Lyr Req/Add: She Loved a Portuguese (P Cogshill)

Subject: Who sings this song?
From:
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 05:28 AM

Well, it’s all for the love of a fair young maid Lived in Parma Heights did reside.
Myself I lived in Beechwood. It was a forty-minute ride.
For there was a fly in the ointment there that you very seldom see.
For although I loved her terrible well, she was in love with a Portugee.

Now he was a nasty piece of goods. Rosellus was his name.
And he couldn't wait to get his hands on conceptor, who was me dame.
So I made a vow when I was downtown, that I would do him in.
For I did not like those Portuguese. And in particular, I didn't like him.

So I followed him down to Coventry, one evening for a lark,
Down to the Arabeca. That’s the in place after dark.
I spied him sitting in a corner seat. You could almost hear him boast
As he sat there with several whores, and gallons of French roast.

So I followed him to his lodgings in the flats somewhere about.
As he walked down an alleyway, I buttered him inside out.
Now he gave out many an awful swear till he was dead, I'm sure.
Then I lifted up a manhole lid and dropped him down the sewer.

Now when my wife she heard of this, she made my life a hell.
So all for the sake of peace and quiet, I did her in as well.
So now I'm up before the judge to answer for my crimes.
He says, “I didn't mind the first one son, but not the second time.”

So it’s all for the sake of that fair young maid and her Portuguese sailor friend.
For the passionate love of that fair young maid, I’ve landed in the pen.
But if ever I get out again, my life I'll change, you'll see.
For I'll marry with a girl from Pepperpike, who wouldn't look at a Portugee.

About 10 years ago I first heard a tape of this man’s stuff. The tape was not labeled and even the person who taped it from the Dr. Demento show could not remember his name. Since then I have worn out my tape of this and am now desperately looking for a CD or MP3 to replace it.

Other songs done by this man are as follows:
(Note: these are all remakes of public domain songs)
Nell Flaherty's Drake
Bantam Cock
Sister Josephine
To Morrow (this has a bit of a synthesized feel)

Thanks in advance,
Nygil Sade

---

Multiple threads on "She Loved a Portuguese" combined. According to Derek Brimstone, "'Portuguese' was written by a chap called Patrick Cogshill." (see below)
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: Ringer
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 09:08 AM

I've only ever heard it in clubs, and slightly differently, too. Eg verse 2:

For I didn't like Portugese in general,
And especially I didn't like him.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: Snuffy
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 09:14 AM

Bantam Cock and Sister Josephine are by Jake Thackray, and are not public domain.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 11:02 AM

I'll PM me old pal Bernard who used to sing it regularly if I remember correctly.

D the G

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: GUEST,Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 05:37 PM

Mudcat contributor BigJ sings the song about the Portuguee. I think he may well have got it from Dublin singer, Frank Harte (with or without the -e?).

Lhiats,

Bobby Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: Lanfranc
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 05:55 PM

Derek Brimstone has sung this song, with the original words, for some thirty odd years. In reply to a query on an earlier thread he emailed the following...

".....'Portuguese' was written by a chap called Patrick Cogshill. He was a student at Exeter university and he did a floor spot at my gig there - sang three brilliantly funny songs that he'd written - and that was one of them. He dictated the words to me - (I wish I'd got the other two, they were just as good)- and the rest is history. I never saw, or heard from him again - just sort of immediately lost touch, although I attributed the song to him on my first album"

Must learn "clicky"!

Subject: ADD: She Loved a Portuguese ^^
From: Bernard
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 07:09 PM

Dave's right - I've been singing this song for a while! I learned it from Derek Brimstone (well, an album!), and these are the words:

SHE LOVED A PORTUGUESE
(Patrick Cogshill)

I fell in love with a fair young maid
Who in Campden did reside
And I was living in Shoreditch,
Which was a one-and-fourpenny ride.
But there was a fly in the ointment,
As you very soon will perceive,
Cos, although I loved her ever so well,
She loved a Portuguese.

One night, I saw them both together,
And I opened me mouth to speak.
But the sight I saw before me
Made me shut me mouth up quick!
For they was both a-sitting there,
They was laughing, and holding hands,
And he was a-seducing of her
With pints of Babycham!

He was a nasty piece of work,
Gonzales was his name.
And there he was, a-dallying with
The honour of my dame.
So, I resolved to kill him,
Though I knew it was a sin,
Cos I didn't like Portuguese in general,
And in particular, I didn't like 'im!

