Lyr/Chords Req: The Sunday Papers (Barrie Roberts)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sunday Papers (Barrie Roberts)
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 30 Nov 14 - 11:02 AM

I'm sure Barrie would have loved you to resurrect it too, Guest.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sunday Papers (Barrie Roberts)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Nov 14 - 07:17 AM

Delighted to have found the lyrics. My dad, a member of Dingle Spike, used to sing this. I'd love to ressurect it.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sunday Papers (Barrie Roberts)
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 25 Mar 13 - 10:51 AM

Yes, Sean was a regular guest at the club.
Hi Al, it's nice to be here!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sunday Papers (Barrie Roberts)
From: GUEST,Pat Cooksey.
Date: 25 Mar 13 - 07:06 AM

Sean Cannon, later to join the Dubliners, used to sing The Night Squad regularly around this time, he allways said he got the song from Barrie.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sunday Papers (Barrie Roberts)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Mar 13 - 07:49 PM

nice to hear from you Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sunday Papers (Barrie Roberts)
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 24 Mar 13 - 03:27 PM

I'm the Steve Parkes who would have shopped Barrie, according to his earlier post up there. We sang together as a duo for several years, and before that I was a member of the Songsmiths club from around 1970. I can confirm that he wrote the song around 1971 or 1972 (and I've got BOTH editions of the broadside). The tune was actually based on the trad Moses of the Mail (as the first published version states); The end of my old cigar was the starting point for the tune of The knock on the door in the night squad, recorded (and acknowledged) by hamish Imlach.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sunday Papers (Barrie Roberts)
From: GUEST,Pat Cooksey.
Date: 24 Mar 13 - 08:55 AM

First heard Barrie sing this in Birmingham in 1970 along with many other very funny songs, I sang the song regularly myself in folk clubs in England and even though I always credited Barrie as the writer many people thought it was mine because it was similar to some of the other stuff I was writing at the time. Knew the members of Dingle Spike well and they never claimed to have written it.
Barrie was an amazing talent, should have been much bigger on the folk scene than he was.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sunday Papers (Barrie Roberts)
From: GUEST,a guy who forgot his (Slobbo) password
Date: 24 Mar 13 - 08:33 AM

I met Barrie early in 1970, being taken to the Fitters by friends and heard Barrie sing Sunday Papers, I was most impressed and mentioned it to colleagues at work two of whom had known Barrie one from his arrival in Walsall and another since their arrival in the later 60ies. They both remembered Barrie writing that song and writing the "Knock on the Door in the Knight Squad"

Sorry Molly, but unless you can assure me that the song on the 1984 album was written before 1968 then your claim that your father wrote that song is false. Whilst your father never ranked in any of Barrie's circles of infamy, like the people who published translations of his books and forgot to pay him the royalties due, your claim of people tarnishing your dad's memory tarnishes that of a very dear, if somewhat flawed, friend of mine.

The 'stealing' of melodies and songs is however a legit part of the folk tradition. It is normally done as the singer acquires a repertoire and this process of accretion leads to a feeling of ownership. It progresses to though the "can't find out who wrote this" phase to a claim it as mine and if the author objects I'll just say "oops sorry, it was a clerical error I didn't spot!"

Barrie was most pissed by the attempts of a certain Mr Zimmerman to copyright many a melody from the folk tradition, had it not been for the song "Boots of Spanish Leather" he would have joined Czech and Turkish publishers in these circles of opprobrium.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Sunday Papers (Barrie Roberts)
From: GUEST,dougielewis
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 05:39 PM

Firstly Barrie Roberts wasn't Irish. I knew Barrie for many years and I can assure you that he wrote this song many years ago. He is unfortunately unable to reply himself as he died in 2007. I do however have a published songsheet with words accredited to Barrie.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: GUEST,molly mccarthy
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 08:33 PM

Hi there. I'm Molly McCarthy, Jack McCarthy's (lead singer of Dingle Spike) daughter. I will like to just state the fact that my father wrote that song, and I can assure you that he would never do anything like what you are accusing him of, 'stealing your song'. My father loved what he did, and would never take advantage of it. He often helped new musicians out by allowing them to play in the band and allow them to be exposed to different surroundings and experiences. He would never disrespect anyone or for that matter and most importantly a fellow Irish musician. So in future, if you have any more allegations, I would LOVE to hear what you have to say before you tarnish my father's memory.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
Date: 11 Jul 04 - 07:15 PM

Greetings Wolfgang,

No, I haven't played with Dingle Spike, who nicked my song and issued an album with that name and never acknowledged me, claiming that they couldn't find out who wrote it --- this despite the fact that it was registered with PRS. Not people I would like to play with!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: Wolfgang
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 03:57 AM

Thanks for the information. Not knowing 'The end of my old cigar' it sounded to me just like a slight variation. Have you played with 'Dingle Spike', Robbie? For I only know that song as done by them.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 09:21 PM

The tune of 'The Sunday Papers' is not meant to be 'Johnny Lad'. It was originally a slight variation of Harry Champion's 'The End of me Old Cigar' as sung by the late, much-missed, Redd Sullivan.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: Wolfgang
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 09:29 AM

