sails in the Sunset' Could it be possible that he did in fact write 'They're Moving Father's Grave'?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Lighter
Date: 18 Jan 18 - 10:06 AM

Take into account the research reported on this thread:

/mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=99060

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: fathers grave
From: Joe_F
Date: 19 Jan 18 - 06:28 PM

Prefix http://.