Lyr Req: Leeds a Seaport Town

Subject: Lyr Req: When Leeds becomes a seaport to
From: GUEST,Shanty Kees
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 05:41 AM

Is there anybody who can help me to the words of the song: "When Leeds becomes a seaport town"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Leeds becomes a seaport to
From: GUEST,Skipjack
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 11:16 AM

I figure they'll be written pretty soon!

Skipjack

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Leeds becomes a seaport to
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 01:17 PM

I bought the CD last summer, but there are no printed lyrics with it, so I'll have to see if I can make time to take them down. Don't hold your breath, I'm rather busy in November!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Leeds becomes a seaport to
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Aug 02 - 10:58 AM

For the record, "When Leeds Becomes a Seaport Town" is included in the album, They're Coming Back to the Water by Jeff Dennison and Benny Graham, Folksound FCD 47.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Leeds becomes a seaport to
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 12 Aug 02 - 11:38 AM

Jim

Yes, but the lyrics aren't included in that either ... the CD notes say Jeff and Benny's version comes from the Broadside collection in Leeds Reference Library.

Kitty

Subject: Lyr Add: LEEDS - A SEAPORT TOWN (Anon / Jon Raven)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 13 Aug 02 - 05:00 PM

This is the best I can do - the lyrics are not easy to understand, so corrections are welcome (doubtful expressions indicated in bold):

LEEDS - A SEAPORT TOWN
(Anon / Jon Raven)

Chorus:
Thus't'll be, I'll bet you a crown
When Leeds becomes a seaport town

Oh dear oh dear this a curious age is
Alteration all the rage is
Young and old in the stream are moving
All in the general cry, Improving!
From the exhibition I brought news down
They're going to make it a seaport town
Instead of factories and retailers
Nothing you'll see but ships and sailors

All over the town there'll be boats and barges
Men o' war, ships that never so large is
Steamers backwards and forwards a-towing
You ride for nothing - they pay you for going
Old sailors swearin' spars a-batter
And, Heave ya ho and handsparks' patter
And strange sails crowding every day
Sailing and anchoring in Leeds Bay

Oh the Liverpool gents they'll all be undone
Here there will be nought but fun done
Pats of wilder ? running their rigs, sir
Landing their butter, their bullocks and their pigs, sir
And then, to make us merry and frisky
Mealy potatoes and barrels of whisky
New-laid eggs, a twelvemonth taken
And old maids with money as crusty as bacon

Within short time you'll have trade enough, sirs
All over the world you'll send your stuff, sirs
Goods from every prime and nation
All come here for embarkation
Machinery and cloth and coals and carrots
And in return they'll get cold parrots
Dragoons, racoons and Spanish donkeys
Chase cockatoos and ringtailed monkeys

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Leeds becomes a seaport to
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 13 Aug 02 - 06:56 PM

See this version at the Bodleian Seaport Town of .... - a town of your own choice may be made!

From that version your questionable words are:

ships that never so large is look OK.
sailors a batting
handspikes clattering
Pats, half wild
goods for every clime and nation
and in turn receive Poll Parrots

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Leeds becomes a seaport to
From: Shanty Kees
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 03:03 PM

Thank you all for your help.

Jim, I do have the CD you mentioned, but as English is not my native tongue I couldn't understand all the words.

Herga Kitty, see you in Whitby, I'll sail from Holland tomorrow. I'll be in the Wellington most of the evening's.

Susanne, thanks . Are you Herma's friend?

Guest MCP I am going to have a look at the "Bodleian" now.

Kees

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Leeds becomes a seaport to
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 03:54 PM

Hi Kees, yes I am. Glad to see you've become a member, and enjoy your trip!
Mick, thanks for the amendments. I'm not sure about the first two (grammar in one case, scanning in the other), but I'll listen again. And please - what are Poll Parrots???

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Leeds becomes a seaport to
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 06:07 PM

I'd assumed that Poll was as in Polly, a common name for a parrot!

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Leeds becomes a seaport to
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 02 Sep 02 - 08:02 PM

Correction: The last but one line starts
Baboons (not Dragoons!)
However, I'm no closer to knowing what a Poll parrot is!