So I followed him to his lodgings,
Which was in Millwall, or thereabouts,
And I followed him up an alleyway,
And I turned him inside-out!
Then I muttered jealous oaths, and things,
And bashed him black and bluer,
Then I lifted up a manhole cover,
And I bunged him down a sewer!

Now when she heard what I had done,
She made me poor life 'ell,
So just for the sake of peace and quiet,
I done her in, as well!
So now I'm up before the Beak
To answer for me crime.
He said: I don't like what you did first off, my son,
But I'll forgive you the second time.

Now, love and jealousy are dangerous passions,
I should never have intermixed 'em.
I might have been much wiser,
Cos now I'm languishing here in Brixton.
All for the love of a fair young maid
Who in Campden did reside,
Yes, all for the love of a fair young maid
I got thirteen years inside!

Having read through the words after all these years, I realise that I have maintained the folk tradition and changed them a little! ^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: Cavia_P
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 09:05 AM

I should have added that my mate Ken Johnston has been known to sing She Loved a Portugese

Cavia_P

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: Bernard
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 04:39 PM

If you'd like to hear my rendition of this song, I recorded it in 1994 and included it on my one and only album!

You can download the MP3 (approx 3Mb) from my website:

Download now

It's not accessible normally - this is a 'Mudcat Special'!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 11:47 AM

Interesting. The Portuguese may in fact be one of the few indentifiable groups of people whom one can still make a joke about, without getting a special interest group or a lawsuit on one's back....

Of course, there's always Belgians too.

I think.

Oh, and blondes...but people are getting sick of those jokes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: Metchosin
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 12:55 PM

Bernard! Thank you for the download, its a delight!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: Bernard
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 05:08 PM

Metchosin - yer welcome! Glad you enjoyed it! It's a song that gets requested quite often.

Incidentally, Martin Carthy told me (23rd. September 2000) that Paddy Roberts wrote it - I was using his capo at the time (don't you just love name-dropping?!).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: GUEST,Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 06:01 PM

Hello, that's odd, I seem to have lost my cookie. Now I can post all sorts of things under other names and annoy people!

I was going to say Paddy Roberts too, but I see someone beat me to it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: Bernard
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 07:13 PM

Not just someone, but someone!! (Me!)

Subject: She loved a Portuguese
From: pavane
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 04:59 AM

Anyone have the words to this humourous song which I remember from the 1970's? I am told it was written by a student, and sometime sung by ?Derek Brimstone, or was it Tony Capstick?

Some fragments I remember:

.... But there was a fly in the ointment As you very soon will perceive For although I loved this pretty fair maid She loved a portuguese...

Subject: Lyr Add: She Loved a Portuguese (songwriter?)
From: IanC
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 05:06 AM

May be in DT but here it is:

SHE LOVED A PORTUGUESE
(Paddy Roberts)

I fell in love with a fair young maid
Who in Campden did reside
And I was living in Shoreditch,
Which was a one-and-fourpenny ride.
But there was a fly in the ointment,
As you very soon will perceive,
Cos, although I loved her ever so well,
She loved a Portuguese.

One night, I saw them both together,
And I opened me mouth to speak.
But the sight I saw before me
Made me shut me mouth up quick!
For they was both a-sitting there,
They was laughing, and holding hands,
And he was a-seducing of her
With pints of Babycham!

He was a nasty piece of work,
Gonzales was his name.
And there he was, a-dallying with
The honour of my dame.
So, I resolved to kill him,
Though I knew it was a sin,
Cos I didn't like Portuguese in general,
And in particular, I didn't like 'im!

So I followed him to his lodgings,
Which was in Millwall, or thereabouts,
And I followed him up an alleyway,
And I turned him inside-out!
Then I muttered jealous oaths, and things,
And bashed him black and bluer,
Then I lifted up a manhole cover,
And I bunged him down a sewer!

Now when she heard what I had done,
She made me poor life hell,
So just for the sake of peace and quiet,
I done her in, as well!
So now I'm up before the Beak
To answer for me crime.
He said: I don't like what you did first off, my son,
But I'll forgive you the second time!

