Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos

Subject: The glesga eskimos
From: Scotland the brave
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 09:21 AM

Hello my name is Tom

I'm looking for the words to the Glesga eskimos it was written by T.S. Law

I would really gratefull Thankyou

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Scabby Doug - PC lives on a diet of Mudcat c
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 09:43 AM

I'm sure this came up before, but I can't find a post of the lyrics, or a link to it..

Ewan McVicar says the tune (Marching through Georgia) is an intercontinental political melody: It'll get you your head kicked in in the Deep South of the US and the Deep East End of Glasgow...

If it doesn't turn up, I'm sure I can dig up the lyrics somewhere...

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 12:48 PM

I thought so too, Doug, but I can't find it either. Couldn't find lyrics on line, guess you will have to post them....grin.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Mrrzy
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 12:53 PM

Got any fragments to help with a search? Or with a memory?

Subject: Lyr Add: GLESCA ESKIMOS (T.S. Law)
From:
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 08:33 PM

Yes, I think I've done this before....., never mind

It's up the Clyde comes Lanin-a super-duper Yank
But doon a damn sight quicker when we coup him doon the stank
Up tae the neck in sludge and sewage fairly stops yer swank
--We are the Glesca Eskimos

Hullo, hullo, we are the Eskimos
Hullo, hullo, the Glesca Eskimos
We'll gaff that nyaff ca'd Lanin
We'll spear him whaur he blows
We are the Glesca Eskimos

It's in an oot, an up an doon, an on an aff the piers
There's cooncilors, collaborators, pimps and profiteers
The hairies jouk the polis, and the polis jouk the queers
--We are the Glesca Eskimos

There's dredgers and there's sludgie-boats tae keep the river clean
Ye lift yuir haun an pu the chain--ye ken fine whit ah mean
But why in the hell has the Holy Loch been left ootside the scheme
--We are the Glesca Eskimos

We've been in mony a rammy, lads, we've been in mony a tear
We've sortit oot this kind afore, we'll sort them onywhere
O, get yuir harpoons ready--he's comin up for air
--We are the Glesca Eskimos

Jack

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,jack
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 08:35 PM

Sorry, This new 'puter goes quick, and I must get my cookie on it!

Jack

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Scotland the brave
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 07:26 AM

Thank you to all of you.

Tom

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 10:51 AM

Jim McLean has recently joined Mudcat and I notice he says he composed this song. (Jim is also known as author of Ballas of Glencoe, Eng. lang version of Land of MacLeod, Hush-hush time to be sleeping, etc)
see also Glasgow Eskimos

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 11:27 AM

Brings back memories....

Och, Och,
We're off to Holy Loch(x3)
And we dinnae want Polaris.

Och, Och,
There's a monster in the Loch(x3)
And we dinnae want Polaris.

The Mayor o' Dunnoon, He wants his half-a-croon(x3) And we dinnae want Polaris.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 03:45 PM

Doon at Ardnadam, sittin' oan the pier
When a great big polis said, ye'll no sit here

Chorus
Ah but ah wull sit here
Naw but ye'll no sit there
Aye but a will
Naw but ye'll no
Aye but a will sit here There's Chief Inspector Rennie, enhancin' his career
Prancin' up an' doon the road like Yogi Bear

Cho.

Can't remember any more for the moment....Giok

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 03:50 PM

Sorry Ther should be a break before There's Chief Inspector Rennie
Failte....Giok

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 07:47 PM

Wasn't he called Runcie?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 07:59 PM

Jim McLean wrote at another thread: When we were writing Ding Dong Dollar, we called ourselves The Glesca Eskimos because some protesters challenged a sub at Faslane in a canoe!!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 05:33 AM

This stuff was the first folk music from the UK I ever heard. I was on the Easter 1963 3-day Aldermaston March, and all I heard was Scots music! I got hold of a little blue book with CND songs in but they were all English and a bit poo-faced: it was the Scots stuff that encouraged me to sing (and I've been singing ever since). Phillipa, where can I find out more about the Eskimos and how you all happened?

