Lyr Req: They Wouldn't Do It Now

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Wouldn't Do It Now
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 20 Feb 13 - 02:01 PM

As a former Marsden Rattler, am pretty sure that Bob Davenport got his version of 'I wish they'd do it now' (as per the 1971 LP mentioned earlier) from Scan Tester. I only recall Scan singing this song and the 'Lakes of Coldflynn'- where he got them you might ask Reg Hall or read his book about Scan- 'I never played for many posh dances' (includes an LP but can't lay my hands on it just at the moment. - bloody good song though- it works in the pub bar as well as the folk club- maybe even better?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Wouldn't Do It Now
From: GUEST,SteveG
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 02:59 PM

Here's a version I recorded from Jack Breckon of Esk Valley N Yorks in 1969.

I was born in Tipperary when I was quite young,
That's the reason I suppose there's blarney on my tongue,
I was the picture of me daddy all the doctors did allow
And the girls all ran to kiss me but the' doesn't do it now.
   Oh the' doesn't do it now, oh, the' doesn't do it now
   And the girls etc....

Now my daddy he sent me to school to learn my ABC;
the little girls in my class they would not let me be,
They'd stick pins in my britches and of course I made a row,
And the gaffer he would work me but he doesn't do it now.

Now the'd take me out to bathing when the weather it was fine,
I'd run and jump and skip about like little shrimps at swine (in brine?)
I'd spalsh the water until it shone like pearls upon my brow
And they'd tickle me so funny but the' doesn't do it now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Wouldn't Do It Now
From: GUEST,Trevor Sheridan
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 02:59 PM

It's on the "Bob Davenport and the Marsden Rattlers" LP LER 3008 issued 1971

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Wouldn't Do It Now
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 02:41 PM

No, I don't know what Larry Cunningham's source was. I heard the song on Spotify (an online service somewhat like iTunes, Pandora, etc.) and the songs don't come with liner notes.

Maybe Larry or his record publisher has a web site, but I haven't looked for it yet.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Wouldn't Do It Now
From: Flash Company
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 10:51 AM

A Lancashire version of this has been recorded by Gary and Vera Aspey, something like:-

'Twas on the day that I was born, so proud me Dad was he,
He pushed me pram round Wigan town for everyone to see,
The girls all crowded round me and me Dad he did allow,
All the girls to kiss me cheeks but the don't do it now!

CH
They don't do it now, they don't do it now
He let the girls all kiss me cheeks but they don't do it now!

You will find one verse 'in performance' on their lates CD, 'Travelled the Road' on their website.

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Wouldn't Do It Now
From: GUEST,SteveG
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 05:32 AM

Jim,
Do you know what Larry's source was?

This is very close to the version I recorded from Freddy Bird of Aldbrough, E Yorks, in 1972 and published in 'An East Riding Songster' in 1982.

I was born in sweet Killarney one day when I was young,
That's just the simple reason why the blarney's on me tongue.
Sure the night was dark and stormy and the rain came pouring down,
And old nurse Judy Carney lived a long way out of town.
For me father got the donkey out and off went in a crack,
With old nurse Judy stuck behind he very soon came back,
For I was the pretty baby then, the neighbours did allow,
The girls would come and kiss me then, I wish they'd do it now.
    Oh, I wish they'd do it now, oh, I wish they'd do it now,
    The girls would come and kiss me then, I wish they'd do it now.

A finer lad you never saw, the likes you ne'er could find,
My hair was long and glossy and hung down in curls behind,
Sure then the girls they'd tu'n me up and catch me like a ball,
I would not let them do it now in case they'd let me fall.
But when the summer time did come and bathing did begin,
Sure then the girls they'd put on suits and with them I'd go in.
They would swim with me upon their backs, I had wrinkles on me brow,
I was a little baby then, I wish they'd do it now,
    Oh, I wish they'd etc
    I was a little baby then, I wish etc...

But when I used to cut my teeth I used to cry all day,
Sure then the girls they'd pity me, I've oft-times heard them say,
'Does your blessed little toosie-woose and does your toosies ache?'
I'd stare straight in their faces then because I couldn't speak.
They would feed me on the bottle in a most peculiar way,
they'd shove it down my throttle and I'd have to drink away.
They would rock me in the cradle and if I kicked up a row,
They would take me in to sleep with them, I wish they'd do it now,
    Oh, I wish etc...

I haven't sung this in ages. It was interesting typing out the recorded version to see what natural alterations I had made in my own singing of it.

I recorded a quite different version in North Yorkshire and Bob's version is also quite different from both of these. I have a version published in 'Ireland's Own' magazine somewhere and of course lots of broadside versions printed in Glasgow, London, New York and Preston. The Glasgow one was printed in 1875. The De Marsan of New York would be about 1860 so this fits in with a probable American origin.