Now, love and jealousy are dangerous passions,
I should never have intermixed 'em.
I might have been much wiser,
Cos now I'm languishing here in Brixton.
All for the love of a fair young maid
Who in Campden did reside,
Yes, all for the love of a fair young maid
I got thirteen years inside!

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She loved a Portuguese
From: English Jon
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 05:14 AM

Camden, actually.

(just north of Kings Cross)

Version I know, his lodgin's was in Stepney thereabouts.

EJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She loved a Portuguese
From: GUEST,Airto
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 06:27 AM

This song also turns up in a collection of Dublin songs edited by Frank Harte. Not very Pc, is it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She loved a Portuguese
From: pavane
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 06:51 AM

So it WAS Paddy Roberts? Does look like his style. Thanks for the words

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She loved a Portuguese
From: pavane
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 06:55 AM

Didn't come up on any search I did, so I don't think its there (Yet)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She loved a Portuguese
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 07:16 AM

See also the imaginatively-named thread  Lyr Add: Who sings this song?  Two sets of lyrics, including She Loved A Portuguese by one Patrick Cogshill,according to Derek Brimstone.

THE MAID OF CABRA WEST  From Frank Harte, no tune given.

Derek Brimstone songs  Includes She Loved A Portuguese, this time with chord symbols.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She loved a Portuguese
From: Noreen
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 08:12 AM

Ian- you mean you didn't use the Supersearch before posting? Tsk, tsk...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She loved a Portuguese
From: pavane
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 08:17 AM

Why didn't I find in in a search? It was obviously there - maybe I'm not doing it right. I last heard it sung in the 1980's by one Martin Fowles, in the Romford area, but I am sure he sung 30 years, not 13 in the last line? Sounds better to me. I did ask DB about the song when I saw him at a club about 4 years ago, and he told me a student had written it, but couldn't give me the words on the spot.Anyway, thanks to all

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She loved a Portuguese
From: IanC
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 08:18 AM

No. Slows yer down when you think it ain't there. Took me 7 mins even without checking.

;-)
Ian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She loved a Portuguese
From: Noreen
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 09:48 AM

pavane (you're not called after Linda Thompson's song, are you?), the most efficient means of searching now is to put a phrase or title into the box under Digitrad and Forum Search on the forum page. If you do that with this title, you get links to four threads, including the one with the lyrics.

Good luck with future searches.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She loved a Portuguese
From: pavane
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 10:11 AM

It's a long story. Many years ago, (1970's) I bought a small boat to go fishing in Swansea Bay, and we named it Pavane (slow dance over the waves..) In 1995, we (wife & I) were invited to a festival in Udine, in the north-east of Italy, and needed a name for ourselves to perform as a duo. That's the best we could come up with. We have never performed under that name in the UK though.

Funny thing, we were accosted in the marquee by a Senor Pavan!. Also we met an Italian lady who had a good friend in Swansea and did we know her? - it turned out that her son was a member of our Ceilidh band - talk about a small world.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She loved a Portuguese
From: caz2ufolk
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 01:45 PM

This song can be found on Bernard Cromarty's CD Revived? Forty Five!. Great song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
From: radriano
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 02:44 PM

Frank Harte does sing this. It is on one his albums, maybe his first solo album.

Subject: Lyr Add: SHE LOVED A PORTUGUESE (Paddy Roberts)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 06:35 AM

Noticed a few queries re this song and couldn't find a complete set of lyrics on the DT so here is what I have: -

SHE LOVED A PORTUGUESE
(Paddy Roberts)

I fell in love with a fair young maid what in Camden did reside.
And I did live in Shoreditch, which was a one and fourpenny ride.
But there was a fly in the ointment, as you very soon will perceive,
For though I loved her oh so well, she loved a Portuguese.

One night I saw them together and I opened my mouth to speak,
But when I saw what they was a-doing, I shut my mouth up quick.
For there they were a-sitting there, a-laughing and holding hands,
And he was a-seducing of her with pints of Babycham.

He was a nasty piece of work. Gonzales was his name.
And there he was a-dallying with the honour of my dame.
So I resolved to kill him, though I knew it was a sin,
Cos I didn't like Portuguese in general, and in particular I didn't like him.

So I followed him to his lodgings what was in Millwall or thereabout,
And I followed him down an alley and I turned him inside out.
And I muttered jealous oaths and things as I bashed him black and bluer,
Then I lifted up a manhole cover and I bunged him down the sewer.

