Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)

Subject: Lyrics req'd for Fred Fannakapan
From: Ray W
Date: 31 May 01 - 11:16 PM

Can someone please provide the lyrics to the Lancashire song Fred Fannakapan. Thanks. Ray.

Subject: RE: Lyrics req'd for Fred Fannakapan
From: okthen
Date: 01 Jun 01 - 04:04 AM

I don't have the lyrics but I always thought it was Fanny Fanackapan,

I'm sure someone will come up with them, would be interested myself.

cheers

bill

Subject: RE: Lyrics req'd for Fred Fannakapan
From: Sorcha
Date: 01 Jun 01 - 09:51 AM

Google search show recordings for "Fred", but no lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 09:26 PM

From The Guardian "Notes and Queries":

Who was Fred Fanackerpan?

HE WAS the subject of a Gracie Fields song: the unfortunate, gauche young man summoned by Gracie to the ordeal of meeting the family for high tea on Sunday ... "There were aunties and uncles and loads of strawberry jam, All waiting to welcome Fred Fanackerpan." Needless to say, the last line is ... "And that was the last we saw of Fred Fanackerpan". --R. E. Mack, E. Finchley, London N2.

THE SONG featuring this gentleman was certainly sung by Gracie Fields but Fred was not her boyfriend. She states quite definitely at the start: "There's been a bit of bother with our sister Mary Ann". This, of course, rhymes with Fanackerpan. I feel the said Fred may have been a figure of fun in Lancashire a long time before Gracie's song but it was certainly this song which gave the man greater currency. --Terry Mullins, London N7.

I don't know who Fred Fanakapan was but Fanny Fanakapan has always been used in my family to get the attention of somebody who had wandered off from the group when we were out as in - "Oi Fanny Fanakapan! Over here!" --Mippy, Leeds, UK

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 08:53 AM

FivePenny Piece did this song, and it's on their Greatest Hits CDs.

I'll dig it out and post the lyrics as soon as time allows.

Subject: Lyr Add: FRED FANNAKAPAN (from Fivepenny Piece)
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 09:22 AM

Here we go. No time like the present.



FRED FANNAKAPAN
(Low/Haines)

There's been a bit of bother with our sister Mary Ann,
She had a sweetheart and his name was Fred Fannakapan;
She said, 'I'll ask him home for tea, he'd love to look around,'
So all our family turned up to see what she had found.

There was father and mother and sister Mary Ann,
Waiting to welcome Fred Fannakapan;
There were uncles and aunties and others of our clan,
Waiting to welcome Fred Fannakapan.

Round the kitchen table they sat twiddling their thumbs,
When they heard the doorbell ring they all said, 'here he comes!'
Father said, 'you look a gorp, same as Mary Ann,
'Sit down and make yourself at home, Fred Fannakapan'.

The family they questioned Fred as fast as they could speak,
How much he'd got in his bank book and how much he earned a week;
He didn't say a word, so father said, 'it seems to me,
'The poor gorp's proper poorly, let him have a spot of tea'.

There were pancakes and pork pies and plates of beef and ham,
Waiting to welcome Fred Fannakapan,
There was cold tripe and trotters and lots of bread and jam
Waiting to welcome Fred Fannakapan.

Fred sat there without a word, as mournful as could be,
Mother said, 'what ails thee lad? Get on and have thee tea!'
He said, 'me teeth have fallen out, I dropped 'em as I ran'.
The only one who couldn't eat was Fred Fannakapan.

We finished tea and sat there looking like a flock of sheep,
Mary Ann was so fed up she went right off to sleep;
Father said, 'we can't sit here like images all night,
'Let's have a drink and then perhaps poor gorp'll feel all right.'

There was whisky and brandy and port wine in a can,
Waiting to welcome Fred Fannakapan,
There was bottled ale and bottled stout, enough to fill a van,
Waiting to welcome Fred Fannakapan.

Then we heard a knock and someone said, 'is Freddy here?
'It's eight o'clock and time for you to be in bed, my dear'.
He said, 'me mother's come for me,' and off he quickly ran,
And that's the last we ever saw of Fred Fannakapan.

Gorp = stupid or stupid-looking person

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 09:25 AM

Sorry, I got a bit careless with the spelling of Fred's last name there. On the 5pp CD it's spelt with two ns and one k

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 09:30 AM

I'd always thought it was gawp rather than gorp, but I suppose it's just a different spelling of the same word. Google defines "gawp" as "to goggle: look with amazement; look stupidly"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 11:20 AM

Indeed. I'm open to suggestions/correction as to the spelling of Gawp/Gorp

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: GUEST,Rob
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 12:41 PM

Jim posted the snippet in The Guardian by Mippy from Leeds who said

'. . . Fanny Fanakapan has always been used in my family to get the attention of somebody who had wandered off from the group when we were out as in - "Oi Fanny Fanakapan! Over here!" --Mippy, Leeds, UK'

My father, originally from Lodge Lane in Liverpool, never gave a forename but used the surname in just that way - "Oi, Fanakapan!"