The tune used in 'Sunday Papers' is the same Mike Waterson uses in 'Doing a bit'.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 06:17 PM

a) GREG -- please feel free (if that's an appropriate term) to stick to Ms Bardot.
b) BETSY -- Alright! I confess! Anyway if I didn't Steve Parkes would shop me. I came to Walsall in 1964, to work for six months, which doesn't explain why I'm still here, 40+ years on. I think Hampshire cancelled my citizenship and Wales refused to give me refugee status.
I was among the floorsingers at the old Walsall Folk Club in 1964, and later among those who founded the offshoot -- The Songsmiths, originally at The Delves Tavern, later at the Anchor Inn and finally (1967 to 1978) at the Fitters Arms.
Since 1996 I have made my living by writing, true & fictitious crime and the paranormal (see www.barrieroberts.com).
Have we met? If not, why not? Are you in Walsall?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: greg stephens
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 01:11 PM

I'll stick with Bardot if you don't mind, Barrie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 01:04 PM

Barrie are you from / did you run a club in /near Walsall ?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 08:47 PM

Not wishing to be possessive or anything, but I am the only authentic oroginator of 'The Sunday papers' having written & published it about 1969.

The song is meant to be about a dream, that's why I didn't put Margaret Thatcher into it! I put Brigitte Bardot, which shows how long ago it was written.

Put whoever you like in as long as you fancy them!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: Wolfgang
Date: 15 May 01 - 10:05 AM

Here I come with my transcription and don't have to type thanks to Joe. I have an additional laugh (at my cost) when I compare what I have heard last night with the version above. Just one example:

The 'tater peeler' (last verse) was in my transcription 'tattoo peeler'.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: mousethief
Date: 14 May 01 - 06:15 PM

What does "copyright control" mean?

Thanks,
Alex

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: Frug
Date: 14 May 01 - 06:13 PM

Thanks Joe and Wolf

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SUNDAY PAPERS (Barrie Roberts)
From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe
Date: 14 May 01 - 03:55 PM

THE SUNDAY PAPERS
(bARRIE rOBERTS - Copyright Control)
Tune - Johnny Lad

Well on a Sunday morning I never seem to wake
Till I hear the newsboy's whistle down at the garden gate
And I tremble with excitement when I hear him at the door
And I hear the papers falling down upon the hallway floor
There's the Mirror and the People the News of the World
The Times and the Observer all lie there neatly furled
I clutch them in my trembling hand as back to bed I fly
And I flop down on my pillow with a deep contented sigh.

CHORUS
So read the Sunday papers for all kinds of banality
For every kind of horridness from fraud to bestiality
Its there you'll find the models, the starlets and the rapers
The scoutmasters and murderers all in your Sunday papers

First I read the dirty stories of the schoolmasters and vicars
The goings on up Soho and the bloke who pinches knickers
And when I've had my fill of divorce and sexual crimes
I read the fashion bits in the Observer and the Times
There's kinky leather nighties and see-through plastic bras
And knitted wire bikinis that will show up half your scars
There's cellophane pyjamas that shows it nearly all
So I cut them out with scissors and I paste them on my wall

But the bits I like the best, the bits I like the most
Are all the small advertisements for things you get by post
You can purchase handmade corsets or see-through plastic suits
Or second hand, part worn US Army marching boots
There's bloomers, postmen's overcoats and folding garden shears
For colonic irrigation or a thing for picking pears
Advice on family planning or a book of kiddies names
There's something there for everyone no matter what your game

CHORUS

When on last Sunday morning as I lay upon my bed
And gentle dreams of orgies were drifting through my head
I'd been through all the small ads the sporting page as well
I was starting on the book reviews when someone rang my bell
And there stood Margaret Thatcher in violet fishing boots
And a pair of navy knickers with a see-through plastic suit
I stood there staring stupid just like I'd seen a ghost
When she cried "Express delivery. Did you order me by post?"
Well at last the spell broke, I dragged her through the door
I tore off all the postage stamps and laid her on the floor
I undid all the wrappings, unknotted all the strings
I was starting on the contents when again the doorbell rings

And there stood the vicar, his face all flushed and red
In a knitted wire bikini with a scout hat on his head
"I've been watching you across the street", he cried, "You filthy swine."
Through my naval surplus gunsight (plus postage one pound nine
I tried to slam the door on him, alas it did no good
He whipped out his Black and Decker drill and whittled through the wood
With his electric tater peeler he made passes at my head
So I took my taters out of sight and dodged behind the bed
His left hand grabbed my gizzard with his folding garden shears
And his right hand gripped my whatnots with his thing for picking pears
And when I thought I'd had it, I'd lose them or I'd choke
When he squeezed on his pear picker I fell off my bed and woke.

CHORUS.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: Frug
Date: 14 May 01 - 11:22 AM

Yes Wolfgang thats the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: Wolfgang
Date: 14 May 01 - 11:09 AM

And that's close to how it starts:

Well on this sunday morning,
I never seem to wake,
till I hear the doorbell ringing,
down at the garden gate...

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Read The Sunday Papers
From: Wolfgang
Date: 14 May 01 - 10:57 AM

I know the songs from an Irish group (often playing in London) called Dingle Spike. And what is the rhyme word for 'papers' in that song? You may have guessed it: 'rapers'. I can try a transcription but it'll be far from perfect.

Wolfgang

Subject: Read The Sunday Papers
From: Frug
Date: 14 May 01 - 10:37 AM

Many years ago I heard a guy called Barry Roberts sing a song about the sunday papers which had a chorus that began

Read the Sunday Papers for all kinds of banality
and every kind of deviance from fraud to bestiality ......

I'm not sure whether it was his own song or someone else's, however it was very funny. If anyone knows where I can get hold of the lyrics I'd be very grateful.
Thanks
Frank