Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.

Subject: She is 6 and a quarter ........
From: Jane2001
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 05:47 PM

Who's that knocking at my door
Big Valerie Wilkinson who lives next door
Curses curses, she wants to play at nurses
And I want to play at war.

Any one know the rest of it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Willa
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 06:27 PM

Heard this sung in the Tap & Spile in Whitby; Les from Hull (or Maggie) may be able to help.

Subject: Lyr Add: VALERIE WILKINS (Roaring Jelly)
From: GUEST,Dagenham Doc.
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 06:39 PM

VALERIE WILKINS
As recorded by Roaring Jelly on "In the Roar" (1981)

1. When Valerie Wilkins comes to play, she is always leader.
She always gets her own way, the rotten selfish bleeder!
And the reason she bosses me:
I'm 3 foot 7; she's 4 foot 3.
And besides, she's 3 months older than me, so I do what I'm told,
Cos she is six and a quarter and I'm just six years old.

CHORUS: Who's that knocking on my door?
Big Valerie Wilkins and she lives next door.
Curses, curses! She wants to play at nurses
And I want to play at war.

2. When she's in a good mood, she lets me play at cowboys,
But today she's got her nurse's apron on, so I'll have to play at hospitals now, boys,
And there's no fun for me in store.
She makes me lie in bed for an hour or more,
And pretends I've got pneumonia when I've only got a (sneeze) cold,
Cos she is six and a quarter and I'm just six years old. CHORUS

3. Then one day at teatime, I says: "I want to play with me rifle,"
But Valerie threw a tantrum; she spat straight in me trifle,
And blimey! she screamed at me.
She pulled my hair and she kicked me on the knee,
Causing me to spill my tea all on me sausage roll,
Cos she is six and a quarter and I'm just six years old. CHORUS

4. Three months later I realized I was six and a quarter.
I'd caught up with Valerie, could hardly hold me water.
And I was happy as could be,
But when I told me mum, she explained to me:
"You can never be as old as Valerie," and she began to laugh,
Cos I was six and a quarter, yeah! but she was six and a half. CHORUS


There you are, Jane. My pleasure.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Tig
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 02:09 PM

Ive very fond memories of Roaring Jelly doing this one. You can find it on their second LP 'In the Roar'. Now a rare find!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 03:53 PM

It's actually - could hardly hold me water - as in small child so excited it wets itself....

Dagenham Doc - where are you? I'm no so far away from 'Nam.....

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Jane2001
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 04:47 PM

Thanks Dagenham Doc. I'm sure it'll go down great in school!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Les from Hull
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 11:08 AM

Excellent song from an excellent and much missed band. Thanks Doc - we could've got the words (as Willa suggests, a mate of ours sings it regularly).

Les and Maggie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 11:27 AM

I only saw 'Roaring Jelly' once....& it was their Farewell performance...... I could barely 'hold my water' either...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: GUEST,Trevor Bond
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 05:26 PM

Can anyone let me know where I can find the chords to this song please

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Scrump
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 07:00 PM

Pity, it was played on Mike Harding's R2 show last week so if you'd asked about 5 hours ago you could have heard it on the "listen again" feature on the BBC website.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: BB
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 03:00 PM

By Richard Digance, I believe.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Scrump
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 05:38 AM

I thought it was a Clive Harvey original? I'll have to dig the LP out to check.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 06:30 AM

By consulting the Topic Discography I found that the title of the song is apparently VALERIE WILKINS—at least that's the title of one of the cuts on Roaring Jelly's album "In the Roar."

That recording also appears in the Various Artists compilation "Nowt So Funny As Folk Vol. 1 ," ADA Recordings, ADA105CD.

I couldn't find any other recordings with the same title.

Also, no information about authorship.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: BB
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 02:23 PM

If I'm wrong about Richard Digance, I'd like to know, so please post accordingly.

Thanks.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 04:54 PM

Great song. I can't remember where I heard it, but it stuck in my head.

Reminds me of when my son was little, and the little girl from next door came in to play.

"You can come into my spaceship" he says.

"Oh yes. First thing we'll do is we'll clean the spaceship and make it all nice and tidy."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Carol
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 03:01 PM

Den Gidens from the Travelling Folk used to sing this song, I have him singing it on a Whittlebury cassette and he's named Digence as the writer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: BB
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 03:35 PM

Carol, that's why I asked, because it was my research for that cassette brought up Richard Digance as the writer. If I was wrong, I need to know!

Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: r.padgett
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 04:25 PM

I am amazed that Ken Johnson's name (from Chesterfield) wasn't mentioned by Les and Maggie!

Ken does a fine job and got a round of applause in T'tap and Spile at Whitby BEFORE he sung it!!

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Carol
Date: 02 Oct 06 - 02:33 PM

Terry King could put you in touch with Den if that would help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Scrump
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 06:01 AM

Sorry, couldn't find the LP easily but I have it somewhere and will try to dig it out when I get time.

I've never heard Richard Digance sing the song - has anyone else? I only know the Roaring Jelly version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: The Badger
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 08:19 AM

The song is "Valerie Wilkins" by Clive Harvey. It is on their second LP "In the Roar" -TOPIC 12TS420- released in 1981. The LP also includes Christmas in Australia.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: Scrump
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 08:26 AM

You beat me to it - I thought it was by Clive. Wonder how it got attributed to Richard Digance - did he ever sing it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: BB
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 02:54 PM

I would have already discussed it with Den, although I can't remember now whether he said it was by Richard Digance or whether he didn't know and my researches elsewhere threw up Richard's name.