Two of his other regular characters to use when he wasn't sure of someone's actual name were -

"Icky the Firebobby", who I think was originally a character referred to by Derek Guyler (a Liverpool character actor and comedian); and

"Jimmy from Pegrams" - Pegrams was a chain of butchers in Liverpool. This was often used when no-one would admit who'd done something. Who did that? Must have been Jimmy from Pegrams.

I didn't realise that 'Fanakapan' in whatever spelling came from a song by Our Gracie, but it certainly brought back pleasant memories of my father - so thanks all for that!

Rob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 04:47 AM

My mother and father always used to refer to a lady whose name they had forgotten as Mrs Fannakapan but reading the lyrics it is only poor Fred who features. I always thought it was mentioned in ITMA but thanks to Terry Guntrip I was directed to the Songs of Gracie Fields.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 04:51 AM

In our part of the world - Lancashire in the 50s - "Fernakerpan" was used when you couldn't be bothered to say, or didn't know the name of someone. As in: "Oi - Fernakerpan - get over here a minute!"Never had any idea where it came from though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 01:53 PM

Gracie Fields sang FRED FANNAKAPAN in "Sally in Our Alley," which was her film debut, in 1931.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: GUEST,Monty Brooks
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 12:25 PM

You're right, it was my Gracie

Ciao!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: GUEST,Peter Honeywill
Date: 22 May 09 - 12:01 AM

Thanks to a Lady from Leeds, now resident near Wellington, New Zealand, I can now explain to my Grand-daughter, who Mrs Fannakapan is. I wonder if anyone can tell me where to find the music?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 May 09 - 01:40 AM

Is there a video of Gracie singing "Fred"? Of course there is - Click here.

It's a kick.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: The Doctor
Date: 22 May 09 - 05:49 AM

There is a duo, Peter and Barbara Snape, www.thesnapes.org.uk, from Lancashire, who have a number of Gracie Fields songs in their repertoire, including this one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 08:21 PM

Nice one Rob, the Ol'man always called me Fred F, Icky or Jimmy. You've taken me back years, God bless'em

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: GUEST,Tapoyando
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 01:49 PM

I remember Tommy Handley in ITMA (don't ask me when) referring to Fanny Fanakapan, and my father (who came from Merseyside) roaring with delight.What Fanny's relationship was with Fred I can only imagine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: GUEST,littlemissmuffet
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 04:28 PM

I mostly use Fanny Fanakapan when referring to someone whose name I cant think of quickly, don't know or just a name to use.    I dont use it to attract someones attention. as people always comment when I say it here in Australia   I can use it when referring to someone I'm not partial too but not often.    I have never heard of it as Fred Fanakapan. Fanny has been with me for 62 years (60 living in Australia from London, England).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: GUEST,Hazel
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 01:00 PM

My mum used to call me Fanny Fanackapan. I never knew why, but as this was in the 1950's I guess she would have heard the song by Gracie Fields in her own youth.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Jan 11 - 06:57 PM

You can hear a recording of Gracie Fields singing FRED FANNAKAPAN at YouTube.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: alex s
Date: 19 Jan 11 - 11:58 AM

Barbara Snape does a great job of this.
See her and Peter at Burnley Folk Club April 15th.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: GUEST,PatrickH
Date: 19 Jan 11 - 02:34 PM

When I was about 6 (around 1962) in Merseyside, our milkman used to make me say his name, which he said was Fred Fanackerpan. When I finally mastered saying it, the bugger said, no, it wasn't Fred Fanackerpan, it was Joe Soap. That was when I stopped trusting grown-ups.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: Brian Peters
Date: 19 Jan 11 - 02:44 PM

"Barbara Snape does a great job of this.
See her and Peter at Burnley Folk Club April 15th."

She does indeed! Barbara and Peter were the undoubted stars of an open evening that Louisa Killen and I ran at Sidmouth last year.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 02:15 PM

I've listened carefully to Gracie Fields' recording of FRED FANNACKAPAN at YouTube and the only significant difference is that she sings "gump," not "gorp" or "gawp."

I suppose they mean approximately the same thing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 04:09 PM

I saw/heard and really enjoyed the Snapes for the first time at Alcester in June last year, though not this particular number. From what I did hear -and particularly the football referee song - I suspect that Barbara makes a good job of all the songs she sings!

Like okthen back in 2001, I saw the thread title and thought Fanny, rather than Fred.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 11 - 07:48 AM

We got the Snapes CD when they were at Moira Folk Fest and love what they do, Val ntends to learn the song. Seeing the Snapes in March at our local Folk Club here in Bingham
Mike n' Val Scott

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 08:06 AM

Hi,
I have in my collection the 1932 sheet music. (F,D & H)
"...poor gump's proper poorly..." and
"Father said "You look a gump, the same as Mary Ann....."
Any other queries can be solved.
Cheers Bernard.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fred Fannakapan (from Gracie Fields)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 06:30 PM

There are a few recordings of this by Gracie, she alternates gump and gawp! And the doorbell thing too!