Jon Bartlett

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 07:02 AM

Sorry, I left out the quotation marks before the words "When we were singing ...". Jon I wasn't an Eskimo, but you'd have a start if you look at the other thread (click on the blue words Glasgow Eskimos in my message of 24 July)
I wisnae an Eskeemo frae Glesga. Aldermaston (I think)CND march of Easter 1985; I don't remember any Scottish music that time round.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 09:28 AM

Did the name not come from Captain Lanning of the Proteus who called the protesters in the canoes "a bunch of goddam eskimos"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 04:01 PM

Here are some bits and pieces (which may have appeared elsewhere before - I can't remember):

[1987:] Back in Glasgow the Anti-Polaris Base movement was in full swing with regular demonstrations at the Holy Loch in Dunoon, [...] and leading this movement was a one-man folk revival called Josh McRae. [His] group was known as the Reivers which after some good recording and TV work broke up leaving Josh on his own to lead off the 'Glasgow Eskimoes' a loose grouping of singers whose concentration was upon getting that Base out of the Clyde. [...] As an outlet for contemporary song the Eskimoes had given and were giving stimulus to the creation of hundreds of songs. (McGinn of the Calton 51ff.)

[1990:] [Morris Blythman] was criticised for using so many Orange tunes and references in his campaigning songs. [...] Morris and the poet T. S. Law both worked on the song The Glesca Eskimos, which made use of the American Civil War tune Marching Through Georgia. They were reclaiming the tune, which had been used in Glasgow for an Orange song, in which Hurrah, hurrah, we bring the Jubilee became Hullo, hullo, we are the Billy Boys. This is the only example of a political tune I know - several people have been quite agitated at the idea of singing any lyrics at all to this tune in Glasgow, because of its association with Protestant extremism and anti-Catholicism. (McVicar, One Singer One Song 62)

[1994:] Glasgow Herald, 25 May [196?]: "The anti-Polaris demonstrators today lost the last of their thirteen kayaks in the Holy Loch. The depot ship Proteus was held up as she entered the Loch by lone canoeist Sean Edwards who put out from Kilmun where the demonstrators are encamped. Edwards evaded pursuing launches and got within twenty yards of the vessel before being tipped into the water by naval frogmen. At the subsequent press conference, Captain Lanin, the commander of the Proteus, scoffed at the demonstrators. "They don't worry us," he declared. "They're just a bunch of goddam Eskimos." That was a serious tactical error on Lanin's part because back in Springburn the collective mincer held a sort of apres-rammy soiree and sulking [and went on protesting] (Gordon McCulloch, The Glasgow Eskimos - show at the 1994 Glasgow International Folk Festival)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Jim McLean
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 05:54 PM

I noticed I've been credited with writing Land of Mclead. This was written by Roddy McMillan as I mentioned in another thread (Highland Clearances?) It makes a change from not being credited at all!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim McLean
Date: 20 Aug 18 - 04:50 AM

I'm still looking for the official, newspaper article, on when Captain Richard B Laning (correct spelling) referred to the canoeists as Eskimos. The article mentioned by Susan, Glasgow Herald 25 March, 1961, does not appear in that paper and all mentions of Laning's comment appear only to be apocryphal and repeated. I would like hard evidence so if anyone can help .....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 20 Aug 18 - 05:04 PM

another version I heard was that they wore parkas with fur round the hood thus looking like Eskimos - - also they were in canoes; I'll ask on Dunoon in Old Photos, some former US Navy people read and post there.
There is also a Site 1 (facebook? or website?) group -- think Site 1 was Holy Loch. Perhaps Captain Laning or people who knew him will be on there?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Aug 18 - 03:44 AM

Thanks, GM. All the newspaper reports I have been pointed to were false, no mention of Laning's so called statement "They're just a bunch of goddam Eskimos". Lots of people repeat this but I need a definitive printing. I have searched the Glasgow Herald Archives, but no luck so on Thursday I'm going to the British Library to see the Scotsman over the relevant dates on microfilm. The Scotsman's online archive stops at 1950 and to see more they have a paywall.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 21 Aug 18 - 06:53 PM

--- there's still a few folk around who were part of the protests, perhaps some of them will remember?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Spot
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 03:31 AM

