Lyr Req: I Can Hew (David Dodds)

Subject: can't find collier lad in dt
From: JudeL
Date: 18 Jan 02 - 09:05 AM

I have a copy of the words to a song called collier lad which has the chorus which starts "I can hew boys, I can hack it out" . Wanting another copy but wanting to take the lazy option of not typing it out I looked for it in the dt but it's not there, at least not under that title. So is it there under another name ?

Subject: RE: Help: can't find collier lad in dt
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 18 Jan 02 - 09:37 AM

That would be I Can Hew, Boys, written by David Dodds.  We don't have it here, but you can see it at  Uptown-on-Calhoun Moose's Corner,  where it is not credited to its author.  David sang it himself on a  Folktrax  recording:

A-Mining We Will Go.

Subject: RE: Help: can't find collier lad in dt
From: nutty
Date: 18 Jan 02 - 09:37 AM

I couldn't find it either but Google came up trumps again

I CAN HEW BOYS

Subject: RE: Help: can't find collier lad in dt
From: nutty
Date: 18 Jan 02 - 09:39 AM

......... SNAP ...........

Subject: RE: Help: can't find collier lad in dt
From: GUEST,breezy
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 09:04 AM

its not called the Recruited Collier?

Subject: RE: Help: can't find collier lad in dt
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 09:24 AM

No; that's a completely different song.

Subject: RE: Help: can't find collier lad in dt
From: Nemesis
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 09:41 AM

Or if you're really hung up on collier lads - then there's always 'Biker Hill' :)

'...collier lads for evermore..'

Subject: RE: Help: can't find collier lad in dt
From: JudeL
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 12:25 PM

Thanks fellas - I thought it must be there somewhere Jude

Subject: ADD: I Can Hew (David Dodds)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 04:14 PM

These lyrics are from the link provided by Malcolm, http://www.geocities.com/uptownmoose/ikeandhugh.html
Are they correct?
-Joe-

---

I Can Hew

(David Dodds)

Chorus:

I can hew boys, I can hack it out
I can hew the coal, I can dance and shout.
I can hew boys, coal that's black and fine,
I'm a collier lad, working down the mine.
 

1. On Saint Monday's day, it's well I do admire,
   When I sits at home by me own coal fire.
   Then it's off to the pub, for a glass or two
   For to work on a Monday, that would never do.

   Chorus
    
   

2. Well I likes my whiskey and I likes my beer.
   I'll drink fourteen pints and I'll not feel queer.
   I can hold my liquor good as any man.
   And I'll dance and sing as long as I can.

   Chorus
    
   

3. Well my boy's fourteen, he's a strappin' lad
   And he'll go to he pits soon, just like his dad.
   And when Friday comes, we'll pick up our pay.
   And we'll drink together, to round out the day.

   Chorus
    
   

4. And its when I'm dead, oh I know full well,
   I'll not go to heaven, I am bound for hell.
   And my pick and shovel, old Nick he will admire,
   And he'll set me hewin' coal for his own hell fire.

   Chorus
    
   

Ike and Hugh

Ike and Hugh, boys, they're a couple guys.
Ike and Hugh, boys, they wear floral ties.
Ike and Hugh, boys, they both sell used cars,
And they drink lite beer, at the singles bars.
 

I Am Hugh

I am Hugh, boys, I am not the Borg.
I am Hugh, boys, and I like LeForge.

Subject: Lyr Add: I CAN HEW (David Dodds)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 07:03 PM

Joe

The lyrics are pretty much as you'd normally hear them. (the main song that is). These are the lyrics as sung by Johnny Collins, who had the song from Dave Dodds himself, when Dave was a frequent visitor to the Herga Folk Club in Harrow, Middlesex. Of course Johnny may well have changed the lyrics a bit, but short of Dave Dodds making an appearance himself (and I haven't heard anything of him for many years) this is probably as good as you'll get. The differences with the version from Malcolm's source (still there today) are minimal (I've left in Johnny's use of me for SE my (pace Malcolm), as I'd sing myself).

Mick

^^

---

I CAN HEW
(David Dodds)

Chorus:
I can hew boys, I can hack it out
I can hew the coal, I can dance and shout.
I can hew boys, the coal that's black and fine,
I'm a collier lad, and I'm workin' down the mine.

