Lyr Req: The Winkle Song

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,Don Chapman
Date: 25 Apr 21 - 01:42 PM

I don't know where this came from. It just possibly could be my mother's mother. She was on the music hall with her future husband doing a Pierrot and Columbine act in thearly 1900s and knew Bud Flanagan!
The one that definitely did come from her was:

You know my Auntie Nelly
She’s got a wooden belly
And every time you knock her down
You have to pay a penny!

The version I know slotted into nurserry rhyme books for several grandchildren goes:

A Pennyworth of Winkles

Last Sunday afternoon for tea
Thought I’d have a luxury.
I went down to old Ma Tinkle’s,
Bought myself a pennyworth of winkles,
Took them home,
Put them on a plate,
Happy as could be...
When my old woman and her seven kids
And all the family
Started picking all the big ones out,
PICKING ALL THE BIG ONES OUT!

You should see my face with wrinkles,
When I saw my pennyworth of winkles -
All the big ones gone!
Did I rave and shout...
My old woman and her seven kids
Picking all the big ones out!

{To be recited with appropriate actions!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 06 Nov 20 - 02:32 PM

Guest, the last word is 'do-er', to rhyme with skewer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Oct 20 - 07:50 AM

Why does the winkle always turn to the right
Turn to the right
Turn to the right?
Why does the winkle, when he goes to bed at night
Put 'is little nightcap on and turn to the right?
Tail first, 'e toddles off to bed
Wiv 'is little nightcap pulled dahn over 'is 'ead;
So why does the winkle always turn to the left
When 'e comes dahn for breakfast in the mornin'?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 19 - 11:40 AM

I can't get my winkle out isn't it a sin.
The more I try to get it out, the further it goes in.
I can't get my winkle out isn't it a ......
I can't get it out with an old bent pin, has anyone got a skewer.
          >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
When I was about 7 yrs old, living off Holloway Road [N19] the last line was sung as:-
1 >   I can't get my winkle out isn't it a sin.                                                                2 > The more I try to get it out, the further it goes in.
3   > I can't get my winkle out isn't it a ......{a shocker}
4 >   I can't get it out with an old bent pin, has anyone got a skewer.
                                                               it really is a Whopper.
OR :- for the last chorus lline { 4 } ;-
Oh I can’t get the damn thing out it really is a Whopper.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,Son of a real cockney.
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 03:39 PM

I am sure the song has traveled and evolved but here is the 1940's
''pop'' version from the East end of London. (I will ask if there were other verses).

Last Sundy aternoon for tea, I fort I'd av a luxury, I stopped by poor old muver Brinkles, bought me self a pennyworth o' Winkles.
Took em ome, stuck em on a plate, as appy as can be.... I'd ardly turned me back on them when all the family was...

Picking all the fat ones out, picking all the fat ones out, there was the missus and 7 little kids all picking all the fat ones out.
All the fat ones gorn, ow I did scream and shout, there was the Missus
and seven little kids, picking all the fat ones out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,BRM
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 12:25 PM

Here's the version I used to get clouted for singing (our 'vulgar' neighbour Ernie Brown taught it to me):
One Sunday arternoon fer tea
I thought I'd ave a luxury
So I went down to Miss Periwinkle's
Bought myself a penyworth o winkles
took em ome an put em on a plate, cheeky as could be
But before i could turn my dirty neck there was all the family
Oh pickin all the big ones out, gor blimey
Pickin all the big ones out
There was our Auntie Rose wiv er finger up er nose
Pickin all the big ones out...



(Ouch that hurt!!!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,Vince Cox
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 04:09 PM

Hi all.
When I was a nipper of about 10 years we went on holiday to Combe Haven holiday park in Hastings. The resident band that year were called 'The Late Night Sound' and they had a vinyl '45' for sale in the local shop and it was 'The Winkle Song'. Every night they'd finish the evening by singing their 'hit' and my mate bought the single which as far as I know he's still got but we've drifted apart now so who knows?
I remember one of the verses as follows.

