Lyr Add: Coal Hole Cavalry (Ted Edwards)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Coal Hole Cavalry (Ted Edwards)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 May 23 - 07:16 PM

Sadly Ted passed away last week.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Coal Hole Cavalry (Ted Edwards)
From: Noreen
Date: 19 Aug 18 - 10:24 AM

Hi rich-joy,
Quartz were a four part harmony group from Lancashire: Pete and Judith Gleave and Sandra and Steve Harrison, residents at the Wooden Horse Folk Club in Rainford.
Sadly their bass singer Pete Gleave passed away recently and the remaining three members perform as Threequarters, Sandra and Steve also singing together under the name Close Quarters as you mentioned above.

I've not heard them sing Coal-hole Cavalry (though I've heard Ted Edwards himself sing it) and I'll be interested to hear your version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Coal Hole Cavalry (Ted Edwards)
From: rich-joy
Date: 18 Aug 18 - 09:36 AM

There now appear to be a number of threads to do with Ted Edwards' top little number, "Coal Hole Cavalry" - so I'm just picking mine, LOL! :)

I have just uploaded to YT, some a cappella harmony singing from the female folk trio, RAW SILK, and one song included is "Coal Hole Cavalry".

Some of us learnt it over 30 years ago, but I've only just found out the name of our source : the 4 unaccompanied harmony singers from Lancashire named QUARTZ ( whom I believe are now a trio and are called CLOSEQUARTERS ..... )

There are now many versions of the song on YT, but of the 6 that I listened to (with 2 or more singers), none seemed to be quite like "our" version, which also has a Canon in it. Presumably this was evolved by the members of QUARTZ.

Q. Does anyone know of them, and their aged version of "CHC"??

Cheers,
R-J (Down Under)

the link for Raw Silk's "CHC" is : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgUKLVUkgh0&t=135s

(BtW, there are 2 parts to the whole RS concert up there on YT)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Coal Hole Cavalry (Ted Edwards)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 04:34 AM

Isn't Ted still around?

If I remember correctly, he was made redundant from Irlam steelworks and took up teaching. The last I heard of him was on a TV documentary where he was walking across the Sahara.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Coal Hole Cavalry (Ted Edwards)
From: GUEST,Linda Gregson
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 04:00 AM

I remember Ted Edwards performing this in his clogs at MSG folk club in Manchester. Was somewhere downstairs near the Cathedral. Gang of us went and some of the guys who played in The Church Inn in Prestwich at the time performed there too. Think it was a tues or thurs night. Great night. Great was ted Edwards.

Subject: Lyr Add: COAL HOLE CAVALRY (Ted Edwards)
From: rich-joy
Date: 15 Jun 02 - 09:08 AM

COAL-HOLE CAVALRY^^
Ted Edwards

1. Early morning, dreaming is shattered
One clitter-clatter on t'flags outside
Old Knocker-Upper rat-tatting on t'window
Making sure nobody's overlied.

CHORUS: Clittering, clattering, coal-hole cavalry
Galloping, rain or fine
Clittering, clattering, coal-hole cavalry
Galloping down to t'mine.

2. Father yawning, drizzle on t'window
More clitter-clattering coming down t'hill
Stairs are creaking, oven door banging
Father waiting for Uncle Bill.

3. Mam is filling 'is bottle wi' water
Clatter-clitter-clatter and a rattle on t'latch
Clogs in t'lobby an' talking quiet
Arguing t' toss about Sunday's match.

4. Come on, Billy lad, best get goin'
Clatter-clitter-clatter an' t'front door bang!!
Going down to t'mucky old coal-pit
Hear pit hat and snap-tin clang!

5. Colliers riding a million horses
Clatter-clitter-clatter all over t'world
"Look-out! Injuns, Cavalry's coming!"
Picks and shovels and banners unfurled.

6. Hooter's blowin' a sound of vict'ry
Clatter-clitter-clattering's over an' done
All t'world's quiet an' sleep is coming
Wish I were a collier - collier - collier
Wish I were a collier, it must be fun!


The author, who was brought up in the coal mining community of Wigan, used to lie in bed as a small child and listen to all these early morning sounds around him, then imagine the miners in clogs as a cavalry charge, off to remove the Indians who'd taken over the mine during the night!

A nice song to sing and luverlee in 3-part harmony ...
Cheers! R-J