Yorkshire Folk Songs

Subject: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jul 04 - 06:58 PM

Would be really grateful if anyone could help me - I need to find a folk song i can sing that is regional to where i live (North Yorks) so if anyone could put me on the right track that'd be great.
Thanks a lot.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Ed.
Date: 11 Jul 04 - 07:39 PM

Scarborough Fair?

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 11 Jul 04 - 08:55 PM

Whereabouts in North Yorks are you? Do you want trad or modern?

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 01:49 AM

If you dont want traditional I have written a couple about Yorkshire

Witch of Whitby- about Mad Maggie who lived in Whitby
8Th Wreck - about the sinking of the lifeboat in Whitby
The Puppeteer - about the ghost that is said to haunt Whitby's market place - he was hung in york for murdering a young girl

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Terry K
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 02:55 AM

Depends on how far north is north - top end of Yorkshire has been well covered, first by Graeme Miles and more recently by that Garbutt lad.

cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 03:11 AM

Anywhere near them rudyards? Or don't you kipple?

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 04:06 AM

Is this a way of gleaning songs prior to the Lancashire V yorkshire War of the Roses singing match at Saddleworth Folk Festival which just happes to occur this coming weekend 16/17/18th July and is one of the finest festivals known to man

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: greg stephens
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 04:37 AM

"Beautiful Swale" is a fine old song..is that far north enough?

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: red max
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 05:19 AM

If it's trad songs you want they aren't in plentiful supply, but you'd need to be a little more specific about what you're after

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,mel
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 11:56 AM

Thanks guys, i'm actually in harrogate, so further south than most of those songs, but that's a great start!
I'm at drama school and have to have a regional folk song to sing when i get back in september, so as for the Yorks / Lancs war, I had no idea!!!

Thanks anyway, you've all been a great help.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 12:33 PM

The Dalesman's Litany. From "Songs of the Ridings", colected and put into print by F. W. Moorman. Tune added at a later date.
Songs of the Ridings.
It can also be found In The Digitrad with a MIDI of the melody.
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: red max
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 05:36 AM

Dalesman's Litany is all very well, but if you're checking out Moorman you might opt for The Flowers of Knaresborough Forest instead. It doesn't mention Harrogate, but both Knaresborough and Pannal get a namecheck. Lal & Norma Waterson sang this if you need to hear it. Good luck with it

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Wolfgang
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 05:48 AM

A lot of songs on the Waterson's A Yorkshire Garland fit.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Jeff Green
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 07:48 PM

"i'm actually in harrogate"

Quite close to Ilkley Moor then :-)

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Jerry Epstein
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 07:58 PM

Will Noble is a great singer from the area with an abundant repertoire.
If you can't locate him or his songs, write to me at
[e-mail]
Will will be here in the US in a couple of weeks.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,HipflaskAndy
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 04:20 AM

Not strictly 'about' Yorkshire - but it gets a mention right up front . . . 'Female Drummer' . . .

'I was brought up in Yorkshire and when I was sixteen' etc

Steeleye's version (Please to see the King) - with surely the best folk-rock riff ever!!! - was the very first bit of 'folk' that grabbed my attention way back when I was in the sixth form.

Also, Mel, you didn't say if the songs had to be trad.
For example, there's the 'Yorkshire Couple' - a witty ditty that I've heard sung by Kate Rusby amongst others!
I forget who wrote the lyrics (Marsden?) - no doubt there's a more knowledgeable Catter that'll put that right here soon enough!.
That song (tying nicely in with my opening gambit) is sung , I believe, to the 'other' version of the tune of 'Female Drummer' I've heard - as sung by Harry Cox. (Help me out here someone?)

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 04:24 AM

yes Will is a great singer, but is abit further south than Harrogate
Will sings songs from Arthur Howard, Frank Hinchliffe and the hunting songs associated with the Holme and Colne Valley and the largely West Yorkshire area (Frank was from Sheffield)

He also sings Misteltoe Bough at Dungworth, Sheffield at Christmas trad carol sing, also Five foot flirt/Mrs Olroyd/Gossip John all spring to mind

I've know Will since about 1970 and also specialise in songs from the area, yes some pinched from Will but also from his source singers.I met Frank at Wills Barn and have worked on a number of his songs not generally know and I knew Arthur Howard

He has along time association with John Cocking a singer of note and a monologuist (new CD just out)

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 05:53 AM

Yorkshire couple written by Jim Mackey of Pontefract, a retired teacher at Ackworth Quaker school!
He is a prolific writer, a really nice chap plays a bit of guitar, first picked up by Dave Burland, from whence Kate Rusby (Steve and Ann ~ her parents) heard it.

Keith Marsden, mainly West Yorks/Bradford/Leeds industrial working class view of lifepost pre and post war Britain

Prospect Providence Perseverance mill life in West Yorkshire,
Ellesmere Port a rude song, but very funny if your male!

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,HipflaskAndy
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 10:17 AM

Ta Ray - you're a gem! Knew a wise ol' catter like ye would surface. Thanks for putting me right.
Will getcha a beer at Saddleworth. HFA

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Lady Aelfleda
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 02:59 PM

How about Young Banker - collected in closeby Knaresborough!

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Wolfgang
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 03:24 PM

'Fine old Yorkshire gentleman' also fits the description.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 04:13 AM

In wish people would stop getting me going!
Fine Old Yorkshire Gentleman, popularised by Bill Price from Dewsbury, Bill died must be 20 years ago now, he played a nice concertina for accompaniment on this. I am looking for the original and feel that he probably reworked an existing song, Mike Waterson has something on similar lines.
Bill's has a lot of this silly old bu**er in many verses, and he used to recounted when he was asked to perform, I think on Radio Leeds if he could drop the offending word ~ not sure what the outcome was, but the air was probably blue!
His two daughters Sadie and Ruth Price are now singing his songs and others, check Ruth's web site ~ FOYG sung by Sadie to Ruth's accompaniment at Holmfirth FF this year, Ruths 'Simon John' at Tap & Spile at New Year brilliant ~ deserve booking world wide [Ruth born in Canada]I didn't know that, Wendy still in Whitby (sometimes)

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: AggieD
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 04:50 PM

Jenny Storm is a modern version of an ancient yorkshire song, but the origins are around the Whitby area.