A lady shouted officer!
This man's insulting me
Along came a big policeman and he arrested me.
He took me to the station to see a magistrate.
The magistrate he said to me 'What have you got to say?'
and I said "I can't get my winkle out" etc.

Happy memories!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 10 - 06:34 PM

In Hastings, Sussex, there is a Winkle Club, which is essentially a charity with fishermen and other locals being members who carry a winkle at all times. Members not carrying their winkle when asked to 'Winkle up!' have to make a donation.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,Carol
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 07:23 PM

The winkle is a small sea snail and, coming from the South East of England, was a popular seafood in our house. My dad used to sing the song "I can't get my winkle out, isn't it a sin" while boiling up winkles in a bucket on the stove. As usual, Americans think they had them first along with everything else in the world but this is definitely an english delicacy - if you can call winkles that!
Contrary to the guy who commented earlier, they don't taste like shit but are quite delicious with vinegar and pepper on. There is nothing quite like a winkle sandwich................
The comment on winkle picker shoes was about the very long pointed toed shoes that we all wore in the 50s and early 60s and they were so called because they were pointed enough to get a winkle out of it's shell.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,Hymer Noldie
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 02:28 AM

I recall this much from National Service evening sing-songs in the NAAFI in the 1950's :-

I had an invitation to my aunt Flo's for tea,
She was very glad to see me and she made a fuss of me.
We had cakes and bread and butter, and winkles in a pan.
She asked me to have some - that's when the fun began.

Oh I said I can' get my winkle out, isn't it a sin
The more I try to get it out the further it goes in cor blimey
I can't get my winkle out isn't it a stuer.
I can't get my winkle out. Anybody got a skewer?

My auntie shouted Murder! This man assaulted me
She called for a copper, and he arrested me.
I was taken to the station and charged without delay,
The Magistrate he said "Young man,- What have you got to say?"

Oh I said -

I can't get my winkle out etc, etc

Anybody out there know the rest???

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,banksie
Date: 02 Aug 10 - 06:51 AM

The song with the chorus starting: "Why does a Winkle always turn to the right", used to be sung by Les Bridger, who in the mid-60s used to appear on the same bill as Bert Jansch - mainly because he had a guitar and Bert didn't at the time, if I recall correctly. They used to appear regularly at the Blacksmith's Arms in St Albans.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,winkles
Date: 02 Aug 10 - 04:44 AM

Born in East London, I used to sing this song when I was a small child as a party turn with my brother. My husband is really embarassed when I sing it today, so I do it to wind him up.
My only comment is that our version had the winkle seller as 'Old Ma Binkle'. I've always wondered if there was another verse...
although the 'has anybody here got a skewer? OY!!' is such a final ending.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 02:30 PM

THE WINKLE SONG

As I was coming home to tea,
I thought I'll have a luxury
Brought myself a penny worth of winkles
Laid them on the table
Went up stairs to change
And there was the wife with 17 kids
Picking all the big ones out
Picking all the big ones out
You should have seen my face all wrinkles
When I saw my penny worth of winkles
All the big ones gone
It made me rage and shout Oh
There was the wife with 17 kids
Picking all the big ones out

---

AS I WAS COMING HOME TO TEA I THOUGHT TLL HAVE A LUXURY BROUGHT MYSELF A PENNY WORTH OF WINKLES LAID THEM ON THE TABLE WENT UP STAIRS TO CHANGE   AND THERE WAS THE WIFE WITH 17 KIDS PICKING ALL THE BIGS ONES OUT PICKING AL THE BIG ONES OUT YOU SHOULD HAVE   SEEN MY FACE ALL WRINKLES WHEN I SAW MY PENNY WORTH OF WINKLES ALL THE BIG ONES GONE IT MADE ME RAGE AND SHOUT OH THERE WAS THE WIFE WITH 17 KIDS PICKING ALL THE BIG ONES OUT

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,WrinklyKrel
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 11:48 AM