Subject: Lyr Add: THEY WOULDN'T DO IT NOW
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 10:07 PM

My transcription, with a few gaps:


THEY WOULDN'T DO IT NOW
As sung by Larry Cunningham on "At His Best" (2005)

I was born in sweet Killarney one day when I was young,
And that's the very reason why the blarney's on me tongue.

Oh, the night was cold and stormy and the rain came pourin' down,
And the old nurse Judy Charney(?) she lived a long way out o' town.

So me father got th'old donkey out and off went with a crack,
And with Judy up behind him, sure he very soon came back.

I was such a nice ...(?); that the neighbors did allow.
They brought the girls to kiss me; they'd never do it now.

At the age of ten months ...(?), ah, the like you never could find.
Me hair was black and glassy and it hung in curls behind.

The girls used to throw me up and catch me like a ball.
I wouldn't let them do it now for fear they'd let me fall.

Ah, but when I started teethin', sure I used to bawl away.
The girls would lift me in their arms and this to me would say:

"Our little tootsie-wootsie, an' does your tootsin(?) ache?"
I used to look into their face because I couldn't speak.

So they fed me with a bottle in the most peculiar way:
They rammed it down me throttle an' I had to drink away.

They rocked me in a cradle until I kicked up a row.
They'd take me into the bed with them; they'd never chance it now.

And when the summertime did come an' bathin' did begin,
The girls put on those bathin' suits an' with them dare ye go in.

I'd swim about upon their backs(?) with wrinkles in me brow.
I was but a baby then; they'd never do it now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Wouldn't Do It Now
From: masato sakurai
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 09:38 PM

Link to the sheet music:

"Why Don't They Do So Now?" (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: W.R. Smith, 1865), composed by E. F. (E. Freeman) Dixey (1833-1904).

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 03:03 PM

According to the sheet music at The Library of Congress American Memory Collection, WHY DON'T THEY DO SO NOW? was written by E. F. Dixey in 1865. (This seems to be the ancestor of I WISH THEY'D DO IT NOW.)

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 11:48 PM

Thanks to ALL- Nutty I followed your link and got a copy of "I wish they'd do it now". I'll find out come Monday if I have the right one. Nuuty: not familiar with "PAT HIGHLAND" song. Jayohjo: I'll search on "Bob Davenport sang this with the Marsden Rattlers" Thanks once again!!!

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: GUEST,jayohjo
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 06:30 PM

Don't know the lyrics, but I know Bob Davenport sang this with the Marsden Rattlers. Any help?

jayohjo xx

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: nutty
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 12:26 PM

Could "PAT HIGHLAND " be a parody of "MATT HIGHLAND" or is it just that someone can't spell??

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: nutty
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 12:18 PM

There's an Irish version here

click here

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 10:48 AM

Well looking at those lyrics it definitely sounds like a version of "I wish they'd do it now".

I assume that "The night was dark and cloudy" bit refers to his birth, and "They take me in to bed with them" (his sisters ?) probably refers to when he was very young.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: GUEST,Boston Bill
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 10:34 AM

Sorry Previous was me: "Boston Bill"

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 10:30 AM

Thanks Sorcha et al. Here are a few snippets which Boston singers gave me:

"The night was dark and cloudy, They sent for Mrs. Mulligan who lived a long way out of town ... The girls they did love me ... They take me in to bed with them, They wouldn't do it now ..."

I can get more. Thanks all, Bill

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 04:46 PM

Nada. Just geaneology stuff. Any more clues? Lyric snippet?

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 04:43 PM

Never mind, I found it under Pat Highland--here. No clue why it didn't come up with the other searches. No clue as to lyrics either. Google was no help at all with the title, but I will go look for B. Kerlin.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 04:40 PM

hmmmm. Do you remember just where (here) you saw that? I have used SuperSearch and Forum Search with no luck for either They Wouldn't Do It Now or B. Kerlin........

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: GUEST,Boston Bill
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 04:27 PM

I see reference to it by a "JIMMY C" in the DT/FORUM database as follows (click):

...
Mr B. Kerlin (of Lisbunny) sang " Pat Highland" and " They Wouldn't do It Now" which was received with roars of laughter.
...

May be a Galway song???

Thanks all,
Bill

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 02:13 PM

Wish They'd Do It Now (Digital Tradition)

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: KathWestra
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 02:12 PM

"I Wish They'd Do It Now" is on the Digitrad -- check it out and see if that's the song you're looking for. (Help, somebody with a blue clicky!)

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: KathWestra
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 02:10 PM

Is that, "I Wish They'd Do It Now"?

Subject: LYR REQ: They Wouldn't do It Now
From: GUEST,Boston Bill
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 01:51 PM

Hey Mudcatters- We need the lyrics for this great Irish song. "They Wouldn't do It Now" Thanks, Bill