Anyway, thanks for the correction - I will alter it in our listings of the Song & Ale recordings.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: GUEST,Steve B
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 01:20 PM

I have strummed this for years and being a bit of techy failure only just realised that the words might be on the net SO Great i have found Valerie Wilkins years after seeing the song sung at the Tudor folk Club in Chesham.
I know the chords and am working out the way the verse goes, if I can't I will make something up that suits.
[e-mail] if you need to know the chords

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She is 6 and a quarter........
From: danensis
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 05:19 PM

It feels like they play this song every five minutes on Folkwaves - so much so that we wrote our own version:

Who's that knocking at my door, Lester Simpson the boy next door, Lawdy cripes he wants to play the pipes, and I want to play at war.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 02:39 PM

hi i acquired them from a folk singer. i wanted to play the song to my little girl.
INTRO C C7 F G#7 G7 C G7
VERSE C G7 D7 G7 X2 / C C7 F E7 / C G F G D7 E7 / C G F C D7 G7 C G7
CHORUS C G7 C C7 F D7 G7 C G7
just repeat as and when.
capo on 5 for best result.
hope it helps

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 11:11 PM

I've been looking for the words for Valerie Wilkins for years, both on and off the Digitrad. How come I missed them till now? Roaring Jelly were great favourites at several Fylde Festivals in the seventies - this song always struck a chord, and is still revisited every now and then by Penny Black.
Ross

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 04:39 AM

Great to find this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKiumaHjKTc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: GUEST,Bob F
Date: 31 Mar 09 - 06:10 PM

Have just found this site. I have the old LP with 'Valerie Wilkins on it and have sung the song many times unaccompanied as I couldn't figure out the chords. I'll now try it with the suggested chords above. Does anyone know the music tab for 'Anytime now'/'Maybe it's just as well' off the same LP?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: gecko
Date: 31 Mar 09 - 06:57 PM

Over the years I've heard Perth's Peter Bugden do this. His antics and voice so funny that I have never ever heard the end of the song because I was laughing so much.

On Ya Bugsy!

YIU
gecko (alias Brummie Jan from Cairns)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: GUEST,Ray Shepherd
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 07:54 AM

It was a Roaring Jelly original

Definitely NOT Richard Digance although he may have sung it at some time.

Roaring Jelly broke up because the main 'front man' of the group Derek Pearce began to have problems with his hearing and had to start to wear a hearing aid.

Micheal Hennesey was the bass player who used to rarely sing lead but this was the one song that was his own, and Derek would take over the Bass for him to front this one (Valerie Wilkins).

As a matter of interest I understand that Derek is now making a name for himself as a furniture designer. If you want to see what a 'retired folk singer' does when he can no longer sing then visit his site at DerekPearce.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: Morris-ey
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 08:40 AM

Didn't Derek Pearce and Clive Harvey form a band called Omega 3?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: gnomad
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 08:47 AM

Morris-ey, yup, sure did. Omega 3 website

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: GUEST,peter archer
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 06:41 PM

where can i get the music for valerie wilkins please anyone

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: GUEST,Marksman
Date: 25 Dec 09 - 12:28 AM

I remember this well from when I was a child, probably in the early 70s. Roaring Jelly had a show on TV and often performed these wonderful, silly songs. The lyric "Curses, curses, she wants to play at nurses and I want to play at war" has never left my memory. I'm also sure that the guy singing was dressed in an 'old style' school uniform (grey blazer, shorts & school cap). I also seem to recall that there was a key change around the middle and they shouted out 'Key Change!' and, for comedic effect, the singer reverted to the original key. I also recall the singer 'breaking down' and crying (again, just for the comedy) and the band stopping the song until he had 'recovered'. Great stuff, but that's all I can remember. How great it would be to see that again!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quar
From: EnglishFolkfan
Date: 25 Dec 09 - 07:20 AM

Had to have a looksee if I could find this online for a bit of nostalgia today:

There is a Youtube version complete with schoolboy shorts, blazer & cap by The Ian English Boodlum Band, (whom I've not heard of before) but tis the song as I remember it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKiumaHjKTc

Enjoy and Seasons Greetings to all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: GUEST,Siwla Virago.
Date: 26 Feb 15 - 11:17 AM

Anyone have chords for Valerie Wilkins please?. I usually sing it a capella but now would like to add it to my banjo rep.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: GUEST,bill
Date: 11 May 16 - 06:44 AM

Did you get any chords......ukelele

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: GUEST,Richard Abrahall
Date: 06 Aug 18 - 01:31 PM

We brought them out to Hong Kong for our folk festival.
Great live act.
I have sung Valerie Wilkins unaccompanied but would love to get the chords.
A few have asked, did anyone respond?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Aug 18 - 04:08 PM

The chords are in this thread. Page up a couple of times to where an unnamed guest posted them on 17 Dec 07.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: Bugsy
Date: 07 Aug 18 - 11:05 PM

Hi Brummie Jan!

Thanks for the compliment in 09.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Valerie Wilkins: 'She is 6 and a quarter.
From: GUEST,Richard Abrahall
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 11:47 AM

Thanks Jim Dixon

Should have spotted it and didn't.

Now need to find out what G"7 looks like.