Last Sunday afternoon for tea I fancied a luxury
Off down the street to old Mother Wrinkles
Bought myself a pennyworth of winkles
Took them home put em on a plate as happy as could be
There's my old woman and her seven kids and all the family
Were picking all the big ones out, picking all the big one out
Ever seen a fish plate covered in winkles
When you saw my penny worth of winkles
All the big ones gone
It made me rave and shout
There's my old woman and her seven kids picking all the big ones o..u..t

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 02:25 PM

"As I was goin' 'ome to tea
I fought I'd 'ave a lux-you-ree
So I popped in to Mother MacSchminkels
Bought myself a pennyworth o'winkles.
Took 'em 'ome and laid 'em on a plate
As 'appy as could be.

But when I turned around wot did I see?
There was me missus and the seven bloomin kids:
They was pickin' all the big ones aaaht!

Pickin all the big ones aaht, (2x)

I never had a face fuller of wrinkles
Than when I saw my pennyworth o'winkles.
All the big ones gone! - it made me rave and shout!
But there was the missus and seven bloomin kids,
a-pickin all the big ones out!

(from the singing of John Foreman ca. 1965. He used it as a lead-in to "Why Does The Winkle...")

The lion makes 'is 'ome out in the jungle-o
And the cuckoo finds a nest up in a tree.
But the winkle 'has 'is festive little bungalow
In a puddle at the bottom of the sea!

But 'ere's a fing wot scientists can never tell
When e'er the winkle crawls into his winkle shell...

Why does....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,J. W. Sculy
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 07:15 AM

All I can remember is:

You should see my face all wrinkles
When I saw my pennyworth of winkles
All the big ones gone
It made me rave and shout
There was Ma with the 15 kids
Picking all the big ones out

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Joybell
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 05:46 PM

We're still going 'round and 'round here putting in the same lines -- with and without variations. Some funny stories and all ..

BUT

we still don't have those elusive missing lines -- do we?
Look! up there a bit. I've already posted the lines people keep remembering!! Not being a grump -- just wondering.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 06:21 PM

A few years ago, in a restaurant in a little resort on the Costa Brava, I ate "caracoles de mar" i.e. sea snails. They looked for all the world like a punk periwinkle, covered all over in 1 cm. long spikes! Just to confuse the issue, the English translation on the menu was "shrimps"!

Regards

p.s. the technique was the same - fish out the flesh with a pin, dip the beast in romesco sauce - and hope for the best.

Subject: Lyr Add: SOMEONE'S PINCHED MY WINKLES (Rolf Harris
From: Rapparee
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 06:08 PM

Someone's Pinched Me Winkles
By Rolf Harris

The Cockney tribes in Britain were meeting for the games
Held annually, once a year, along the River Thames,
The scene was quiet and peaceful, the snow lay on the ground
The Cockneys by their cooking pots were huddled all around.
The chief was in his tepee his face all lined with wrinkles
When up the river came the cry
"someone's pinched me winkles!"
Me winkles have been pinched (oobie dooby) me winkles have been pinched,
Now some people say it's a load of old nonsense but a winkle's got a lot of vitamin contents
Never win that race tomorrow I'll be a big disgrace tomorrow
I'll search the blinking place tomorrow, but tomorrow is too late
Some rotter's pinched me winkles off me plate.
(I turned round and wheeeet, they were gone)

The tears of sheer frustration started trickling down his face, well
He'd set his heart on winning in the gruelling barrow race,
Without his final winkle feed his training scheme was shot
He staggered round the camp ground shouting "someone's pinched the lot"

Me winkles have been pinched (oobie dooby) me winkles have been pinched
Beef or carrots or a dash of cucumber
As far as I'm concerned that's a load of old lumber
I'll never win the race tomorrow, he's got me in disgrace tomorrow
He'd better not show his face tomorrow, he'll end up in a fight
But me I need them winkles here tonight.
(now I want 'em, now, not tomorrow or the next day)

They called the wise old medicine man who shuffled up and said
"I'm levying a winkle tax one winkle each per head"
They made a grand collection from every tucker pot
Then stood around, the shells and all, they made me eat the lot

I've got me winkles back (oobie dooby) I've got me winkles back
Now I know I've been grumping and grousing
But I never thought I'd get two or three thousand
I'll never win that race tomorrow, I can't go in that race tomorrow
I couldn't stand the pace tomorrow, I'm much to blinking fat
I'll never face a winkle after that.
Phew - I think I'll go and try out something new, you know, just to see how it feels
I think I'll have a dash at some jellied eels.