Interesting thread. Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 03:40 AM

My abiding memory of the marches I was on was the fact that, in those days, the pubs didn't serve women
I saw a section of the march passing a pub at the side of the road and marchers breaking off to have a pint
Some of us not from Scotland resented that women couldn't get served so we went into the pub, marched right through the bar and out of the far door
A section of the march actually passed through a pub
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 04:05 AM

GM I was on the first demo after the Proteus berthed in the Holy Loch, on 3rd March 1961. There is a photo of us, Josh McRae, Nigel Denver, Jackie O'Connor with Morris and Marion Blythamn, taken on the gangway on the ferry just going into Dunoon, 4th March 1961. On the same day the photo was taken which adorns the sleeve of the Ding Dong Dollar album, I'm on the top right by the CND sign. It was either during the Press Conference with Captain Laning on the 3rd March or very soon after that he made the oft repeated quote that the demonstrators were ".... A goddam bunch of Eskimos " and it's definite proof of this quote I cannot find. I'm going to the British Lonrary of Thursday to check the Scotsman newspaper on microfilm.
Jim, times don't change ... last Saturday at the Dundee All Under One Banner, a pub refused service to the YES marchers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 01:21 PM

There were still plenty pubs not serving women in the mid sixties into the seventies / equal pay ere- - also some city centre coffee establishments which we were told were for businessmen only at certain times of the day! And - I couldn't get a mortgage without a male guarantor in 1971 in Dunoon - there was no-where to live, US Navy personnel rented all the flats! ( Got a local authority loan instead)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 01:22 PM

- what's the name of the pub that wouldn't serve yessers? I fancy coming to Dundee specially to boycott it -- or better still, fill it up with folks who only want a glass of tap water?!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 03:36 PM

GM It's called the Boozey Cow sitting near Roseangle. The manage said it wasn't politically motivated but just too many people but the police disagreed with him.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 05:11 PM

What's a "Yesser"? and is not being served some kind of discrimination?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 03:24 AM

A "Yesser" is some one who believes in Scottish Self determination and about 16,000 marched in Dundee as All Under One Banner on Saturday 18th August 2018.
Discrimination it certainly was but the marchers just ignored the manager and carried on into town.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 05:24 AM

Sorry Jim , the last guest was me.....and I am definitely a "yesser" to independence, but I fear we are onto a loser with the current crop of SNP politicians.....they seem to come out of a PC mould which would never sit well with folk like Josh, Maurice, or any of the other people who protested the siting of WMDs in Holy Loch.
If its of any interest to respondents, a young akenaton got a wet arse sitting on the road at Ardnadam Pier.
Gallus Moll is FAR to young, and as far as I know has never got her a**e wet! :0)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 07:23 AM

Am I missing something here? Jim McLean is searching for a quote from a Captain Laning USN, of the USS Proteus from 3rd March 1961, or thereabouts and says:

Jim McLean
Date: 21 Aug 18 - 03:44 AM

Thanks, GM. All the newspaper reports I have been pointed to were false, no mention of Laning's so called statement "They're just a bunch of goddam Eskimos". Lots of people repeat this but I need a definitive printing. I have searched the Glasgow Herald Archives, but no luck so on Thursday I'm going to the British Library to see the Scotsman over the relevant dates on microfilm. The Scotsman's online archive stops at 1950 and to see more they have a paywall.

How could looking at microfilm or hard copy articles that appeared in the Scotsman pre-1950 have any bearing on what a USN Captain might, or might not, have said in March 1961?

