Lyr Req: Govan Billiard Hall Song (Roddy McMillan)

Subject: govan billiard hall ....lyrics wanted
From: GUEST,mick
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 10:23 AM

I've been searching for the lyrics of theGovan Billiard Hall Song for many years.I first heard it sung by Ewan MacColl sometime in the sixties.Google suggests it might have been written by Roddy MacMillan .

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 10:48 AM

I have all the lyrics and music by Roddy McMillan and will post them later (if nobody else does it first).
Cheers,
Jim Mclean

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: greg stephens
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 10:50 AM

This song appears under a number of names. Have you tried searching for Govan Pool Room or Govan Pool Hall as well?

Subject: Lyr Add: GOVAN BILLIARD HALL SONG (Roddy McMillan)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 12:13 PM

GOVAN BILLIARD HALL SONG
(Roddy McMillan)

Now Govan is a busy place upon a Friday night,
And the billiard halls down there are busy too,
An' there's many a strongly fancied lad been rattled in a fight,
For fiddlin' wi' the colours and the cue.

CHORUS:Oh don't stan' and look aroon when the cues are upside doon,
And the balls are flying fast from far and near,
For whether you're tae blame, ye'd be better aff at hame,
When they're handing out the stitches in your ear.

Now 'twas on a certain Friday I went down to a saloon,
For I'd heard some fancy things about this dive,
So I moved up to a table where two lads were trying hard,
To win three sets of snooker out of five.

There were nearly three score Govan boys wi' bunnets tae the fore,
Standing round upon the benches looking grim,
For the word had got around that one lad was two sets down,
And his chances now were getting rather slim.

One half of this mob had bet their dough upon the losing guy,
And the rest were on the boy whose game was made,
But the leary, losing punters knew that when the game was by,
The other mob just weren't getting paid.

Now the cool-dab lad, the winning boy, was lined up for the kill,
He was sticking home the points in fives and threes,
When the losing rascal calls, as he jiggles up the balls
'That's all, the gem's a bogie if you please!'

---

Click to play

(tune from AlfW)

Subject: Lyr Add: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 12:31 PM

For Jim McLean's post of 22 Aug 03 - 12:13 PM this thread. Tune anyone?

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 01:41 PM

I have the tune as well but only read and write staff notation. Any suggestions?
Jim

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 01:54 PM

Send a copy (e mail, snail, whatever) to me, Mario, Joe Offer, Snuffy, John in Brisbane. We can convert the dots to abc notation. Do you know how to make MIDI files? Mario can work from those too.

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: GUEST,mick
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 03:08 PM

Nice one Jim. Thanks mudcat.

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 03:58 PM

Anybody know what the rascally last line means?

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: akenaton
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 04:02 PM

The game is void (ALL BETS OFF).

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 04:37 PM

Sorcha, give me your email address and I'll send a gif, jpg or whatever of the top line.
Jim

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 08:01 PM

And just for reference (I wouldn't have thought this necessary, but a Murcan acquaintance was mightily embarrassed to find he'e been mispronouncing it for 3 years) - it's not Go! Van!, it's more like Guh-vin (approximately)

Cheers



Steven

Subject: Tune Add: GOVAN BILLIARD HALL SONG
From: AlfW
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 11:24 AM

This is how I remember the tune

X:1
T: GOVAN BILLIARD HALL SONG
M:4/4
R:march
L:1/8
K:C
G|"C"G/2C3/2CC G/2C3/2CC|"F"DCB,A, "G7"G,2G3/2G/2|"C"GCCC CCB,C|"G7"D7G|
"C"G/2C/2CCC GCCC|"F"DCB,A, "G7"G,2GG|"Dm"GDDE "G7"FFED|"C"C6G2||
P:Chorus
"F"A3/2A/2AG F2A3/2A/2|"C"AGGE G2EF|GCCC CCB,C|"G7"D6G3/2G/2|
"C"GCCC C2CC|"F"DCB,A, "G7"G,2GG|GGDE FFED|"C"C8|]

---

Click to play

To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 12:26 PM

Yes, AlfW, as I said I only read staff notation but I had ago at ABC this morning and your posting is spot on. I would think the key is a bit low and would suggest 'G' but that's a matter of choice.
Cheers and thanks,
Jim

Subject: Tune Add: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 12:37 PM

Add for AlfW's tune post of 23 Aug 03 - 11:24 AM this thread.

So, I gather you don't need my e mail now?