(Excuse me a minute while I just get this newspaper off this bit of jellied eel here).
Mmm - that's lovely;
Here, you with the winkle barrow, "hello"
as far as I'm concerned you can stick your perishing winkles right... back in the sea
- it's jellied eels for me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: matt milton
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 05:58 PM

On this excellent album here

http://www.emusic.com/album/Derek-Lamb-She-Was-Poor-but-She-Was-Honest-Nice-Naughty-and-MP3-Download/11036002.html

by Derek Lamb, he sings the winkle song. You can listen to excerpts from all the tracks for free, but unfortunately I don't think you can hear the winkle song as it's part of a medley. I'll have a listen and write up the words when I have a sec.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: oombanjo
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 03:53 PM

I have the whole of this somewhere. Given to me by
Miss Rose of Rosedale cottage.
Rosedale
After I heard her sing it in a east London accent.
In the green Dragon at Haws north Yorkshire

Picking the big ones out
Picking the big ones out
There was 'im sittin' with a pin
And the 'arder that he stuck it
Well the deeper it drew in

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,emma
Date: 25 Jan 09 - 08:58 PM

my granma used to sing this to me lol all i can rember is this -

one saturday afternoon, after tea.
I thought of a luxury
i went down the shops to old mrs winkle
bought myself 6penny worth of winkles
took'em home 'appy as can be...

(missing line s)

talk about a fish face full of wrinkles..... (missing lines)

there was my wife a my ? (some thing ridiculous like 25 kids) pickin' all the big'uns out .

does anyone know the missing bits? i woul really love to remeber my grandma passed away last week x

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Mr Happy
Date: 05 May 08 - 11:52 AM

Another classic winkles song here:http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tOa-afoxp3g !!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 04 May 08 - 12:20 PM

I `ad that John Foreman in my cab once. I picked `im up at N.W.5 and `e said, "London Bridge please". It was after 5 o`clock, right in the middle of going `ome time. We were getting nowhere fast, the old meter was going round ten to the dozen and the radio was playing "Tommy". `e said to me, "Oi Jim, this is Madness!"
I said "No John, that`s your son`s group. this is "The`oo!!"
What am I Like??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 04 May 08 - 10:56 AM

Vectis,
         "Organic John", one of the fine singers at "Elsie`s" does a super rendition, close to the one you detailed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST,amazing_mark
Date: 04 May 08 - 09:30 AM

all I can remember from the song is...

I can't get my winkle out isn't it a sin.
The more I try to get it out, the further it goes in.
I can't get my winkle out isn't it a ......
I can't get it out with an old bent pin, has anyone got a skewer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Dec 07 - 06:43 AM

John Foreman indeed - I 'collected' this from John thirty years or so back at Bracknell ! There is a First verse that goes :-

The lion builds a den out in the Jungle - Oh
The Cuckoo steals a nest up in a tree
The Festive Winkle builds his little bungalow
In a puddle at the bottom of the sea
But here's a thing that scientists could never tell
For when the winkle crawls in side his winkle shell .

Why does the winkle etc etc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Effsee
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 09:26 PM

John Foreman!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WINKLE SONG
From: GUEST,Ejogzmum
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 09:04 PM

Why does the winkle have to turn to the right,
Turn to the right, turn to the right,
Why does the winkle going upstairs at night
Have to put his little nightshirt on and turn to the right?
Tail first, he toddles up to bed
With his door shut tight on his little flat head.
Why does the winkle have to turn to the left
When he comes down to breakfast in the morning?