As for the alleged quote - the song's been written, never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 08:30 AM

Observer: online archive of the Scotsman stops at 1950. The British Library holds microfilm for all dates up to the present.
The date of the quote and where it was reported is important for research purposes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 12:16 PM

Ah, thanks for the explanation. The Scotsman's online archive contains content of the newspaper from 1817, or 1855 UP TO 1950. From 1950 onward you have to pay, hence your trip to the British Library - got it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 12:25 PM

I went to the Dunoon Library today planning on checking the local paper microfiched archives -- couldny as they've not been done 1950-1980! Think they must hope for more funding - the previous stuff had special grants? (possibly from EU I vaguely recall---)
Shave as that would have been free and pretty easy. Now I'll need to make an appointment / pay per hour and wear white gloves to trawl through the paper's own archives- - not till after next week tho!
I did check /skim read a couple of books in the library (Andrene Messerschmid's American Years -- I probably mis-spelt her name, sorry - and GG Giarchi's Between Polaris and MacAlpine but nothing leapt out at me- - there were some great pictures from Herald and Times archives of protesters sitting outside the pier entrance and sailors trying to step through them!
Think there might be some other books / records in the museum, shall visit there too.
Or - Ake if you are in town with time to spare - -- ???!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 12:54 PM

GM thanks for all your hard work. I've been at the British Library today and looked at the March 1971 edition of the Scotsman but nothing I didn't know before. Going back tomorrow to search April, May and June.
I've been told about that lady Messerschmith and saw a scan of a page about the provost visiting the Ptoteus. I've searched lots of American papers and the Glasgow Herlad archives but although lots of news about th demonstrations ... I was there on Marxh 4th 1961, I found a newspaper picture dated 5th March showing us "Eskimos" on the ferry, singing, no names but I was there as was, Nigel Denver, Josh McRae and Jack O'Connor
My quest to find a newspaper report, not just word of mouth repeating the Captain Lening's phrase mentioning the Eskimoes, continues.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 01:27 PM

Glasgae Eskimos Origin? Source: Global Nonviolent Action Data Base

Extract from above link:

In preparation for the arrival of Proteus, local protesters formed a group called the Glasgow Eskimos to occupy the water with kayaks and rowboats alongside the CND, which would conduct land protests. In a rehearsal on 2 March, the Eskimos announced their intention to "cross the path of the Proteus and obstruct its entrance…Specific actions of nonviolent civil disobedience to obstruct each of the submarines as they arrive will be carried out until May." However the next day the protesters did not have enough boats to form a barrier across the Loch as planned, with three canoes and one dinghy in attendance. When the ship passed and anchored in Holy Loch, several members of the CND attempted to invade the boat by climbing onto the anchor chains until they were pried off by US sailors.

If the above is correct the name being attributed as originating from a throwaway remark by Captain Laning USN was in use at roughly three weeks before Laning and the USS Proteus arrived in the Clyde.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 02:45 PM

"The above" however is incorrect. We formed the Glasgow Eskimos some time after the Proteus berthed in the Holy loch. The canoeists, by the way had come up from England and this is well documented on various bums paper, the Glasgow Herald, the Guardian and many Armeriscan newspapers. I have spent the last few months scanning American. English and Scottish newspapers covering the period of January to June 1961. The term Eskimo was coined AFTER the Proteus arrived, of this I am 100% sure, I was there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Gallus Moll (away from home!)
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 05:36 PM

Andrene's has lots of interviews and memories of both Dunoon locals and US Navy people /dedependents. One mention was of the press briefing, i think on the ship? By Captain Laning to which the lady provost was invited....
Sorry i am really busy for next 10 days, will try to get to research then - unless someone else has come up with ananswer?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Gallus Moll (away from home!)
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 05:41 PM

There is also the Site 1 association (?) Which organises reunions and keeps u.s. naval ex servicemen in touch....if they posted the Q i am sure someone would know the answer!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 24 Aug 18 - 02:59 AM

Again thanks for the explanation. However I find it rather bizarre that you formed your group to prevent the USS Proteus from berthing in Holy Loch some time after the Proteus berthed in the Holy loch. Also interested to hear that the canoeists were not Scottish but English, which would lead on to the question regarding your choice of name for your group as you have just said that you and your Glasgow pals had nothing to do with the canoes that DID try to prevent the US Depot ship from berthing in Holy Loch on the 3rd March 1961. So in fact there were no Glasgow Eskimos at all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim McLean
Date: 24 Aug 18 - 03:51 AM

WARNING I have just realised that Observer is the same mischievous troll who posted on previous threads when I posted my song about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding. I was mistaken in answering him/her in the first place and advise all serious minded people on this thread to ignore him/her. A time waster.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim McLean
Date: 24 Aug 18 - 03:57 AM