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: belfast
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 01:09 PM

I once had a recording of Dominic Behan singing this. I can't remember the name of the album - possibly "Ireland Sings". And again possibly accompanied on guitar by Steve Benbow.

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 02:00 PM

No thanks, Sorcha, unless you want to see the staff notation. I taught myself ABC this morning, comparing Alfw's posting. I was a bit confused at first until I realsied he had put chords into some bars! It looks identical to my notation as far as I can make out.
Cheers,
Jim

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: akenaton
Date: 23 Aug 03 - 04:46 PM

This Song is called "Govan is abusy place",on The Reivers EP 1959
The Reivers ...Norman Buchan.
                Enoch Kent.
                Rena Swankie
                Josh McRae.

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Jim McLean
Date: 24 Aug 03 - 03:48 AM

Norman Buchan wasn't a member of the Reivers.

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: masato sakurai
Date: 24 Aug 03 - 09:45 AM

"Govan Pool-Room Song" (Ewan MacColl) [sound clip] is HERE.

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Jim McLean
Date: 24 Aug 03 - 01:21 PM

I've just listened to the sound clip pointed out by masato sakurai. I'd forgotten what a terrible stage Scottish accent McColl had!

Subject: Tune Add: GOVAN BILLIARD SONG
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 09:37 AM

X:1
T:Govan Billiard Song
C:Roddy McMillan
N:supplied by Jim McLean
I:abc2nwc
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
z6zd|d G G G d G G G|A G F E D2B c|d G G G G G F G|
A4z2B c|d/2 d/2 G G G d G G G|A G F E D3d|
d A A B c c B A|G4d2d2|e c c c c2e e|
e d d B d2B c|d G G G G G F G|A4z2d2|d G G G G2F G|
A G F E D2B c|d A A B c c B A|G4z4|]

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 09:39 AM

I should have read the thread first...

anyway - there's Jim's jpg converted to ABC...dieffernet key..

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 09:50 AM

BTW - Jim and any others - I'm always willing to convert from standard notation to abc or midi...

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Strupag
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 01:01 PM

Aye Jim, your right about Ewan's stage accent - reminds me of Scotty in Startrek.
Did Roddy ever do an album of his own songs ?

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Jim McLean
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 01:19 PM

I think he sounds like Noel Coward doing Matt McGinn! No I don't think Roddy ever made any recordings on his own. I used to go fishing with him and an old friend called Jimmie Riley who played a very fine guitar. Jimmie sometimes accompanied Roddy in 'The Corner Cafe' in Glagow's Trongate (1959?) when he sang a very funny song called the Bacon Machine, I think. Years ago I had a recording of 'The Puffers', the funniest thing I have ever heard, but Para Handy was played by Duncan MacRae, a role which Roddy later took on.

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Strupag
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 04:26 AM

I think I have a very scratchy version of that album up in the loft.
Was that the one with such classics as John Grieve singing "The Crinnan Canal for Me", Duncan Macrae's "The One Tune Piper" etc.
Every track was an absolute classic.
I'll have to dig it out and play it. It would be great to have it re-mastered and re-released.

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Jim McLean
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 04:39 AM

That's the one, Strupag, the funniest album ever written!

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Dita
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 06:37 PM

Hi Jim,

It's not often I get the chance to tell you something you don't know, or have forgotten.

Roddy made a couple of EPs for Beltona in 1960.

Roddy McMillan No1 SEP 83

Thomas O'Winesbury, Queen Mary, The Bleacher Lass, McPherson's Rant.

No2 SEP 86

Jamie Raeburn, Lassie with the Yellow Coatie, The Banks o'Fordie, The Tod.

acc George Elliott (Guitar)

Ironicly Roddy does sing on the Highland Voyage - a sail aboard a puffer album, Scottish Records (SR 33120), Aberdeen

Roddy was the Mate on the record and for my money steals the show with "The Land of the Haderum Ho", he also sings "Maggie Ann", and duets with Duncan on "Me and you" and "Seonaid Mhor and Mairi Bhan".

All the songs were written by Alex. Mackenzie who plays Engineer.

Presumably because of copyright reasons they are known as Skipper, Mate, Engineer and Cook, and not by the Munro/Foulis names.

I've never found any of Roddy's own songs on record unfortunatley.

A bit like Alex Norton, another actor who can write and sing, but I've only ever found his great "Hindustani Granny" single.

Cheers, John.