The answer to this question is quite simple, oh
If winkles turned left, as sure as sin.
Although you'd poke that winkle with your winkle-pin
You'd never get him out, you'd screw him in!
So Nature, what put whiskers on the walruses
Made one-way streets for winkles, and the chorus is -

Why does the winkle have to turn to the right,
Turn to the right, turn to the right,
Why does the winkle going upstairs at night
Have to put his little nightshirt on and turn to the right?
Tail first, he toddles up to bed
With his door shut tight on his little flat head.
Why does the winkle have to turn to the left
When he comes down to breakfast in the morning?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Joybell
Date: 12 May 06 - 04:36 AM

We still don't know what happened after the "bell that tinkles" bit do we?
We've got singable bits now though don't we.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WINKLE SONG
From: vectis
Date: 11 May 06 - 06:30 PM

Here's my version which I nicked from someone about 30 years ago

THE WINKLE SONG

As I was coming home to tea
I thought I'd take some company
Went into Old Mother Winkle's
Bought myself a pennyworth of winkles
Went on home to tea as happy as could be
Went upstairs met all the family

They was picking all the big ones out
Picking all the big ones out
You should have seen my face full of wrinkles
When I saw my pennyworth of winkles
All the big ones gorn It made me rave and shout
'Cos there sat the wife and 7 kids
Picking all the big ones out.

Singing,
I can't get my winkle out with an old bent pin
The more I tries to get it out the further it goes in
I can't get my winkle out isn't it a do'er
If I can't get it out with an old bent pin
Has anyone here got a skewer?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Flash Company
Date: 11 May 06 - 11:41 AM

I think it was Johnny Silvo sang it as:-

I can't get my winkle out no matter how I try,
The more I try to get it out, the more it slips inside,
I can't get my winkle out, isn't it a cure,
I can't get it out with an old bent pin, as anybody got a skewer?

It had some verses which , as I recall, were full of innuendo.(That's spanish for suppository.)

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Joybell
Date: 11 May 06 - 07:48 AM

Well here it is from a friend -- after discussions with her mother, aunt and several other relations who all do Music-hall songs. There's still a 1/2 verse missing.

Verse 1. As I was goin' home to tea
         I thought I'd have a luxury
         I popped in at Old Ma Tinkle's
         Bought myself a pennyworth o' winkles
         Took them home to tea
         As happy as could be
         But when I came down the stairs
         There was all the family

Bridge: Oh! Pickin' all the big ones out
       Pickin' all the big ones out
       There was Ma and Pa and nippers tryin'
       Pickin' all the big ones out and cryin'

Chorus: I can't get my winkle out
         Isn't it a sin
         The more I try to get it out
         The further it goes in
         Oh! I can't get my winkle out
         Isn't it a do-er
         'ere! I can't get my winkle out
         Anybody 'ere got a skewer?

Verse 2: Next time I took them home to tea
          I kept them under lock and key
          Bought myself a bell that tinkles
          Tied it to my pennyworth of winkles
   (Missing 4 lines)


Bridge and chorus again.

Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Joybell
Date: 18 Jan 06 - 04:34 PM

Well it's coming along isn't it? Great song. If my friend comes up with more I'll post it. I think there's a lot of "Oiys! and repeats, but there's more about members of the family, I think. Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: woodsie
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 07:23 PM

One night for my tea, I fancied luxury
So I went down to old periwinkle
Bought myself a pennyworth of winkles
Put them on the table for my wife to see
Then she came down with seven young kids
And all the family

They started ...

Picking all the big ones out
Picking all the big ones out

You should have seen my pennyworth of winkles
All the big ones gone

It made me jump and shout
When I saw my wife and seven kids
Had picked all the big ones out!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 07:06 PM

I can't get my winkle out, isn't it a sin
The more I try to get it out, the further it goes in
I can't get my winkle out, isn't it a do-er
I can't get it out with an old bent pin
Has anybody here got a skewer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Joybell
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 04:54 PM

Yes I've got a friend who sings it. I'll be seeing her in four weeks time. Record her and post the words. That is if no one beats me to it. Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Tradsinger
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 01:39 PM

Does anyone know the rest of "I can't get my winkle out"?

