Lyr Req: Albert's Pretty Flowers (George Armstrong

Subject: Lyr Req: Words for Alberts pretty flowers needed
From: GUEST,Ken By The Bay
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 03:15 PM

Anyone got the words for Albert`s Pretty Flowers. It was written by a man from the north east of England but I don`t know his name.

A sample of the chorus

Mind I had it lovely ,the flowers shone like gold

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Words for Alberts pretty flowers needed
From: nutty
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 06:05 PM

The song was written by George Armstrong but sorry I don't know all the words.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Words for Alberts pretty flowers needed
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 06:07 PM

I check to see if it's included in the Northumbrian Anthology over the weekend.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Words for Alberts pretty flowers needed
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Aug 03 - 10:59 PM

ALBERT'S PRETTY FLOWERS was recorded by Bram Taylor, and it appears on his compilation album "Singing! The Bram Taylor Collection." The site implies it was also on one of his first 3 Fellside records, but it doesn't say which one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Albert's Pretty Flowers
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 10:22 PM

The song is available here for a dollar.

http://www.tradtunes.com/album_details.php?album_id=3403

Subject: Lyr Ad: ALBERT'S PRETTY FLOWERS (George Armstrong)
From: Rman
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 06:59 AM

ALBERT'S PRETTY FLOWERS
(George Armstrong)

Albert (Harbrond)? was his name - a miner through and through,
for many years he worked the drift- and my! how he could hew.
He'd set the props, knock in the chocks, and work the coal for hours,
but most important in his life were Albert's pretty flowers.

(Chorus)
And by' I had it lovely me flowers shone like gold
the young lads said you silly fool! it's just you growing old.
But comin' out the drift mine when they'd been down for hours
you'd see 'em nod and see 'em smile at Albert's pretty flowers.

Life was tough he had it rough - saw horrors barely spoken,
when the side wall came away his marra lay there broken.
And Albert helped to haul 'im out then sat and cried for hours,
amongst his stately scented Stocks - his own dear pretty flowers.

And by' etc.

The mine it closed friends moved away - long after he retired
to Albert's joy he'd gardens three to work till he was tired.
But the council said "you've got to move" and leave your scented stocks
they put him in a council flat - with just a window box.

And by' etc.

They buried him not long ago - with wreaths and floral crosses
they piled 'em high inside the hearse - a tribute from the mourners.
But out of sight inside his box - all hidden from the showers
a hand-held bunch of scented stocks - his own dear pretty flowers.

And by' etc


You can change Albert's surname to suit the area of the country you perform the song in - I used "Lewis" when singing in Wales!

lol.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Albert's Pretty Flowers
From: Gillie
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 08:34 AM

George Armstrong lives in Barnard Castle, my old stomping ground. He is a prison officer. I meet him in the late '70's where he attended a folk club we used to go to. A big man with a big voice.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Albert's Pretty Flowers
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 02:01 AM

Are we sure on the attribution of this to Geroge Armstrong? Any corrections to the lyrics posted by Rman??

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Albert's Pretty Flowers
From: nutty
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 02:23 AM

I can confirm that the song was written by George Armstrong of Barnard Castle. I think he may be a retired Prison Officer by now. A lovely man and a great singer/songwriter. His wife, Helen, has a lovely voice as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Albert's Pretty Flowers
From: Carol
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 04:05 AM

Good Morning
Yes, George is a lovely man and I think it's a great song.
These are the lyrics I sing but I got them from a tape so might not be totally correct, however I've been singing the song for a few years now and never been told my my 'northern friends' that the words were wrong. When we lived 'down south' I used to explain that a marra wasn't a vegetable!

Albert's Pretty Flowers   by George Armstrong

Albert Harbron was his name
A miner through and through
For many years he worked the pits
And by how he could hew
He'd set the props knocked in the chocks & worked the coal for hours
But most important in his life
Were Albert's pretty flowers

Chorus
And by he had it lovely
The flowers they shone like gold
The young lads said you silly fool.
It's just you growing old
But coming out the drift mine
When they'd been down for hours
You'd see them nod & see them smile
At Albert's pretty flowers

He'd had it tough, he'd lived life rough
Seen horrors barely spoken
When the side wall came away
His marra lay there broken
But Albert helped to pull him out
Then sat and cried for hours
Amongst his stately scented blooms
His own dear pretty flowers
Chorus

The drift mine closed
Friends moved away
Long after he retired
To Albert's joy he'd gardens three
To work 'til he was tired
The council then told him to move
And leave his stately stocks
They moved him to a council flat
With just a window box
Chorus.

They buried him not long ago
With wreathes and flowered crosses
Piled up high inside the hearse
A tribute from the mourners
But in the box safe out of sight
And sheltered from the showers
A hand picked bunch of scented stocks, his own dear pretty flowers
Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Albert's Pretty Flowers
From: John J
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 04:39 AM

Lovely song, I heard it for the first time earlier this year in the High Altitude Middle Bar.

John