Lyr Add: Owd Zither (from Eric Bogle)

Subject: LYR ADD: Owd Zither (w/RA)
From: Ezio
Date: 29 Aug 98 - 02:50 AM

CLICK TO LISTEN
(Format=Real Audio 3.0, 28.8 mono *** Time=01:02 *** Size=123 kb)
(available on line for a few days only - sorry)
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OWD ZITHER

(Colin Dryden)

Forty years in the Mill
Your time's near done, but it's going still,
It's time to be thinking of making your will,
But you've nowhere to go, no intentions.
The weft and the weave it was your game,
Ten thousand hours you spent on the frame.
And now walking home in the driving rain,
With a brand-new watch and a pension.

Time now to side and to bide and to dream,
Think on owd man of the changes you've seen
In coal and in diesel, the power of steam,
Black shawls, coal stockings and courting
Clogs on the frost an a cold winter's morn,
The smell of the grease and the oil on the loom.
And the wife with the kids at the gateway at noon,
Stands waiting for your wages on Friday.

But the shuttles have flown and it's time to roam,
Back to your fire and your armchair at home
Leave all the mill-hands and weavers alone
To their beer and their joking.
But many the time you have stood wi' the best,
Although the looms they have near turned you deaf,
They've all got a few miles of weaving as yet
Before they'll have bested owd Zither.

Additional stanza - not sung by Bogle:

It's six in the morning, it's time to rise,
Sleep on owd man you're weary and wise,
For the ways of the world and all of the tries,
For a part time job in diffing
Puffing and painting up past the mill,
Up to ale-house to drink all your fill,
Though you've only got enough brass for a gill,
There may be a job in the offing.

---
Sung by Eric Bogle on 'Down Under' (1981)

---
Submitted by EB

Background: 'Zither' was the nickname given to the grandfather of the writer of this song (Colin Dryden) when he worked in the mill of Northern England. This song tells the time of Zither's retirement and it's a bitter-sweet commentary on growing old and not being able to work any more. 'Owd' meand old.

---

The sound files (RealAudio) for most of the lyrics I've posted here during the past months are available at
http://geocities.com/Nashville/Opry/7424

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Owd Zither (w/RA)
From: GUEST,Naomi
Date: 11 Mar 03 - 12:13 PM

Any chance of reposting this song? I have been looking for it for nearly two years with no luck.

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Owd Zither (w/RA)
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Mar 03 - 12:28 PM

we haven't seen Ezio for quite some time...I can find no references to it in a search

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Owd Zither (w/RA)
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Mar 03 - 12:32 PM

well..I DID find one reference...apparently there is a bootleg Eric Bogle record with "Owd Zither" on it.....perhaps Bogle can be contacted for a source...

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Owd Zither (w/RA)
From: gnomad
Date: 11 Mar 03 - 02:34 PM

I'm away from my LP's at the moment but my copy of Downunder has the extra verse in a lyrics insert, although not sung by EB.

I think the particular disc was packaged for release in Germany, though I bought it in UK.

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Owd Zither (w/RA)
From: GUEST,Naomi
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 04:54 PM

I'd really appreciate anyone's help with this one - I've tried to contact Eric Bogle direct but didn't get anywhere. Colin was my uncle and I'd really love to hear this song. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Owd Zither (Eric Bogle)
From: GUEST,Bradfordian
Date: 06 May 24 - 05:18 AM

Just to update. The proper title (from Colin Dryden) is SITHER not to be confused with a musical instrument.
( se’the is a north of England term on parting company meaning I’ll see you later (I’ll se’the(e))
Here are the lyrics from Colin’s singing:

SITHER. (Colin Dryden)
Forty years all in the Mill
Your day’s near done, but it's going still,
time to be thinking of making your will,
But you've nowhere to go, no intentions.
weft and the weave it was your game,
Ten thousand howers upon the frame.
Then walking home in the driving rain,
With a brand-new watch and a pension.

Time now to bide, to sit and to dream,
Think on owd man of the changes you've seen
In coal and in diesel, the power of steam,
Black shawls, coats, stockings and courting
Clogs on the frost an a cold winter's morn,
The smell of the grease and the oil on the loom.
And the wife with the kids by the gateway at noon,
Stand waiting for your wages on Friday.

six in the morn, it's time to rise,
Sleep on owd man you're weary and wise,
To the ways of the mill, aye and all of the tries,
For a part time job in the doffing
Puffing and panting past the mill,
Up to the local to get all your fill,
Though you've only got enough brass for a gill,
There might be a job in the offing.

But the shuttles have flown, it's time to roam,
Back to the armchair and fire at home
And Leave all the mill-hands and weavers alone
To their beer and laughter and joking.
But many’s the time you have stood wi' the best,
Although the looms they have near turned you deaf,
They've all got a few miles of weaving as yet
Before they'll have bested owd Sither

There is a YouTube video of this posted by his niece Naomi