All I remember is:

I can't get my winkle out, isn't it a sin
The more I try to get it out, the more it (stays right?) in
I can't get my winkle out, isn't it ......?
............ I'll have to get a skewer.

What's all that about then?

Gwilym

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: lady penelope
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 03:53 PM

My dad used to make sanwiches out of them.........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 02:25 PM

Pete Collins has recently recorded The Winkle Song on his CD Time Moves On, where he credits it to Swan and Carter (so Donald Swan and Sydney Carter, not Michael Flanders as suggested above)

This is the 'why does the winkle turn to the right' song, the words of which are on the related thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: M.Ted
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 02:53 PM

Mark: As per the kashrat question--I remember that back in Philly, at the corner of 52nd and Baltimore, there used to be fry kitchen that had a sign in the window advertising "Kosher Shellfish"--it was down the block from a place which advertised "New and Used Antiques"--

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Bernard
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 02:00 PM

I've got the 'Hello Friend' album, but it's not on that.

Bridie sadly died quite a few years ago, but Jacqui is still touring, often as a duo with Hughie Jones of 'The Spinners'.

Jacqui used to be a member of 'The Spinners' before Cliff Hall replaced her.

Dunno if that's any help...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Barbara
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 02:16 AM

Lani Hermann sings it, Mark. Ask her. Do you need her email? I thought it was Flanders and Swann, no?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Plume
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 04:24 PM

Mark, I remember hearing Jacqui and Bridie, a duo from Liverpool, I believe, do your Winkle song in a club in the US sometime in the mid'70's. Anyone have any of their records - they recorded at least eleven by my count.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: MMario
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 03:14 PM

Mark - all I can find on it is that it is a music hall song from the '20's

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Kernow John
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 07:16 PM

Can't understand the problem. When I were a lad in 'ackney, cockles, shrimps, winkles and jellied eals were a treat outside the pub on a Saturday night.
And they was ate by proper royalty, Pearly Kings and Queens that is.
KJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 06:26 PM

Refresh....now I'm going nuts trying to get this song! I just remember bits and pieces: "Tail-first he toddles off to bed", and "Why does the winkle never turn to the left, when he comes down to breakfast in the morning"

Anybody??? Mahalo a nui loa.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 06:43 PM

True, Sorcha, but of course it depends on whether you're talking about the periwinkle that's a snail or the periwinkle that's a flower. Trying to sort out the etymology of these terms is fascinating. Apparently in some locales the snail is called "pennywinkle", which is actually closer to the original Latin "pina", supposedly a word for a kind of mussel. The name for the flower, however, seems to come from "pervinca", which is said to be an abbreviation of the Latin "vincapervinca", a fascinating-sounding phrase which my dictionary doesn't further define. It's also been said to come from a Russian word that derives from the word for "first", since it's one of the first flowers in the spring. Sounds like we need somebody with Bruce O.'s detective skills here!

To creep some more, the flower periwinkle is the source of "vinca alkaloids", which are the basis for the anti-cancer drugs vincristine and vinblastine. Which of course gets us back to Max's virtual supercomputer to fight cancer (well, it's not really Max's but he started the Mudcat team, which all Mudcatters are cordially invited to join).

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 06:21 PM

I'll look, Mark, but surely you know that they aren't going to be kashrat no matter where they are found? (small grin)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Winkle Song
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 06:17 PM

Friends, this is all very (urp!) appetizing, but DOES ANYBODY KNOW THAT OTHER WINKLE SONG? ("Why does the winkle always turn to the right?") There was a bit about how if it turned the other way, when you tried to pull him out with your winkle pin, you'd screw him in.... (tried a DT search, but couldn't get through--I guess the server was eating winkles, or whelks, or something)

Aloha,
Mark