Now when she heard what I had done, she made my poor life hell.
So just for the sake of peace and quiet, I done her in as well.
So now I'm up before the beak to answer for my crime.
He said, "I don't like what you did first off, my son, but I'd forgive you the second time."

Love and jealousy are dangerous passions. I never should have intermixed 'em,
But I am so much wiser as I languish here in Brixton.
And it's all for the love of a fair young maid what in Camden did reside.
It's all for the love of a fair young maid I got thirty-five years inside.

---

YouTube video of Dick Frost singing "She Loved a Portuguese": (click)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: Bernard
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 06:52 AM

Martin Carthy once told me this was written by Paddy Roberts, and its 'official' title is 'She Loved A Portuguese'.

The best known recorded/live version is by Derek Brimstone... his words vary from the above only in slight details, which we all tend to do to make a song fit our own natural speech patterns... the version I do differs yet again!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: GUEST,Mingulay
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 08:54 AM

One wonders what our friends on the other side of the pond will make of this, especially if they could hear Derek singing it. I am sure I have also heard John Foreman doing it in the past. Leadfingers own version is not at all bad, in fact his apparent hatred of things Portugese comes over particularly well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 09:12 AM

See also

The Maid of Cabra West
Lyr Req: She loved a Portuguese
Lyr Add: Who sings this song?
Lyr/Chords Add: She Loved a Portuguese

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 10:27 AM

In the Dublin version, of course, he was a "Portugee"!

I'd forgotten that I had come across this London version somewhere. Can't remember where. The Dublin version is fairly readily placed as being post-1950 or so. Any evidence for the age or authorship of the London one?

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 10:33 AM

OK - I see the Roberts/Cogshill attributions. Any definitive evidence or date?

Regards

Subject: ADD: I Only Spoke Portuguese (Bill Worsfold)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 11:25 AM

To redress the anti-Portuguese sentiments, perhaps you'd like a somewhat gentler view of our oldest ally.   Pete Coe has recorded this lovely song on his CD In Paper Houses with Appalachian dulcimer accompaniment:

I ONLY SPOKE PORTUGUESE
(Bill Worsfold)

My name's Jose Luis Santini
A cooper's boy proud Portuguese
Shanghaied by an American whaler
Bound down for the southern seas
But I could not speak their language
I was beaten mercilessly
And at Cable Bay I slipped over the side
Bade farewell to the ship & the sea.

Taken in & sheltered by the Maori
The chieftain took pity on me
I fell in love with his beautiful daughter
And I knew in my heart she loved me
For the heart knows only one language
That the eyes alone speak with ease
For she could only speak Maori
And I only spoke Portuguese.

It's fifty-six years we've been lovers
And it seems like just yesterday
And it's twenty-one children she bore me
No man more contented today
But if I had the wings of a tui
I would sing from the highest of trees
For she still only speaks Maori
And I only speak Portuguese.

( Bill Worsfold)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 11:32 AM

Oh, and re original posting: there is no such place as "Camden" in London. There was, however, a sprawling London borough created with that name in 1965 with the reorganisation of local government but it is not geographical. There is somewhere called "Camden Town.   Camden is, I think, in New Jersey.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: Bernard
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 12:35 PM

Yup... but Camden Town wouldn't scan, would it?! I think the song was late 60s, anyway.

Locals do tend to abbreviate place names - or even change them completely! Near me is a place called 'Darcy Lever', but the locals call it 'Dolly Tub City'...!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 12:59 PM

Wasn't the location Campden, not Camden, in the song? There was a 17th c. Viscount Campden whose home was located outside one of the London gates. Can't remember now, but I seem to remember that Campden, Ontario, was named after him, and that is where I got this somewhat mis-remembered memory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 01:18 PM

Campden is a posh bit of Kensington, near Notting Hill Gate. The viscount must have been very rich as there exists to this day a charity named after him which provides educational bursaries and other grants for refugees and other disadvantaged people. These live mostly in the northern part of the borough of Kensington which is nowadays, strangely enough, home to a large ex-patriate Portuguese community.

Real locals call the area just north of Regent's Park "Camden Town. The tube station is thus named. It's only incoming yuppies who put up house prices that call it "Camden".

