Lyr Req: Winkle Song: 'Why does the winkle...?'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Winkle Song: 'Why does the winkle...?'
From: GUEST,Alison B
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 09:21 AM

Hi -- Just found your site when I googled the song title to discover more about it, after hearing some of it last w/end on Radio 4Extra performed by Billy Dainty & Roy Hudd.
Prog will be available to listen again for a few more days, I guess: it's called Stick a Geranium in Your Hat.
Bye for now,
Alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...? (The Winkle Song)
From: oombanjo
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 11:36 AM

CHORUS

Pulling the big one out,
Pulling the big one out,
There was 'im sittin' wiv a pin,
And the 'arder that he stuck it, well, the deeper it drew in,
Ahh, pulling the big ones out,
Pulling the big ones out,
Yeh, there was 'im sittin' wiv a pin
Pulling the big ones out.

Sang in cockney

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WINKLE SONG
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Aug 09 - 06:56 AM

THE WINKLE SONG

I had an invitation from my old auntie Flo.
She all ways made me welcome whenever I did go.
Ham and eggs for breakfast and winkles from a can,
I picked myself a big one out and this is what I sang:

O, I can't get my winkle out. Isn't it a sin?
The more I try to get him out, the more he goes back in.
I can't get my winkle out. Isn't it a doer?
I've tried everything from a ruddy great pin.
Has anybody here got a skewer?

This woman shouted "Murder! This man's insulted me."
Up came a burly copper. He said "Come along with me."
He took me to the station before a magistrate,
And when he asked me what I said, to him I did relate:

O, I can't get my winkle out etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...? (The Winkle Song)
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 02:19 PM

On the CD "Time Moves On" which Pete Collins recorded fairly recently he credits the Winkle Song to Swann and Carter (presumably Donald Swann and Sydney Carter). Pete just does two verses.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: GUEST,Mike Penn
Date: 02 Dec 04 - 04:46 PM

Many years ago when I was a sailor I heard a song sung by an ancient mariner that included the words

"a winkle has no christian name"

anyone any ideas?

Mike P

Subject: Tune Add: The Winkle Song
From: Walter Corey
Date: 31 May 03 - 08:06 AM

MMario - salaam toward Kennebunk, Me. My parents grew up in the Auburn Syracuse area,though.

Below is a crude attempt to do an ABC. I didn't have written music to base it on so I had to wing a lot of the settings.When I ran it through the tun-o-tronic gizmo at Concertina.net, it looked reasonably close to what I wanted, but the last line of the chorus didn't come through. I don't know why. I think I counted out each measure accurately. Or perhaps it's just too long.

X:1
T:Winkle Song
M:C
L:1/4
Q:132
K:C
E|ECDE|FDEF|A2G2-|G2E>E|
DDDD|DG,A,B,|C4-|C3E|
ECDE|FDEF|A>GG2-|G3G|
^FFFF|^FDEF|G4-|G3G|
AAAA|AAA A>^GAG|AA2^A|B>^ABA|B2A2|
G2E>F|GEEF|GA2G|E4|
GF2E|D4|AG2^F|G3G|
G2E>F|GEEF|GA2G|E4|
DE^FG|A^GA^A|BB2^A|B4|
A4|A3A|G>^FGF|G3^G|
A^GAG|A2^A2|BB2^A|B2A2|
G2E>F|GEEF|GA2G|E3G/G/|
G2F>E|DG,B,D|C4|C3

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: MMario
Date: 30 May 03 - 01:51 PM

Walter - where are you in relation to upstate NY? I want to know so I can Salaam three times three in your direction.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WINKLE SONG (from David Jones)
From: Walter Corey
Date: 30 May 03 - 01:50 PM

THE WINKLE SONG
as sung by David Jones

The lion makes his lair out in the jungle,
While the birdie builds her nest up in the tree
& winkles always get a little bungalow
In puddles at the bottom of the sea
The reason for this scientists cannot tell:
What makes a little winkle go in his winkle shell

chorus
Oh why does the winkle always turn to the right,
Turn to the right, turn to the right
& why does the winkle going upstairs at night
Put his little nightshirt on & turn to the right
Tail first he toddles up to bed
He pulls his little door down tight on his head
& why does the winkle always turn to the left
When he comes down for breakfast in the morning

The moral of this story is quite obvious:
If the winkle he turned left as sure as sin
When you tried to get him out with your winkle pin,
You wouldn't get him out you'd screw him in
As nature put the whiskers on the walruses,
There's just one way with winkles & the chorus is

That's why the winkle always turns to the right, etc.

Now I really like this little song a lot,
So I'm gonna sing the chorus one more time
Come on everybody, give it all you've got,
It doesn't even have to rhyme
The purpose of the chorus is to sing,
So come on everybody, lets make the banjos ring

with, why does the winkle always turn to the right, etc

I'll see if I can figure out how to write the tune out in ABC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 29 May 03 - 06:09 PM

Vectis

See you tomorrow. I meant to let you know before that I'm planning to sing Kitty Kane but no songs about winkles!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: vectis
Date: 29 May 03 - 05:38 PM

Yes Pete Collins always manages to knock someone flying during his renditions of this charming number. In fact, he's the only one I've heard sing it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 29 May 03 - 12:28 AM

Yup, Little Robyn, one and the same Sam - give Mitch my love!