GM I was sent a scan from that book by Bill Wagman, especially the page which says the Provost was piped aboard the Proteus. I read in the Scotman's account of that day 3rd March 1961 that after the morning's press conference, Captain Laning went ashore to pay his repects and later she, Provost McPhail, visited the ship.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 25 Aug 18 - 03:44 PM

off topic a bit -- it is Cowal Games weekend and I went to the annual session at Ardentinny Bowling Club - it's kinda like Groudnhog day 'cept we all get older- - ! Still sing the same old songs, but that is what everyone expects! Brilliant night as ever -- I even tried out my newly composed ballad of the death of Baron Macintuner, an dastardly
local murder in 1685.
Anyway there were some Americans there, from Oregon - a group of old friends / folkies, sang and played both US and Irish songs and tunes. They were renting a house locally, a]might have been over to support people in The Games? I sang them Ding Dong Dollar - the only one I could remember the words for without prior notice! (see this old age?!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim McLean
Date: 26 Aug 18 - 06:15 AM

GM I have a distant memory of being at the Cowal games, must be over 70 years ago. I can see and hear the mass pipers appearing over the hill, tremendous sight.
Anent that troll's post saying the Eskimos existed before Proteus arrived, the lady who wrote the piece in 2013 just put the word 'Eskimo' in front of everything, made it up. I checked all her sources and only one mentioned the Eskiimo and that Ailie Munro who just repeated the phrase that Laning had called the protesters Eskimoes. Another repeat of a repeat but no evidence Laning said it. I'm still searching .......

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 26 Aug 18 - 02:34 PM

A "Troll" am I McLean?

Please tell me which of YOUR words are false.

1. Laning was supposed to have called those in the kayaks "Nothing but a Goddamn bunch of Eskimos" - You are seeking proof that he actually said this.   Just tick YES or NO

2. Of those who were out on the water that day not one single kayaker was a Scot let alone a Scot from Glasgow, according to you they were English? Just tick YES or NO

3. As it would be those people (all Englishmen) in kayaks that Captain Laning USN would have been referring to HAD HE ACTUALLY made the comment you are seeking verification of. Can you tell me where "The Glasgow Eskimos" comes from? Unless of course that you are happy to be part of a group that undeservedly takes the credit for the actions of others.

4. Does truth and honesty actually feature in your universe? Or do you just normally write songs that completely misrepresent everything you see?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Jim McLean
Date: 26 Aug 18 - 03:03 PM

Ignore tick, ignore tick ignore .........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 26 Aug 18 - 04:36 PM

Ignore all you want McLean - but truth is truth - your life and beliefs are based on lies.

No-one in Glasgow was part of that protest, yet you and your chums lay claim to it and now you are desperately searching round for provenance to support a lie and take credit for what English tourists/visitors did.

What "heroic" deed undertaken by others are you going to appropriate and take credit for next?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 27 Aug 18 - 07:04 PM

observer - is that you, Ake?! Goany leave Jim McLean alane, I like and respect him!!
He is seeking printed information about what Captain Laning actually said - when and if in fact he said it.
Disnae matter wha wis in yon canoes/kayaks - - and hoo dae ye ken wha exactly wis therr onyweys?
Ah micht hae been a wee bit young to join them at the time(tho if I'd lived locally I reckon I would have!) but I know lots of folks who did take part and a considerable number came from the Glasgow area.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The glesga eskimos
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 28 Aug 18 - 02:17 AM

GM no I am not Akenaton, who I believe has always posted to this forum under one constant name. As to who you like and do not like, that is of no concern to me.

As to the kayaks how I ken wha exactly wis therr onyweys - Jim McLean himself told us all that they were all English visitors and that he and his pals only called themselves "The Glasgow Eskimos" AFTER USS Proteus berthed in the Holy Loch in March 1961.

Taking credit and stealing the thunder of others by false appropriation is, I think rather despicable, making the song itself nothing more than a "braggart's" chant. Thankfully, in all the decades that I have been attending folk clubs, concerts and festivals, I have never heard it sung.