Lyr Req: If It Wisnae for the Union (Matt McGinn)

Subject: DTADD: If It Wasn't For the Union
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 12:59 PM

The lyrics Sorcha posted from Susanne(skw)'s Website were really hard to find, so I think I'll post them again here. Not much different from what's posted above, but there are a few differences.

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Thread #34763   Message #470964
Posted By: Sorcha
26-May-01 - 12:09 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Black Leg Miner
Subject: Lyr Add: IF IT WASN'T FOR THE UNIONS

And the other one:

If It Wasn't For The Unions
(Irish trad / Matt McGinn)

Toora loora loora loo
I'll tell you something awfu' true
Wouldn't have your telly the noo
If it wasn't for the union

I had a boss in Aberdeen
The nicest fella that ever was seen
He must have thought me helluva green
Before I joined the union

I had a boss named Allardyce
He was really helluva nice
Except for the way he loaded the dice
Before I joined the union

A pal of mine has bought a car
A second-handed Jaguar
He wouldn't hae travelled half as far
If it wasn't for the union

The bosses they were doing fine
Little children working down the mine
They'd have them on the assembly lines
If it wasn't for the union

So men and women all agree
It's time to rise up off your knee
And raise the banner of unity
Forward with the union

Tune: The British Army
from:http://mysongbook.de/msb/songs/i/ifiwunio.html

Subject: Lyr Add: IF IT WISNAE FOR THE UNION (from H Imlach
From: HuwG
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 12:41 PM

I have a Hamish Imlach recording at home, which is much the same version as that to which the link provided by Masato Sakurai refers, but contains an extra verse (third verse, below) and has some slightly changed lyrics.


CHORUS
Toora loora loora loo
I'll tell you something awfu' true
You wouldnae hae your telly the noo
If it wisnae for the Union

I had a boss in Aberdeen
The nicest fella that ever was seen
He must have thought me helluva green
Before I joined the Union
(CH)

I had a boss named Allardyce
He was really helluva nice
Except for the way he loaded the dice
Before I joined the Union
(CH)

I had a boss, his name was Black
He told all the workers to call him Jack
But he was bloody good at giving the sack
Before I joined the Union
(CH)

A pal of mine has bought a car
A second-handed Jaguar
He wouldn't hae travelled half as far
If it wasn't for the Union
(CH)

The bosses they were doing fine
Wee wains[1] are working down the mine
They'd have them on the assembly lines
If it wasn't for the Union
(CH)

So men and women all agree
It's time to rise up off your knee
And raise the banner of unity
Forward with the Union
(CH)


Note[1] Wee wains = Little children

Subject: RE: Need lyr: If It Was Nae for the Union,
From: masato sakurai
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 03:56 AM

Posted at THIS THREAD.

Subject: RE: Need lyr: If It Was Nae for the Union,
From: Hillheader
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 02:16 AM

I think this might be it guys

Subject: RE: Need lyr: If It Was Nae for the Union,
From: andymac
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 02:16 AM

The song was written by Matt McGinn and is in his book "McGinn of the Calton". I'm at work now and will try to hunt the words down and post them when I get the chance. Unless someone else beats me to it...

Andy

Subject: RE: Need lyr: If It Was Nae for the Union,
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 01:49 AM

Hi, Len - is it related to The Work of the Weavers?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Need lyr: If It Was Nae for the Union,
From: GUEST,Len Wallace
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 06:24 PM

Hello fellow travellers,

Been listening to a Hamish Imlach recording in which he sings a song I believed called "If It Was Nae for the Union".

The chorus begins:

"Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra-loo I'll tell you something awfully true . . .
if it wasnae for the union"

There are a lot of words I cannot make out from the bristly brogue of his.

Anyone have the lyrics?

For music that never dies,

Len Wallace