I thought it was on one of the Watersons albums, but I'm not sure which.

If you want it in the original dialect go here: http://www.dacha.freeuk.com/sotr/1s07-0.htm

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Raggytash
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 07:23 PM

Would "Fine old Yorkshire Gentleman" be the one that starts "When I were a lad wi' me Mam an' me Dad, we ne're had any fun" and goes on to state "cos they were grinnin' all o'er their face at me an OLDHAM lad"

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Willa
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 07:50 AM

I have a copy of the reissue of Frank Kidson's Traditional Tunes" published in 1891. It includes many Yorkshire songs/ Yorkshire versions of songs, usually with the tune. You might be able to track acopy down - well worth the search!

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 09:48 AM

A facsimile reprint is available from Llanerch Press.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Willa
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 03:33 PM

Thanks, Malcolm, that is the version I have; I was away from home when I posted and couldn't remember the details.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 04:49 AM

Raggytash,

yes, basically the same song. Mike Waterson sings it as 'Wensleydale lad' on his LP.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From:
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 04:16 PM

trying to find words and music for Gossip john could anyone help

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 05:45 PM

Cozy - you could start HERE! in the Digital Tradition.
That said, it is quite a bit different from the lyrics sung in Yorkshire.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 04:56 AM

Gossip John popularised by Will and the Holmevalley Tradition, check out Wills Barn at VWML on cassette, includes many Yorkshire songs and also has for good measure, Copper Family and Bob Davenport and the Rakes, who visited for the recording

Also earlier Vinyl recordings of Holme Valley Hunt

Gossip Joan sung by Graham and Eileen Pratt (resident in Sheffield)
is very different, words also in Marrow Bones or simliar earlier EFDSS song book ~ I believe Paul Davenport has it in mind to reissue these books!

Ray Padgett

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Joe Hill
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 06:11 AM

'Walton street fair' is from Hull. Do a search under 'Walton street fair' on the lyrics and knowledge.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST, Ozzie Ric
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 03:18 AM

Though born in the Wakefield / Pontefract area I now live in Western Australia,,,Does anyone have the lyrics and guitar chords for two truly Yorkshire songs    The Sheffield Grinder   and Hessle Road,I have them on a old tape someone sent me but I would love the chords
Know idea who sang these songs
Ric

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 08:03 AM

Hessle Road was written (I think) by John Connelly, I've got the CD at home (actually playing it yesterday) so will check this evening

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 04:29 PM

Only song "Hessle Road" I am aware of was written by Keith Marsden and originally sung by Cockersdale.

The Sheffield Grinder in the Digitrad is not the song I have heard. I found a few lines hidden in this web page http:// www.omnesamici.co.uk/MemoriestRELeaderChapter03.html which match up to the version which used to be sung by the late Paul "Dad" Tattersall in Bradford.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 04:34 PM

Or alternatively look in the old Mudcat Threads BLICKY!!!!!!!!
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: padgett
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 03:54 AM

I thought I posted this yesterday, but then it's Christmas!

Hessle Rd definitely Keith Marsden/Cockersdale

Sheffield Grinder reecorded by Tony Capstick and I understand following his death that his album/s are now again available!

Paul Davenport (Maltby based editor of English Dance and song)includes this in his Music/manuscript book of Yorkshire songs, among others

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 04:09 AM

Raymond ....... you beat me to it, Hessle Road by Keith Marsden

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: red max
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 05:09 AM

Just a quick aside, "The Sheffield Grinder" is a different song to the one Tony Capstick sang, which is usually called "The Grinders' Hardships"

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Mo Womble
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 04:32 PM

Can someone let me have the lyrics to Mrs Olroyd and Pratty Flowers
please. I have heard them sung in our local pubs but can't recall all the words and would like to be able to pass them on to the younger generation before they are gone forever.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 07:13 PM

Are we thinking, "To be a Sheffield grinder it is no easy trade, There's more than you'd imagine to the grinding of a blade, The strongest man among us is old at 32....."? If so, lovely song. Apols if words a bit garbled -- I haven't heard it for years.

(the button posting on someone else's computer)

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 05:05 AM

A previous discussion of the Holmfirth Anthem AKA
Pratty Flowers .
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Schantieman
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 02:48 PM

Just beat me to it, Geoff - I was abour to suggest the Holmfirth Anthem

If we're going south, there are all the Christmas & New Year carols sung in Oughtibridge, Worral etc. near Sheffield. See this

Steve

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 03:54 PM

Click here to link to THE YORKSHIRE GARLAND song database

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: John J
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 07:11 PM

Yorkshire? Hmmm.

Now is that anywhere near Lancashire?

John

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Sugwash
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 05:50 AM

Yorkshire? Hmmm.

Now is that anywhere near Lancashire?

Aye, it's right next to it, keeping it in its place.

Subject: RE: Yorkshire Folk Songs
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 03:10 PM

Back in the seventies a student at Leeds University did his PHD on 'Songs of the North Riding'.
He did some excellent field recording, don't know if his collection ever saw the light of day but one of the best was Arthur Wood of Middlesborough singing 'The Tailor's Britches', which was published in Richards' and Stubbs' 'The English Folksinger'
Jim Carroll