Lyr Req: Song of Belfast (Crawford Howard)

Subject: Lyr Add: SONG OF BELFAST (Crawford Howard)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 07:16 PM

The name of songwriter Crawford Howard came up in a recent thread. This is one of his songs. Would someone please help me complete the lyrics? I just don't get it all.

SONG OF BELFAST
(Crawford Howard)

Chorus:
Poor old Belfast how long can it last
There's bits disappearing with every blast
It may have no future but boy what a past
What a wonderful town is the town of Belfast

I'll sing you a song of the town of Belfast
Where the old union tak' us tae (?) to the mast
But the flagpole is shaken with every blast
Oh a wonderful town is the town of Belfast
With wonderful factories and shipyards as well
So to keep up employment we'll blow them to hell
For 'em bullets and (?) the resources is fast
The bullet (?) and bouncing (?) the song of Belfast

Now Belfasters know where the weasel goes pop
For there's smashing reductions in every shop
I know a wee lad took his girl to a ball
They went in through the door came out through the wall
It's not even safe to go into a pub
For the bits of glass flying would slice off your gob
I went out last night for a couple of beers
And by Jesus the lounge bar came down round my ears

There was little Willie who to please King Billy had a poor old Micky on a hair (?)
There was little Seamus he will soon be famous he blew up (?)
There was Sean a-making lots of motor-cycles flying up and down the Springfield Road (?)
And they're throwing bowlers at the bloody soldiers who is only doing what they're told
There was Bernadette I'm sure she's talking yet I've seen her on the telly-vee
And by all the powers she went on for hours by courtesy of BBC
There was all the talkers, men as Brian Faulkner, Jack McGee and P. and Gerry Fitt
And another fella who was watching telly said they was talking a lot of rubbish

If you're up from the country and you go for a jar
For God's sake be careful where you leave your car
For when you come back from your bed (?) 'n' your sup
You'll find you're blew out and your car is blew up
The doctors say, Walking is good for your health
By Jesus it's not if you walk on the Twelfth
And if you got lifted what a terrible fate
You get sent up the Crumlin until you escape

Subject: RE: Song of Belfast: Help w lyrics
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 01:38 AM

I have some Crawford Howard material---hilarious stuff---, but don't recognise the verses you quote [which are typical Crawford]. One way to get in touch or access more of his material might be through contact with Tommy Sands, who, as far as I know, is still a close friend.

Subject: RE: Song of Belfast: Help w lyrics
From: GUEST,Annraoi
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 10:05 PM

Try the following URL for information

http://members.aol.com/jmoul81075/stories.htm

Annraoi

Subject: RE: Song of Belfast: Help w lyrics
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 06:46 PM

Thanks to both of you! I haven't tried either yet, having been unable to access Mudcat for days and having been away on a short holiday (to visit MudGuard in Munich, among other things). Maybe refreshing this will bring someone out of the woodwork who actually has the song and could help check the words.

Subject: RE: Song of Belfast: Help w lyrics
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 05:37 PM

refresh

Subject: Lyr Add: SONG OF BELFAST (Crawford Howard)
From: GUEST,DAN BELFAST
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 07:54 PM

Poor old Belfast how long can it last
There's bits disappearing with every blast
It may have no future but boy what a past
What a wonderful town is the town of Belfast

I'll sing you a song of the town of Belfast
Where the old union IS STILL NAILED to the mast
But the flagpole is shaken with every blast
Oh a wonderful town is the town of Belfast
WE'VE wonderful factories and shipyards as well
So to keep up employment we'll blow them to hell
For bullets and BOMBS the resources is fast
The bullet and BOMB the song of Belfast.

Now Belfast THERES MORE HOLES the weasel goes pop
For there's smashing reductions in every shop
I know a wee lad took his girl to a ball
They went in through the DOUR came out through the wall
It's not even safe to go into a pub
For the bits of glass flying would slice off your GUB
I went out last night for a couple of beers
And BE Jesus the lounge bar came down round my ears

There was little Willie who to please King Billy had a poor old Micky on HEAD
There was little Seamus he will soon be famous he blew up PANORNOR BED
There was Sean AN MICHKEL ON A motor-cycles flying up and down the Springfield Road
And they're throwing BOLDERS at the BRITISH soldiers who is only doing what they're told
There was Bernadette I'm sure she's talking yet I've seen her on the telly-vee
And by all the powers she went on for hours by courtesy of BBC
There was all the talkers, MINUS Brian Faulkner, Jack McGee and P. and Gerry Fitt
And another fella who was watching telly said they was talking a lot of rubbish

If you're up from the country and you go for a JOG
For God's sake be careful where you leave AUL car
For when you come back from your BITE 'n' your sup
You'll find you're blew out and your car is blew up
The doctors say, Walking is good for your health
BE Jesus it's not if you walk on the Twelfth
And if you got lifted what a terrible fate
You get sent up the Crumlin until YEE escape

Subject: RE: Song of Belfast: Help w lyrics
From: Leadfingers
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 08:05 PM

Two and a half years is not exactly record breaking time for the Cat , but at least the corrected lyrics get there in the end !!

