Lyr/Chords Req: We'll Have a May Day (Matt McGinn)

Subject: we'll have a may day
From: kelv
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 03:32 PM

dear folkies does anybody out there have the lyrics to WE'LL HAVE A MAY DAY. I think it was performed by Mat maggine? thanks for your help.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 04:07 PM

It's Matt McGinn, and no, I didn't have any luck finding lyrics. Sorry.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 04:48 PM

It's on a CD that Pete Coe brought out about eighteen months ago. It'll be on the Backshift label, and Pete has his own website I think.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: Kernow John
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 05:14 PM

Kelv

Mike Harding played this by Pete Coe this week. I taped the prog so I'll see if I can transcribe it.
KJ

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 05:22 PM

I found the Coe website, but no lyrics there either. Mat maginne, indeed. Sometimes really bugs me about spelling. Maybe a good reason to learn to spell/type is so a person can do their own searches on the net? It really is difficult to find something if you can't spell it correctly.

Sorcha, only slightly grumpy today.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: Kernow John
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 05:27 PM

Know what you mean Sorcha but with me it's maths. Can't do spelling but it really annoys me when people cant see how simple the logic is in maths.
KJ

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 05:34 PM

And I can't do maths, LOL!! Arithmetic and geometry I can do, because they are real, countable, solid things, but algebra, calc, trig, etc,.......forget it!! I can't see the connections. I have a use in my life for Arithmetic and geometry (checkbook, quilts, house painting, etc.) but for the life of me I can't reduce polynomials........

Which is really a little odd, I know, because I can do it with words or ideas, just not numbers. I think maybe I didn't ever have the right teacher.......(but back then, girls weren't supposed to "get" maths......

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: Kernow John
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 05:48 PM

Sorcha
Same over here back when I was young. Maths wasn't ladylike.
KJ

Subject: Lyr Add: WE'LL HAVE A MAY DAY (Matt McGinn)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 07:39 PM

WE'LL HAVE A MAY DAY
(Matt McGinn)

Chorus:
We'll have a May Day My O My O we'll have a May Day then
We'll have a May Day My O My O we'll have a May Day then

I have friends in London town, the finest ever seen
And I have some in Swansea and I've some in Aberdeen
We're all Labour good and true, and I'll tell you what we're going to do
We're going to fight this fight right through and we'll have a May Day then

Back in '45 they marched, from barrack room and mill
Determined they would make a change, for they had had their fill
From the kitchen sink and coal they came, every Labour man and dame
And shortly we'll be doing the same and we'll have a May Day then

Our faithers fought this fight before, and thought that they had won
You should have seen the boss turn green and how the man could run
But when our faithers turned their backs, the boss came again to dodge his tax
But the next time we'll no be so lax and we'll have a May Day then

They're never ever satisfied, though millions they have made
But still they think that you and I are grossly overpaid
There's nothing that they widnae steal, they even grudge your kids a meal
But very soon you'll hear them squeal and we'll have a May Day then

We'll join in jubilation and the big brass band you'll hear
As we march on in triumph to the future with a cheer
But as we greet the newborn day, the piper he'll have a tune to play
A lament for the sharks that are on their way and we'll have a May Day then

From: 'McGinn of the Calton', p 173. The music's given, but I can't read it...

Written less than 40 years ago, and the next generation is facing the same fight again - some things never seem to change!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 08:47 PM

Very, very good, skw!! I'm glad you found this. McGinn lyrics are not easy to find.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: kelv
Date: 16 Apr 01 - 05:47 AM

Thanks Susanne [skw], very much appreciated.Glad to see you did'nt bother about the spelling like some I could mention,

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 16 Apr 01 - 02:49 PM

Just out of interest the Music Week magazine New Releases list for March 5th includes the CD 'Return of the Two Heided Man' by Matt McGinn on the REL label RECD538. Don't know what titles though.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: kelv
Date: 16 Apr 01 - 03:57 PM

Thanks for the info,I'll check it out.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 16 Apr 01 - 07:37 PM

Kelv, I DO bother about spelling a lot (my own in particular), but I also know how difficult it is to render accurately a name you've never seen in writing, and I suspected that might be the reason in your case. Happy Easter!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: we'll have a may day
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Apr 01 - 07:56 PM

Here's a link to Pete Coe's website - We'll have a May Day is on the CD Long Company which came out in 1997, and you can get it through the website.

Great song, and he does it well. Mind, singing about May Day and the triumph of Labour feels a bit ironic after what happened in the wake of May 97. (I've got a May Day song myself, written a year or so on from the election, bitter but trying to keep hopeful.)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: We'll Have a May Day (Matt McGinn)
From: GUEST,Gazza2
Date: 20 Jul 14 - 03:13 PM

Hi,
Did anyone ever find any chords to go with this? Election coming up again next year and this needs singing by as many of us as possible!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: We'll Have a May Day (Matt McGinn)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jul 14 - 03:50 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: We'll Have a May Day (Matt McGinn)
From: GUEST,Gazza2
Date: 23 Jul 14 - 05:04 PM

Refresh-hopefully!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: We'll Have a May Day (Matt McGinn)
From: sleepyjon
Date: 24 Jul 14 - 02:21 PM

You'll find a version on YouTube here I'm not familiar with the song so don't know how good a version it is. If you get stuck trying to pick out the chords post again (or PM) and I'll have a go.

SJ

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: We'll Have a May Day (Matt McGinn)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 25 Jul 14 - 10:21 AM

Pretty good version and another on the Matt McGinn website: www.mattmcginn.info.
In the McGinn of the Calton book it's scored in Dm: odd couple of notes in the chorus, where they've put a Bflat, but most people, including on the 2 videos go up to the D above.
My suggestions then:

Chorus:
(Dm) We'll have a May Day my O My O
We'll have a (C)May day (Dm)then.
(Dm) We'll have a May day my O my O
We'll have a (C)May Day (Dm)then.

Verse:
(Dm) I have friends in London Town,
The finest (C)ever (Dm)seen.
(Dm) And I have some in Swansea,
And I've (F)some in Aber(A)deen.
(Dm) We're all Labour good and true,
And I'll (F)tell you what we're (Dm)going to do.
We're going to fight this fight right through
And we'll have a (C)May day (Dm)then.

I have just shown where the chord changes prior to the word where it does. If you want it lower, try Am instead of Dm, G for C, C for F, and E for A.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: We'll Have a May Day (Matt McGinn)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 26 Jul 14 - 03:01 AM

There is a version of this song on "McGinn of the Calton" the tribute to Matt McGinn that used to be performed by the Glasgow group Stramash.

Here's a link to the shortened live TV version of the show where Robbie Coltrane does the links and Anne Neilson sings May Day at about 44 mins in...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_zftwv_L2qc

Greentrax brought out a recording of Stramash's show where Adam McNaaugtan did the links (better than Coltrane IMO) but nothing could beat the live performance by Stramash if you were lucky enough to see it.

Fine singing by Adam McNaughtan, Anne Neilson, Bob Blair, Kevin Mitchell,and the late John Eaglesham.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: We'll Have a May Day (Matt McGinn)
From: GUEST,Gazza2
Date: 26 Jul 14 - 02:20 PM

Many thanks to you all. Now to try to sing it!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: We'll Have a May Day (Matt McGinn)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 03:43 AM

Yes that's the same video as on the Matt McGinn website: it auto-launches itself if you go to the W-Z section. You get the other one, sung by friends Stuart Miller et al, if you click on the song name.