Lyr Req: Poor Little Hauve Timer (Harvey Fitton)

Subject: Poor Little Hauve Timer
From: http://www.uk.aol.com.IHarveypit
Date: 07 Mar 98 - 02:01 PM

WANTED: The words to Harvey Fitton's poem, 'Poor Little Hauve Timer', as performed to music by The Oldham Tinkers on 'Sit Thee Down', together with standard English 'translation', PLEASE. I would love to sing it, but cannot make out all the words!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Hauve Timer (Harvey Fitton)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 07:28 PM

Refresh. A very old thread about a song that hasn't been posted yet.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Hauve Timer (Harvey Fitton)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 10:32 PM

It is track 10 of the 18 tracks on "Sit Thee Down." Haven't found the lyrics, only offers of the cd.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Hauve Timer (Harvey Fitton)
From: Peace
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 03:22 AM

Gerry Kearns is also given credit for the song--along with Harvey Fitton.

Subject: Lyr Add: POOR LITTLE HAUVE TIMER (Harvey Fitton)
From: GUEST,Cattail (No cookie)
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 04:01 PM

Hi all.

This song has come up before in another thread asking for the lyrics, after reading that one, I had a go at transcribing the words from the Oldham Tinkers album.

I didn't get very far with them as they are very hard to understand, which is why I didn't post them to that other thread, but I did keep what I had done so I may as well post them here.

They will require a lot more work doing to them before they are useable, but it may be a start for someone else to have a go.

POOR LITTLE HAUVE TIMER
From The Oldham Tinkers album "Sit Thee Down"

1. Where is our John, stood all forlorn,
Who used to get up at break of morn,
Spend 'alf a day working and 'alf on a form,
Poor little half timer!

2. It neer did him good, sighing and sobbing.
He stuck out his chest like little cock robin,
But sitting in school, his head would keep nodding.
Poor little half timer!

3. He had no time to comb his locks,
For looking around to find his socks.
Under his arm, his breakfast box.
Poor little half timer!

4. Learning squares is fine three? folk
Oft-times a boot the roughest of jokes
But just like a blotter? the lessons he took.
Poor little half timer!

5. Learning to tube? to fetch and carry,
Discoverin' difference 'tween starin' an' tarry.
Se'ert th' minder playin' old Harry.
Poor little half timer!

6. He thought a filly when they sent him a brewin'
But minder 'ud tell 'im mind what t'art doin'
And of't times his clogs would be 'is undoing.
Poor little half timer!

7. Now they see no work till turned fifteen,
An' finer young childer an never been seen.
Oh what a difference there is between!
Poor little half timer!

Hope this is of some help

Cheers

Cattail !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Hauve Timer (Harvey Fitto
From: GUEST,Laurie Yates
Date: 06 Jul 08 - 08:36 AM

There are a couple of lines in the "Half Timer" song which I remember differently from the version here:

Verse 1 line 1
Where is that youngster all forlorn

Verse 4 lines 1&2
Learnin' t'ways of factory folk
Oftimes the butt o' t'roughest o' jokes

Verse 5 line 3
Feart (feared) o' t'minder playin' owd Harry

Cheers,

Laurie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor Little Hauve Timer (Harvey Fitton)
From: GUEST,Kevin Murphy
Date: 13 Aug 20 - 09:07 AM

My Grandma was half time in Bury cotton mills.
Half time probably started at age 8, but by 1904 meant for 12-14 year olds, week about - Half day at mill, half at school. A shift was 12 hours, so
Week one 6-12 in mill 1-4 in school
Week two probably 8.30 - 11.30 in School, 12-6pm in mill.
So HALF time work was 30 hours - but almost surely Saturday too - 36 hour week.

CHORDS
ADAD
DGAD
AGABm
GGAD

Last verse update - “Now they don’t so no work ‘til turned sixteen/18/21!