Subject: RE: Song of Belfast: Help w lyrics
From: GUEST,dan belfast
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 08:26 PM

its better to be l8 than never hahahaha

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of Belfast
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 07:06 PM

Dan, thanks a lot! I'm just back from Scotland where I'd found a Belfast man I was going to send the recording to with a plea for help. He'll be grateful to be saved the trouble, but he'll love the song. By the way, listening to the radio in a Scottish deli while buying cookies, I also learned that the tune Howard uses is 'Song of the Clyde".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of Belfast
From: rick-APX4a
Date: 07 Aug 04 - 07:13 PM

You may find the tune belongs to another song. The words you're looking for, are probably republican. Best of luck!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of Belfast (Crawford Howard)
From: GUEST,Raymond Haughey
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 08:09 AM

SONG OF BELFAST
(Crawford Howard)

Chorus:
Oh Poor old Belfast how long can it last
There's bits disappearing with every blast
It may have no future but boy what a past
What a wonderful town is the town of Belfast

I'll sing you a song of the town of Belfast
Where the old union Jack is still nailed till the mast
But the flagpole is shak'in with every blast
What a wonderful town is the town of Belfast

With wonderful factories and shipyards as well
So to keep up employment we'll blow them to hell
For in bullets and bombs the resources is vast
and the bullet and bomb aing the song of Belfast

Now Belfasters know where the weasel goes pop
For there's smashing reductions in every shop
I know a wee lad took his girl to a ball
They went in through the door came out through the wall
It's not even safe to go into a pub
For the bits of glass flying would slice off your gob
I went out last night for a couple of beers
And by Jesus the lounge bar came down round my ears

(the next verse is recited at increased pace!)
There was little Willie who to please King Billy hit a poor old Micky on the head
There was little Seamus he will soon be famous he blew up a van of ORMO Bread
There was Sean and Michael on a motorcycle flying up and down the Springfield Road
And they're chucking bolders at the british soldiers who is only doing what they're told
There was Bernadette I'm sure she's talking yet I've seen her on the telly-vee
And by all the powers she went on for hours, courtesy of BBC
There was all the talkers, minus Brian Faulkner, there was Ian P. and Gerry Fitt
And another fella who was watching telly said they talk a lot of rubbish

If you're up from the country and you go for a jar
For God's sake be careful where you leave your car
For when you come back from your bed 'n' your sup
You'll find you're blew out and your car is blew up
The doctors say, Walking is good for your health
By Jesus it's not if you walk on the Twelfth
And if you got lifted what a terrible fate
You get sent up the Crumlin until you escape

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of Belfast (Crawford Howard)
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 01:25 PM

Definitely not Republican.
Crawford's material gently chided/mocked both sides.
A funny and gifted songwriter/raconteur.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of Belfast (Crawford Howard)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 07:19 PM

Thanks, Raymond, this is very helpful. I wouldn't have known what to put in most cases and hadn't got any further with the song till now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of Belfast (Crawford Howard)
From: framus
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 12:56 PM

A bit late, but I've only joined.
Try;-
For bullets and bombs the resources is vast,and the bullet and bomb sing the song of Belfast;
Now Belfast knows more than the weasel goes pop;
to please King Billy hit a poor oul mickey on the head;
blew up a van of Ormo bread;
There was Sean and Michael on a motorcycle flyin';
throwin' boulders;
minus Brian Faulkner, like big Ian P and Gerry Fitt;
and I knew a fella who was watchin' telly;
your beer and your sup.

I think these are correct.

By the way, Crawford is alive and well and still living in East Belfast.

I've one of his records and his phone no., so I could probably help with other lyrics.

Cheers Davy (framus).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of Belfast (Crawford Howard)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 08:20 PM

I think the bread would be 'Ormeau,' as in Ormeau Road.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of Belfast (Crawford Howard)
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 02:18 AM

Actually Guest, the bread was spelled "ORMO", made by the ORMO bakery, which was named for the Ormeau Road.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song of Belfast (Crawford Howard)
From: GUEST,paddy
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 09:25 AM

my dad used to sing that song alot,he knows it of by heart.if you wana get in contact with him give me a shout