Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BATTLE OF SOWERBY BRIDGE
From: PeteCC
Date: 14 Jun 02 - 06:49 AM

THE BATTLE OF SOWERBY BRIDGE
(Songwriter unknown)

The Battle of Sowerby Bridge were fought on the forty fourth of March,
The King's Cross Fusiliers turned out, they marched as stiff as starch.
They marched as far as Bolton Brow and the enemy hove in sight,
And they called us generals nasty names and challenged us to fight.

CHORUS: (And) We were amongst them, we were amongst them,
We slished and we slashed and we slaughtered and we slew
'Til the air for miles around were blue,
For an hour and a quarter, we held the foe at bay,
There were only two held out that day, and we were amongst them.

At break of day down Copley way, we went to fight the foe,
Our good scout Billy Higgins come and telled a tale of woe.
He said the enemy had advanced, so we retired pell mell,
And they shouted to surrender, but we shouted "Go to 'ell". CHORUS

The enemy then retired into the wilds of Shipley Glen,
The switch back were invaded by an 'undred thousand men,
They hung their wounded out to dry across the aerial flight,
And they stuffed their guts wi' monkey nuts and challenged us to fight. CHORUS

We chased the enemy round the town till their stockings all fell down.
From Cavering Slacks to Boulder Clough and on to Norland Town.
We came across a public house and there we raised a cheer,
For in that cellar we did find an 'undred casks of beer.

FINAL CHORUS: (And) We were amongst them, we were amongst them,
We supped and we drank and we drank and we drew
'Til the air for miles around were pheeeeew!
For an hour and a quarter, we put that beer away,
There were only two carried home that day, and we were amongst them.

I first heard this song back in the early eighties, sung by Geoff Higginbottom, at the Rising Sun Folk Club in Romford, England. The liner notes on his album, 'Flowers Tomorrow', lists the song as 'traditional', with no other details save the fact that the '44th of March', as mentioned in the first line of the song, is, 'apparently still a legitimate date in some parts of Yorkshire', but I have been unable to verify that. However... here it is. (Best sung with a strong Yorkshire accent, if you can manage it.)

PGCC

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: IanC
Date: 14 Jun 02 - 07:16 AM

Pete

Swan Arcade's version (with some info) is already on the forum (here).

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: GUEST,Graeme Britteon
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 05:15 PM

I first heard a version of this song as a scout at King Cross Methodist Church around 1970. I will check with my old scout leader Steve Dodgson where he first heard it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 05:35 PM

Small 'local geography nerd' point, living just up the road from Sowerby Bridge (pronounced 'Sorby') - Swan Arcade's version, and a number of other texts, namecheck *Shibden* Glen (in Halifax); I think it's the most distant location from Sowerby Bridge mentioned in the song, but still much closer (and more in-keeping) than Shipley Glen, which is the other side of Bradford.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: GUEST,Oriel
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 01:44 AM

Is this the riot that took place on Salterhebble Hill, 3 miles or so away from Sowerby Bridge and not part of it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: r.padgett
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 02:50 AM

I did record this song in 2010 ~ lyrics from Swan Arcade and I do admit the area in West Yorkshire is not very familiar to me but the place names are largely correct and research for tourists is recommended!

I suspect the song was written by someone no longer young but with a young persons memory of lost youth and good young friends up for some devilment ~ Geoff Wood maybe late of the Grove, Leeds folk club, fits the bill

It's a great song and the "enthusiasm " of Dave Brady sing yer beggars sing in smoky folk clubs comes to mind

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 03:31 AM

Shipley Glen did still have a tramway ride in the 1970s, I don't know what amusements were at Shibden.

I first heard it at Bradford Uni folk club from Swan Arcade, who sang "Shipley".

Robin

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 04:13 AM

It's an interesting one... I think Shibden has had a miniature railway at points, though no aerial slide as far as I'm aware.

On the other thread mentioned above, there's an interesting comment positing that the song may have originally been composed as 'The Battle of Baildon Bridge', in which case Shipley Glen would be a much more fitting location.

Dave Brady himself being from Ilkley, Shipley Glen would likely have also been familiar territory personally, in a way the Sowerby Bridge/Halifax locations perhaps weren't (hence them pronouncing the tutular location 'Sowby' rather than the locally used 'Sorby', and singing 'King's Cross' instead of the locally accurate 'King Cross' - a raised ward on a crest between SB & 'Fax).

Swan Arcade may have sung 'Shipley' in the clubs, though on the debut LP my ears hear 'Shibden' (or, more accurately/authentically. 'Shibdin')

https://youtu.be/wrwwZfYO-s0?si=S2KLi2F7VZhnBB2B

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 08:19 PM

Just come across this thread and it brought back so many delightful memories of being in Dave & Heather's company in the 1970/80s.

I recall a hairy drive with Dave driving with his one arm along narrow roads with high stone walls on either side - but we got to their house were among the convivial chat I was introduced to a West Yorkshire delicacy - fruit loaf, cheese and jam. I still treat myself on a fairly regular basis.

Dave, was of course, the originator of the end of Whitby Folk Week communal singing of the Wild Mountain Thyme. Edmund and I were queuing at the old Pavilion bar when Dave struck up and we forgot all about the desperate need for more alcohol in order to join the massed chorus!

