Lyr Req: Mam, When's Mi Dad Coming Home?

Subject: "Mum, when's me dad coming home" - Lyrics??
From: Peter Dawson
Date: 23 Dec 97 - 02:13 PM

The above is the refrain from an English (?) song about a pit disaster. I am looking for the lyrics, but would also like any historical info on the disaster itself, and any discography (is that the word?) on available recordings.

Post, or feel free to e-mail

[e-mail]

Subject: RE:
From: alison
Date: 23 Dec 97 - 10:03 PM

Hi

I remember some of the chorus. Maybe it'll help jog someone elses memory.

Mam, when's me dad comin' home,

Mam, when's me dad comin' home?

I sit and wait by the ?factory gate,

Mam, when's me dad comin' home?

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: when's me dad comin' home?
From: Peter Dawson
Date: 24 Dec 97 - 09:04 AM

Alison,

That's certainly the one, although I note that you refer to a "factory gate". Which also sounds right, although perhaps my memory was wrong on it being a pit disaster. Perhaps a factory explosion or something? (I vaguely remember the last line of one verse being the words, "there'll be no men coming up today", or somesuch, which suggests a mine.

Thanks, anyway.

Subject: RE:
From: alison
Date: 24 Dec 97 - 10:13 PM

Hi

I seem to remember it being done in a Liverpudlian accent, possibly by Cilla Black.

slainte

Alison

Subject: RE:
From: Peter Dawson
Date: 29 Dec 97 - 11:58 AM

The version I heard (on CBC radio) was a recording by a male singer with an accent from somewhere north of Birmingham and south of the Tweed/Humber line. Tenor-ish, I would have said. Now why can I remember all that and not the song itself?

Best wishes for Hogmanay,

Peter

Subject: RE:
From: Peter Dawson
Date: 08 Jan 98 - 12:58 PM

Back at my desk, a week or so later; still no further response to my question.

I guess no-one knows. . . .

Subject: RE:
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 12 Jan 98 - 04:36 AM

A. L Lloyd, Come all ye bold miners, prints thirty odd songs about mining disasters, but none of them has the line you are looking for, Peter. This is the nearest verse I found, but most probably not the one you want:
"Oh tell me, tell me, dearest mother
, is my father with the slain?
Is my only little brother
coming from the pit again?
When will father be returning
to join me in my childish play?
The mother cries, with anguish burning
Your father is in heaven, I pray."
(verse from: Melancholy explosion at the Moss pit)

Wolfgang

Subject: RE:
From: Peter Dawson
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 07:59 AM

Wolfgang,

Thanks for that. Not the one, but interesting nonetheless. It would be a fascinating project to chronicle pit disasters through the songs that have been written, with a brief historical blurb on what happened, the lyrics, and possibly an accompanying CD. "If there were world enough, and time. . . ."

Peter

Subject: RE: "Mum, when's me dad coming home" - Lyrics??
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 09:41 AM

According to http://www.onlinemusicdatabase.com/album.phtml/21681, Brian and Michael's album "The Matchstalk Men" from 1978 contains MAM, WHEN'S ME DAD COMING HOME? (THE DREAM).

Spelling variants: Some sources say the performers are Bryan and Michael, and the song is "...MI DAD..."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Mum, when's me dad coming home?'
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 11:37 AM

We'd all wake up at the break of dawn just to see that mi dad was fed,
and we'd see 'im off at the garden gate then we'd jump back into bed.
Then we'd listen to his cloggs clapping down the street
and his mates shouting "eh, Jacko",
If we don't shift the coal we'll be all on the dole
and the wheels will be turning slow.

Singing Mam, whens me Dad comin home,
Mam, whens me Dad comin home
I will sit and wait by the garden gate,
singing Mam, whens me Dad comin home.

Well, I'd listen fore mi Dad comin down the street
and I'd run into my Dad's arms,
........
........

Singing Mam, whens me Dad comin home,
Mam, whens me Dad comin home
I will sit and wait by the garden gate,
singing Mam, whens me Dad comin home.

Well I'd scrub all the dust from mi Dad's broad back
and I'd hold his shaving mug,
I'd bring his pot and I'd light his pipe,
I'd do owt for mi Dad, I would.

Singing Mam, whens me Dad comin home,
Mam, whens me Dad comin home
I will sit and wait by the garden gate,
singing Mam, whens me Dad comin home.

Well the big sirens rang, not for change of shift,
but to tell a tale of wo,
For the thunder roared in the bowells of the earth
and the men were still below.

Well the women raised their shawls over fine black hair
that would shortly turn to grey
and the foreman hung his head and he sighed....
There'll be no men coming up today...

Singing Mam, whens me Dad comin home,
Mam, whens me Dad comin home
I will sit and wait by the garden gate,
singing Mam, whens me Dad comin home.



Bryan and Michael. " lines I can't quite remember. Any body

Rob.

Subject: Lyr Add: MAM, WHEN'S MI DAD COMING HOME?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Aug 11 - 03:51 AM

Remembered the last two lines... Not bad for 30+ years ago

We'd all wake up at the break of dawn
Just to see that mi dad was fed,
And we'd see 'im off at the garden gate
And we'd jump back into bed.

Then we'd listen to 'is clogs clappin' down the street
And his mates shoutin', "Eh, Jacko,
If we don't shift the coal we'll be all on the dole
And the wheels will be turnin' slow."

CHORUS: Singin', "Mam, when's mi dad comin' home?
Mam, when's mi dad comin' home?"
I will sit and wait by the garden gate,
Singin', "Mam, when's mi dad comin' home?"

Well, I'd listen for mi dad comin' down the street
And I'd run into my dad's arms,
And mi mam would 'ave the water in the old 'earth tub
And she'd kiss 'im when 'is face was clean.

Well, I'd scrub all the dust from mi dad's broad back,
And I'd 'old his shavin' mug,
I'd light his pipe and I'd bring his pot,
I'd do owt for mi dad, I would. CHORUS

Now, the big sirens sang, not for change of shift,
But to tell a tale of woe,
'Cause the thunder roared in the bowels of the earth
And the men were still below.

Now, the women raised their shawls over fine black hair
That would shortly turn to grey,
And the foreman hung his head and he sighed,
"There'll be no men comin' up today." CHORUS TWICE

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Mum, when's me dad coming home?'
From: RunrigFan
Date: 04 Aug 11 - 06:59 PM

http://www.myspace.com/matchstalkmen/music/songs/mam-whens-my-dad-coming-home-13944549

Another version sung bit differenty