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: Leadfingers
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 01:44 PM

I'ne never been to Camden TOWN Market though

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: pavane
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 01:52 PM

NOT Paddy Roberts, this has also been dicussed. Brimstone says he got it from the author, a guy (student?) whom he has since been unable to trace, and who had more songs in similar vein. So his words would be the definitive ones.

Some differences in words:

First Verse
Although I loved this pretty fair maid, she loved a Portuguese

Quick pronounced Queek (in humorous manner), to rhyme with Speak

Last Verse
Thirty Years inside, not thirtyfive

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: Leadfingers
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 04:14 PM

Blame the folk process - It must be thirty five years since I learned the song - AT LEAST .

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: GUEST,eoin o'buadhaigh
Date: 18 Aug 04 - 07:55 AM

Frank Harte sings a great version of this ballad. I can't remember what album he recorded it on, one of his early ones though.
cheers eoin

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Portuguese
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 18 Aug 04 - 08:08 AM

Yes. It's dealt with in earlier threads and transcribed in the DT (see links above).

Subject: RE: req/ADD: She Loved a Portuguese (Patrick Cogsh
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 16 Dec 09 - 10:21 PM

The Frank Harte version (The Maid from Cabra West) is on the album "Daybreak and a Candle End", SPIN 995, 1987. He's accompanied on the song by Donal Lunny, who also produced the album. None of the songs have author attributions, so I'm guessing Frank assumed all were traditional. He dates this as from about the sixties (pre-decimalisation from the bus-fare). I just came across this again when I bought a bunch of tapes to play in the car from Dragon Records' remainder box at Fylde a few months ago. Great stuff.

Ross

Subject: RE: req/ADD: She Loved a Portuguese (Patrick Cogshill)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:05 AM

In latter years, at least, Frank was aware of the London origin of the song. I never heard him comment on the possible author of the Dublin version.

Regards

Subject: RE: req/ADD: She Loved a Portuguese (Patrick Cogsh
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 05:18 AM

Might it have been Frank Harte himself?

Ross

Subject: RE: req/ADD: She Loved a Portuguese (Patrick Cogshill)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Dec 09 - 05:54 AM

Ross

The thought struck me, too! I don't honestly think so, in fact. There are one or two other likely culprits. I'll make some enquiries.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: She Loved a Portuguese (P Cogshill)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 23 Apr 12 - 04:17 PM

As mentioned in another thread, I heard a localised Liverpool version of this at the Ellesmere Port shanty fest this year. Seemed to me to be a bit closer to Frank Harte's Dublin version than to the Maid of Camden Town one. Question is, of course, whether the song headed steadily west or leapfrogged Liverpool initially, then came back to Liverpool on the ferry!

Listening, for the first time, to THIS VERSION of the Camden Town variant, I'm reminded of the songs of Tom Lehrer in the '60's. Wonder if that was the original inspiration?

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: She Loved a Portuguese (P Cogshill)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 23 Apr 12 - 11:34 PM

Neville Coghill was famous for translating Chaucer and he taught at Exeter College - did he have a more talented son or nephew who wrote - She Loved a Portuguese.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: She Loved a Portuguese (P Cogshill)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 30 Sep 13 - 08:30 AM

Very reminiscent of 'The Ballad of Bethnal Green'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: She Loved a Portuguese (P Cogshill)
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 30 Sep 13 - 12:56 PM

Portuguese sailors got around quite a bit.

FRom Trinidad:

"I was supporting a woman independently
She promised to make a baby for me
When it was born, I went to see
His eyes were blue, it was a Portugee
      (Man Smart, Woman Smarter)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: She Loved a Portuguese (P Cogshill)
From: GUEST,Peter McMullen
Date: 06 Oct 16 - 08:21 AM

My memories are similar to Derek Brimstone's - I played a couple of sets at the Troubadour in London in 1968 and heard a young may sing She loved a Portuguese and a couple of other hilarious songs. Redd Sullivan was MCing the show and told me that the songs were sung by their author. Patrick Cogshill sounds right 'cause Peter Parkhill(a diminutive fellow Australian) did a set as well and I think I made a remark about the hills in England being taller than those from Aus.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: She Loved a Portuguese (P Cogshill)
From: GUEST,John Ashurst
Date: 27 Oct 20 - 12:07 PM

The fact that Paddy Roberts never recorded it seems to suggest that it was not written by him. The hunt for P. Cogshill and/or his songs continues.