Priceless memories.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: bradfordian
Date: 15 Sep 23 - 04:53 PM

Just to note that it has been suggested that “King’s Cross” should be King Cross and “Cavering Slacks” should be Catherine Slack. Both these places and all the other places mentioned in the song - with the exception of Shipley Glen- are places within the vicinity of Sowerby Bridge. It seems therefore that Shipley Glen ought to be Shibden Glen - but did it ever have an aerial flight as did Shipley Glen? Or was that poetic licence?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 16 Sep 23 - 04:35 AM

The 'Aerial Flight' at Shipley Glen was a cable car ride operating between two wooden towers. It was built in 1889 and demolished in 1920.

The 'Aerial Glide' was constructed in about 1900. Riders sat in chairs suspended from a steel track and descended under the force of gravity. The riders alighted at the bottom and climbed the steps back to the top; the cars were then hoisted back to the station. It was demolished in 2004.

There were other rides too; the Shipley Glen Tramway, a funicular, is the only survivor.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: migginz
Date: 16 Sep 23 - 08:26 AM

When I originally heard the song I tried to find out more about the battle online. This link has some interesting details

From this I wonder if the first line should read "in'44 they marched"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: r.padgett
Date: 16 Sep 23 - 08:59 AM

Interesting link to Historical events

BUT imv the song very likely is a writer's view of child's take on the event, maybe some sort of parody

It is certainly meant to be a funny song

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: GUEST,Graeme Britteon
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 05:15 PM

I first heard a version of this song as a scout at King Cross Methodist Church around 1970. I will check with my old scout leader Steve Dodgson where he first heard it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 05:35 PM

Small 'local geography nerd' point, living just up the road from Sowerby Bridge (pronounced 'Sorby') - Swan Arcade's version, and a number of other texts, namecheck *Shibden* Glen (in Halifax); I think it's the most distant location from Sowerby Bridge mentioned in the song, but still much closer (and more in-keeping) than Shipley Glen, which is the other side of Bradford.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: GUEST,Oriel
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 01:44 AM

Is this the riot that took place on Salterhebble Hill, 3 miles or so away from Sowerby Bridge and not part of it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 04:13 AM

It's an interesting one... I think Shibden has had a miniature railway at points, though no aerial slide as far as I'm aware.

On the other thread mentioned above, there's an interesting comment positing that the song may have originally been composed as 'The Battle of Baildon Bridge', in which case Shipley Glen would be a much more fitting location.

Dave Brady himself being from Ilkley, Shipley Glen would likely have also been familiar territory personally, in a way the Sowerby Bridge/Halifax locations perhaps weren't (hence them pronouncing the tutular location 'Sowby' rather than the locally used 'Sorby', and singing 'King's Cross' instead of the locally accurate 'King Cross' - a raised ward on a crest between SB & 'Fax).

Swan Arcade may have sung 'Shipley' in the clubs, though on the debut LP my ears hear 'Shibden' (or, more accurately/authentically. 'Shibdin')

https://youtu.be/wrwwZfYO-s0?si=S2KLi2F7VZhnBB2B

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 08:19 PM

Just come across this thread and it brought back so many delightful memories of being in Dave & Heather's company in the 1970/80s.

I recall a hairy drive with Dave driving with his one arm along narrow roads with high stone walls on either side - but we got to their house were among the convivial chat I was introduced to a West Yorkshire delicacy - fruit loaf, cheese and jam. I still treat myself on a fairly regular basis.

Dave, was of course, the originator of the end of Whitby Folk Week communal singing of the Wild Mountain Thyme. Edmund and I were queuing at the old Pavilion bar when Dave struck up and we forgot all about the desperate need for more alcohol in order to join the massed chorus!

Priceless memories.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 16 Sep 23 - 04:35 AM

The 'Aerial Flight' at Shipley Glen was a cable car ride operating between two wooden towers. It was built in 1889 and demolished in 1920.

The 'Aerial Glide' was constructed in about 1900. Riders sat in chairs suspended from a steel track and descended under the force of gravity. The riders alighted at the bottom and climbed the steps back to the top; the cars were then hoisted back to the station. It was demolished in 2004.

There were other rides too; the Shipley Glen Tramway, a funicular, is the only survivor.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: bradfordian
Date: 15 Sep 23 - 04:53 PM

Just to note that it has been suggested that “King’s Cross” should be King Cross and “Cavering Slacks” should be Catherine Slack. Both these places and all the other places mentioned in the song - with the exception of Shipley Glen- are places within the vicinity of Sowerby Bridge. It seems therefore that Shipley Glen ought to be Shibden Glen - but did it ever have an aerial flight as did Shipley Glen? Or was that poetic licence?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: migginz
Date: 16 Sep 23 - 08:26 AM

When I originally heard the song I tried to find out more about the battle online. This link has some interesting details

From this I wonder if the first line should read "in'44 they marched"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 03:31 AM

Shipley Glen did still have a tramway ride in the 1970s, I don't know what amusements were at Shibden.

I first heard it at Bradford Uni folk club from Swan Arcade, who sang "Shipley".

Robin

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: r.padgett
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 02:50 AM

I did record this song in 2010 ~ lyrics from Swan Arcade and I do admit the area in West Yorkshire is not very familiar to me but the place names are largely correct and research for tourists is recommended!

I suspect the song was written by someone no longer young but with a young persons memory of lost youth and good young friends up for some devilment ~ Geoff Wood maybe late of the Grove, Leeds folk club, fits the bill

It's a great song and the "enthusiasm " of Dave Brady sing yer beggars sing in smoky folk clubs comes to mind

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Battle of Sowerby Bridge
From: r.padgett
Date: 16 Sep 23 - 08:59 AM

Interesting link to Historical events

BUT imv the song very likely is a writer's view of child's take on the event, maybe some sort of parody

It is certainly meant to be a funny song

Ray