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Jim McLean
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 04:08 AM

Thanks John, I'm afraid my memory is failing! I can hear Roddy now 'In the Land of the Hiderum Ho'. Thanks for the memory.
Jim

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Strupag
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 04:06 PM

Great News folks!
The Highland Voyage has been re-released.
Archie Fisher announced it on Travelling Folk tonight.
It's still on Scottish Records. I would assume that it will still have the same number.
I'll certainly be buying this and listening to "Maggie Ann from Clashnabrockan" (or something close to that.

Subject: RE: govan billiard hall lyrics
From: Steve Benbows protege
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 01:32 PM

Belfast - well spoted. Steve recorded it on "Sporting blades" with Ewan McColl and A.L Lloyd. I don't doubt that he also recorded it with Dominic Behan as they were good mates.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Govan Billiard Hall Song (Roddy McMillan)
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 May 17 - 12:48 PM

Well, the song about the billiard hall in Govan is not on the "Highland Voyage" LP, and it seems that the thread had to drift a little bit in order to get to that album. The previous post is dated 2003 and yes, that is the year when Scottish Records re-issued, and renewed the copyrights, on "Highland Voyage."

Mudcatter "Dita" has the correct LP number, SR 33120. The issue number changed, maybe because of the change in format.
Anyway "SRCD 120" is the issue number for the "Highland Voyage" CD.

The liner notes in the CD booklet are from "Ken Andrew" who must have been a production person in the recording sessions, and he concludes his notes by remarking that he is the last surviving person who recalls making this recording. The album was recorded under the auspices of Park Film Studios, from which Scottish Records emerged, according to Andrew; and the studio "was the ground floor front room of a converted town house in Park Terrace....
The love of performance and the will to capture it was all that drove those sessions. No-one was being paid a fee, although royalties were agreed on any sales of the finished product. Often tempers would flare a little, since everyone was most certainly tired after completing other theatre, film and broadcast work during the rest of the day. But the fun of the material and the enthusiasm of the cast and crew made the project compelling and ultimately fulfilling. Only minimal rehearsal time was available which added a spontaneity to the performances."

Talking of the material: "All the songs were written by Alex Mackenzie," say Ken Andrew's notes. Both Mackenzie and MacRae did not have long to live after this album was recorded.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Govan Billiard Hall Song (Roddy McMillan)
From: GUEST,Barbara McLean
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 03:34 AM

This is not about the Govan Billiard Hall Song, it is a plea for the lyrics of ‘The Land of the Haderum Ho’. There is one word I can’t make out from the recording in the line beginning ‘The bards muse...’ Can anyone help?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Govan Billiard Hall Song (Roddy McMillan)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 03:55 AM

"Inspired by the charm of its magical spell,
The bard muse on sea mews, the cat mews as well"

It's a play on the word 'muse... mews .. miaow '

The poet (bard) extols the beauty of the bird, the sea mew, and the cat 'muse, mews, miaows' also.

Gees, explaining poetry is clumsy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Govan Billiard Hall Song (Roddy McMillan)
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 04:36 AM

I assume his is the feller
" Roddy McMillan (23 March 1923 – 9 July 1979) was a Scottish actor and playwright, possibly most famous for his comedy role as Para Handy for BBC Scotland's television series, The Vital Spark."
I didn't know that
Ewan used to refer to him as "The Professor"
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Govan Billiard Hall Song (Roddy McMillan)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 05:18 AM

Roddy also played the detective in View from Daniel Pike, a Scottish TV series written by Eddie Boyd.
Jim, I don't understand the 'Professor' connection with McColl. I knew Roddy throughout the 1960s, went fishing with him at weekends, and although I was 'involved' with the folk scene I never came across a link or mention between him and Ewan.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Govan Billiard Hall Song (Roddy McMillan)
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 06:23 AM

He mentioned it several times when I was present at the Singers Club
I got the impression that Ewan may have known him during his Theatre Workshop days but there's no mention of him in any of our books on T.W. though I see he was part of Unity at one time
Probably my failing memory
Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Govan Billiard Hall Song (Roddy McMillan)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 10:20 AM

I know he was involved, acted, in Glasgow Unity, the Citizen and Edinburgh's Gateway but in all our conversations in the 60s which were about folk music there was never any mention of Ewan.
I can't even understand why 'Professor' could be applied in any way to Roddy. He never looked or spoke like an academic, even in caricature.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Govan Billiard Hall Song (Roddy McMillan)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Dec 23 - 06:37 AM

Are the lyrics of "Me and You" by Alex Mackenzie, sung by Macmillan and Grieve on the Highland voyage available online.....I chust canna find the blessed wurds at all at aaaal....if Doooougie wasss here he would tell you....?