Chords Req: Brockie Lads (Jez Lowe)

Subject: Two questions re Jez Lowe
From: Zhenya
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 04:50 PM

I just got a CD of Jez Lowe's album Two a Roue. Although I've heard a few of his songs done by others, this is the first album of his I've gotten. I have two questions for Mudcatters:

First, does anyone have chords for the song "Brockie Lads." I tried it a bit on the guitar last night and I have a feeling it's not too difficult, but since I just got the album, the song hasn't sunk in enough for me to get all the chords by ear. Probably I could wait awhile until I really have it in my head, but it's one of those "love at first hearing" songs that I want to learn right away. So if anyone else likes this song and has worked this out already, I'd appreciate your help.

I'm also wondering, since I really like this album, which other Jez Lowe recordings people would recommend? I suspect I like this one partly because the music has a very Celtic flavor to it, although I'm taken with the lyrics as well. What are his other albums like? Thanks for any info! Zhenya

Subject: RE: Two questions re Jez Lowe
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 06:36 PM

Try his Live at the Davy Lamp double CD which is vintage Jez and covers most of my favourite songs.It also demonstrates the staggering capacity and versatility that he has as a song writer.

Subject: RE: Two questions re Jez Lowe
From: Townes
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 07:40 PM

Zhenya Have a listen to Backshift and a splendid album called Tenterhooks. Backshift has a lot of his early work and covers a lot of stuff on his live album suggested by Linda. I think the studio versions are better, but that is subjective. Great performer to see live and a great song writer. See if you can find some of his more moving songs like

Last of the Widows Tenterhooks The Bergen CoalTown days

Just to name a few. But be warned if you like your first taste of Jez you will be hooked and will want them all like I have done. Regards Townes

Subject: RE: Two questions re Jez Lowe
From: Murrey
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 12:27 AM

Of course all of them but my particular favorites are Briefly on the Street and the brand new released this March Honesty Box --really some of the best work that jez has ever done --it's amazing --I will gladly forward the chords to Brockie Lads but on the morrow as it's very late and I'm very tired --but I'll get them to you - Murrey

Subject: RE: Two questions re Jez Lowe
From: Zhenya
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 01:01 PM

Thanks for your responses! I printed them out so I can go after these other albums you've mentioned. Before I got Two A Roue, I had heard three songs that I knew were by Jez Lowe: The Bergen (several versions), Black Diamonds, and (do I have the title right here? ) Back in Durham Jail. All really different, and I liked them all a lot. I'm still absorbing the songs on Two a Roue which I just got last week. I agree with your statement, Linda, about his incredible songwriting talents.

Townes, I suspect you are right on track about my getting hooked and ending up wanting all the albums. I'll probably start with some of the suggestions here. I think Jez Lowe is scheduled to be at the Old Songs festival this year so If I make it there, I'll be able to catch a live performance as well, which sounds great.

Murrey, I'm glad to hear you have the chords to Brockie Lads, and they would be much appreciated. Do you play this song yourself? And thanks for the up to date recommendations – I'll definitely check out his new album as well.

Again thanks all, and I'm really looking forward to hearing more of Jez Lowe's music. Zhenya

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: BROCKIE LADS (Jez Lowe)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 01:43 PM

Thanks for reminding me of this favorite song. I used to play it on the concertina (copy and repaste in WORD/TIMES/12 to get the chords to plug in right):

BROCKIE LADS
(By Jez Lowe © 1985 A song about the young lads who worked on Mr. Brock's traveling carnivals around the North of England in the 1960's. SONGS OF JEZ LOWE, Fellside Records © 1988)

G----------Am-----------------D-----------------G
When the Brockie lads come back, with the first days of summer,
-----Am-----------------G--------------------D
The whole town comes out to watch them pass,
G-------Am---------D--------------G
In their trailors and vans, full of candy, rides and pleasure,
--------Am-------------G----------------D
And a fond smile for each and every lass.

Chorus:
---------C------------------D-------------G
Oh, the Brockie lads are bad, but the Brockie lads are bonny,
----------C------------------Am-------------------G
Oh, the Brockie lads are all they've said and done,
-------C-----------------D-------------------G
And I never loved but once, she was the fairest of any,
-------Am---------C--------G--------D
But a-way with a Brockie lad she's gone.

The Brockie lads are black, with the ways of the deveil,
They're just tinkers and hawkers at heart;
All their flash clothes and cars hide a fear for to settle,
'Cos they're born to the creaking of the cart. (CHO)

And when we'd all had our fill of the racket and the rattle,
And the last time the lights had all gone down,
They packed away their wild world of painted wood and metal,
And went off to work and woo another town. (CHO)

I do the last verse somewhat differently:

And when we've all had our fill of the racket and the rattle,
And the lights have all gone down one last time,
They pack away their wild world of painted wood and metal,
And go off to work and woo another town.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Two questions re Jez Lowe
From: Zhenya
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 03:29 PM

Thanks, Charley, for posting the song and chords. I can't wait to try it. (I'm not near any instruments just now.)

By the way, I'm a great fan of the concertina and this song must sound wonderful on that instrument. I borrowed an English concertina for a few months a couple of years ago and really enjoyed playing chords on it and singing with it. I haven't gotten one yet only because I'm trying to improve my fiddle playing, and I couldn't justify spending the money on the concertina if I wasn't going to be "seriously" working on it. Maybe I need to rethink that though. What type of concertina do you play or would you recommend to accompany singing? At any rate, when I finally get one, this is definitely one song I'd like to try on it. Zhenya

Subject: Chords Add: BROCKIE LADS (Jez Lowe)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 03:56 PM

Zhenya -

I play an Bastari-30 Anglo concertina out of G. I was just trying Jez's chords out on my 5-string banjo (capoed up 7 and playing out of C-position) and have decided that I must have folk-processed the melody in my head. The more appropriate chords now seem more like this:

D--C----------Am------C---------G--------------------------------C---G
Oh, when the Brockie lads come back, with the first days of sum-mer,
-----Am---C-------------G-----C-----G-----D
The whole town comes out to watch them pass,
--------Am-C-------G----------------------------------C---G
In their trail-ers and vans, full of candy, rides and plea-sure,
-------Am--C---------G--------C---G--D
And a fond smile for each and eve-ry lass.

Chorus:
----G---C-------G---------D------------G--------------C--------G
Oh, the Brockie lads are bad, but the Brockie lads are bon-ny,
-------C---------G--------Am--------C----------G
Oh, the Brockie lads are all they've said and done,
------C----G----------D-------------------G-------C-G
And I never loved but once, she was the fairest of any,
-------C---------------------G---------D
But a-way with a Brockie lad she's gone.

This is all very puzzling.;~)

Subject: RE: Two questions re Jez Lowe
From: Zhenya
Date: 25 Apr 02 - 01:52 PM

Thanks Charley, I took a quick try at this last night -- I'll have real time to work on the song this weekend. I agree the second set of chords works better. I much appreciate having them. Zhenya

Subject: RE: Two questions re Jez Lowe
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Apr 02 - 05:31 PM

Zhenya - nice to get some thanks! You're going to have a great time with Jez's songs; he's such a fine songwriter, and a master at fitting tunes to his lyrics. I'm sure they'll all be declared "traditional" within a decade, if that isn't already the case.