Lyr Req: Parody of Arthur McBride

Subject: Parody of Willie McBride
From: GUEST,John Barden
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 05:37 PM

Heard a brilliant parody of that classic, but totally sung to death song "Willie McBride".

Does anybody have the text to this?

Would greatly appreciate any help here!

Regards.

John the bard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parody of Willie McBride
From: GUEST,John Barden
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 05:41 PM

Sorry!

Really am looking for parody to song entitled "Willie McBride and not "Arthur McBride". These things can happen.

JB

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parody of Arthur McBride
From: Snuffy
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 05:41 PM

Arthur or Willie?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parody of Arthur McBride
From: mousethief
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 05:43 PM

I'd be happy if I could reach parity with Arthur's Willie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parody of Arthur McBride
From: Snuffy
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 05:49 PM

We must have both posted at the same time!

Willie McBride is really entitled "No Man's Land". There is a song in the database called BOGLED, and another called WILLIE MCBRIDE'S REPLY , which are not straight parodies, but they may amuse you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parody of Arthur McBride
From: mousethief
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 05:51 PM

This "Willie McBride" is the song where the guy is moping on the gravestone of the kid that died in WW1? Where the refrain ends "Did the pipes play 'The Flowers of the Forest'?" THAT Willie McBride?

Alex

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parody of Arthur McBride
From: GUEST,JB
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 02:04 AM

Yes,

THAT Willie McBride!

JB

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parody of Arthur McBride
From: Hillheader
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 02:19 AM

The Song is called "Green Fields of France" written by Eric Bogle.

I understand it was written after a visit to a Commonwealth War Graveyard on the Somme and took the tune from the Irish song "Arthur McBride" hence the reason (plus the fact it mentions 1916 - the date of the Easter Rising in Ireland) it is often thought of as Irish.

It's on the database as "Green Fields of France"

Eric Bogle also wrote "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda", another anti-war song about the ANZAC forces in Gallipoli.

Regards

Davebhoy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parody of Arthur McBride
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 02:43 AM

As Dave says, the battle of the Somme was also in 1916. There is an Irish connection though as many thousands of Irish volunteers fought on the Somme ,and many lie with young Wille.
Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parody of Arthur McBride
From: The Walrus at work
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 09:02 AM

Just as a point of interest, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists 4 "W. McBrides" as having died in 1916,
One was an Able Seaman RN, One a Rifleman 8th Royal Irish Rifles - commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial (No Known Grave) and
Two, both privates in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers are buried in Authuile Military Cemetery.
Both of the Fusiliers died BEFORE the Battle of the Somme, presumably part of the "wastage"<1> of trench warfare.

Walrus

<1> "wastage", a euphemism for men killed by a variety of means from the deliberate targeting by a sniper to the lottery of artillery (See: "The 12 Days" by Sidney Rogerson)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parody of Arthur McBride
From: Maryrrf
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 09:17 AM

I don't think Arthur McBride and Willy McBride have the same tune.

Subject: Lyr Add: GREEN FIELDS OF FRANCE (Parody)
From: Melbert
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 12:26 PM

Is this the parody you mean?

You've all heard that song about Willie McBride
If I hear it once more it'll drive me wild
It's sung in the spingtime and sung in the fall
It's sung mostly by people whoi can't sing at all
You go to the pub of a saturday night
for a pint and a song and sure things is alright
until some drunken eejit sits down by your side
and says sing us that song about Willie McBride

You pretend you don't know it but that will not do
for now he's determined to sing it to you
He spills half your beer and starts off in a key
that was never intended for him, you or me
And ten minutes later you know it gets worse
'cos you now realise that he knows every verse
With his arm round your shoulder ('cos now he's your friend)
He's determined to sing the damn thing to the end

So you go to the jacks for a full half an hour
drink down four pints and a very large Powers
Go back to your seat hoping that he will tire
but he's now droning on about gas and barbed wire
And ten minutes later your there in a trance
whilst he's up to his arse in the green fields of France
The audience is silent, there isn't a peep
and the reason's quite simple - they're all fast asleep

Ah Willie McBride why the hell did you die?
All the trouble you'd have saved if you'd just stayed alive
and found a wee job and had something to do
then we'd not be tormented with songs about you
Ah but sure, not at all, I'm delighted you're dead
For the torture you've caused since the day that you died
ah shooting's too good for you, Willie McBride

Now, come on McBride what the hell is your game
with your photograph stuck in that mouldy old frame?
They're on sale down at Woolworths at ten bon a go
so what's all the fuss about, I'd like to know
And what's all this crap about barbed wire and smoke?
You shouldn't have joined if you can't take a joke
You ought to be barred from the sing-song and dance
You boring old fart won't you give us a chance?

Did they sing the song badly
Did they down the pints gladly
Did the drunks fall asleep as they lowered you down?
The the bar staff call "last pints" in chorus?
Did they all say "Thank Christ that's all over"

Subject: Lyr Add: ARTHUR MCBRIDE
From: JudeL
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 12:31 PM

Arthur Mcbride

I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride
He and I took a stroll down by the seaside
A seeking good fortune and what might the tide
It was just as the day was a dawning
And after resting we both took a tramp
We met sergent Carter and corporal Cramp
Besides a wee drummer who beat up for camp
With his rowdy dow dow in the morning

He said my fine fellows if you will enlist
A shilling you quickley shall have in your fist
Besides a crown to kick up the dust
And drink the queens health in the morning
Had we been such fools as to take the advance
The wee bit of morning we had to run chance
You'd think it no scuple to send us to France
Where we would be killed in the morning

He said my young fellows if I hear but one word
I instantly now will out with my sword
And into your bodies as strength will afford
So now my brave fellows take warning
But as Arthur and I we took on the odds,
We gave them no chance to draw out their swords
Our wacking shillelaghs came over their heads
And paid them right smart in the morning

As for the wee drummer we rifled his pouch
And made a football of his rowdy dow dow
And into the ocean to rock and to roll
And to float on the tide in the morning
As for the old rapier that hung by his side
We flung it as far as we could in the tide
To the devil I pitch you said Arthur McBride
To temper our steel in the morning

I hope this is the one you wanted

Jude

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parody of Arthur McBride
From: GUEST,John C
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 05:21 AM

There's a line missing in the fourth verse of Willie, can anyone supply it please?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Parody of Arthur McBride
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 07:36 AM

The missing line 6 is
With the green fields of France piled on top of your head

That said, there are some errors/folk-processing in that set. There's a tidied up version of it elsewhere in the forum, I reckon.