Come and share a winkle on Stewart Island - the oyster season is over

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: GUEST,shaina
Date: 28 May 03 - 09:50 PM

i heard this song at the acapella sing last weekend at gottagetgon in ballaston spa. soma hand gestures, but only involving the nightshirt and the little door. who knows the rest of the hand gestures??
who are jacqui and bridie? and where can i find thew melody to the verses?
thanks again...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 28 May 03 - 08:49 PM

It was on an early Jacqui & Bridie album- in the '70s? Bridie loved singing it in concert- the audiences loved it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Noreen
Date: 28 May 03 - 06:56 PM

Theresa (treaties1) started singing this out of the blue in the car the other day- I'll ask her to drop by if she knows any more!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 May 03 - 06:16 PM

I think Pete Collins sings this too. At least I have a vague recollection of him singing it in the barn at Towersey....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 May 03 - 11:06 AM

I only ever recall John Foreman singing the two verses posted here
with the chorus.If any one knows of any others let us all know .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 28 May 03 - 08:48 AM

PS: The 'Metzger' was Derek if I remember correctly, and he was a pop singer on NZ TV about 30 years back. Not our Polly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 28 May 03 - 08:45 AM

Sam - is that the Samson one?
Yes, that is the Paul Metsers from Wellington Folk Club, ex Gisborne.
Mr Happy has the address right (unless they've shifted since.)
She'll be right mate!
Robyn (& Mitch Park)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 28 May 03 - 04:14 AM

John Foreman can be contacted on 0207 485 6216. If anyone does get the full words, please post them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 28 May 03 - 04:06 AM

sam/billy bus from nz, see also


http://www.sagemcrafts.freeserve.co.uk/

paul metzers now living in lake district & making wooden toys with his partner.

hope this helps.

cheers,

mr h

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 28 May 03 - 03:58 AM

For copies of the songbook, cassette copies of the (all sold out) LPs, or to send Paul and his partner, Pauline Brocklehurst, cheery NZ greetings, contact
Mint Cottage
Gilthwaiterigg lane
Kendal, Cumbria (Lakes District)
LA9 6NT
United Kingdom
Phone [phone].
E-mail [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 28 May 03 - 03:15 AM

Little Robyn,

Those words give me a tingle from the past ...

I don't suppose your Paul 'Metsers', in the Lakes Ditrict, is the same Paul 'Metzgers' (think the spelling is correct) who was from Gisborne (from memory) in New Zealand. He sang in the Wellington (NZ) Folk Clubs in 1960-mumble .. then shot off to the UK.

The song is right in line for those he sang

I'd be rapt if you could put us in touch - assuming my hunch is correct.

Cheers - Sam - Stewart Island (NZ)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Deni-C
Date: 28 May 03 - 02:58 AM

Have you seen the actions to the song? We have a singer near us, who performs it, John from Hanging Johnny (shanty crew) and it's absolutely hilarious.

C
D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 May 03 - 02:41 AM

The Lion has a den out in the jungle-o
The cuckoo steals a nest up in a tree
The festive winkle builds his little bungalow
In a puddle at the bottom of the sea
Now heres a thing that scientists could never tell
But when the winkle crawls inside his litle shell

Stolen from John Foreman way back in the good old days

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 28 May 03 - 01:41 AM

Here's a useless but entertaining thread on winkles and other perifauna, that started as a request for a different Winkle Song. I know the one you're looking for, and I thought I had the words to it in my songbook that is currently on loan to a friend; but, according to me two years ago, I don't. (Kind of like time traveling, and asking a previous version of yourself a question...and getting an answer...)

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: GUEST,shaina
Date: 27 May 03 - 11:05 PM

thank you robyn! anyone else got some verses handy, or know where they might be found? (i also seem to have forgotten the melody to the verses)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:56 PM

You need to find John Foreman, the Broadsheet King.
Or Paul Metsers, up in the Lake District - he used to sing it about 35 years ago.
I can only remember the chorus and second verse(I think).
chorus:
Why does the winkle always turn to the right,
Turn to the right, turn to the right?
Why does the winkle going upstairs at night
Put his little nightshirt on and turn to the right?
Tail first he toddles up to bed
With his door shut tight and on his little head.
Why does the winkle have to turn to the left
When he comes down to breakfast in the morning?
v2
The answer to my question is quite obvious.
If winkles turned to left, as sure as sin,
When you tried to poke 'em with your winkle pin
You'd never get 'em out, you'd screw 'em in!
So nature wot put whiskers on the walruses
Made one-way streets for winkles and the chorus is:

But I can't remember how it starts. We should have it somewhere on reel to reel but the really old stuff needs to be catalogued to find it.
Robyn

Subject: Lyr Req: why does the winkle...?
From: GUEST,shaina
Date: 27 May 03 - 07:07 PM

y'all, i know this has been discused before, but i simply cannot find the verses to this song. all i know is
why does the winkle always turn to the right,
turn to the right, i said turn to the right
why does the winkle
going upstairs at night
put his little nightshirt on and turn to the right...
anyone able to help me finish off this chorus, or throw me a couple of verses?
danke