Now Saint Monday's day, I do well admire,
When I sit at home by me own coal fire.
Then it's off to the pub, for a glass or two
For to work on Mondays, that would never do.

Now I like me whiskey and I like me beer.
I'll drink fourteen pints and I'll not feel queer.
For I can hold me liquor as good as any man.
And I'll dance and sing as long as I can.

Now me boy he's fourteen, he's a strappin' lad
And he'll go to the pit soon, just like his dad.
And when Friday comes round, he'll pick up his pay.
And we'll drink together, to round off the day.

Oh, but when I'm dead, I know full well,
I'll not go to heaven, I am bound for hell.
And me pick and shovel, old Nick he'll admire,
And he'll set me a-hewin' coal for his own hell fire.


Source: Johnny Collins: The Best Of The Early Years originally on Free And Easy

Subject: RE: Help: can't find collier lad in dt/I Can Hew
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 07:20 PM

Nemesis - it's Byker Hill as in Newcastle upon Tyne. In the north east of England, where a lot of the collieries used to be.

Is Biker Hill the Hell's Angel version? (no, I suppose that would be Biker Hell....)

Kitty

PS There's probably a song somewhere about the recruited biker

Subject: RE: Help: can't find collier lad in dt/I Can Hew
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 09:18 PM

Needless to say , there is also a Parody - I can spew - I'm at a festival and pissed out of my mind !!

Subject: RE: Help: can't find collier lad in dt/ I Can Hew Boys
From: muppitz
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 08:15 AM

My uncle did a parody of it once, something like "I canoe boys, I can hack one out" and then goes on to say something about rowing down a river!
I was very young the last time he did that!

muppitz
x

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Can Hew (David Dodds)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 29 Sep 11 - 05:31 AM

Resurrecting the thread - Blackbeard's Tea Party's soon to be released forthcoming record has this as Track1

And a brilliant folk rock style version it is too!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Can Hew (David Dodds)
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 14 Apr 16 - 12:08 AM

So this is currently being sung by Mawkin and i am getting into bother on fb for suggesting that the words are basically to be pronounced in a NEast accent!

Does anyone know whether David Dodds was from NE of England, song based on mining in Kent or somewhere?

I seem to recollect the Wilsons singing it and note JC sang and recorded it

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Can Hew (David Dodds)
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 14 Apr 16 - 01:21 AM

DAVID DODDS was born at Aldershot, Hampshire in 1954, his father came from Hull and his mother from Sheffield in Yorkshire. He first became interested in folksong through hearing the group, "The Young Tradition", while still at school, later discovering that his father had fragments of traditional songs and relatives who played the Northumbrian small-pipes. For him, the unaccompanied harmony singing tradition opened up a new world of music beyond that of "Led Zeppelin" and other pop groups of that time. He went to folk clubs in Devon and Dorset and, listening to Peter's recordings in the FOLKTRAX archive, learned further subtleties of traditional singing. David has now exchanged folk music for Rock and currently leads the Wiltshire rock group, "RED JASPER".

FTX-126 - CRAWLING INTO WORK; DAVE DODDS & CURATE'S EGG
Recorded by Peter Kennedy, Soundpost Studios, Dartington, Devon 30.3.79 & 4.5.79. Edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax Cassettes 1975 (sic).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Can Hew (David Dodds)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 14 Apr 16 - 01:30 AM

There's a nice recording by the Australian group, Triantan, http://www.triantan.com (and here they sing it on Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njFGZeCvTm4)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Can Hew (David Dodds)
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 14 Apr 16 - 01:49 PM

Many thanks for all your contributions ~ I have spoken to David on the dog and bone and had long chat ~ he teaches flyfishing! However he did write ! I can hew boys, I can hack it out ~ picked up and sang by Johnny Collins, Jim Mageean, Wilsons and a number of of others, David lived in Bristol so accent is whatever you make of it ~ Mawkin recently recorded it ~ of note The Unthanks are singing Magpie also written by David and acknowldeged as such 3 part harmony

Magpie I believe was a childrens tv programme and the song was the weekly theme tune ~ I am not sure he got his Royalties, er rum

Ray