Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody (Shanty Singers)

Subject: Lyr Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody
From: Chris Green
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 10:52 AM

While at Wheaton Aston Festival a few weeks ago I heard a parody of 'Miner's Lifeguard' about shanty singers. Sadly I was in a state of advanced intoxication at the time and can only remember the chorus which goes

Shanty singers stand together
Heed not what the critics say
Keep you hands upon your tankards
And your mind upon the waves

Any one know it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody
From: Midchuck
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 11:24 AM

Well, "Miners' Lifeguard" is itself a parody, of "The Spiritual Railway to Heaven," a/k/a "Life Is Like a Mountain Railway," so you're looking for a parody of a parody...

Peter.

Subject: RE: Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody (Shanty Singers)
From: Chris Green
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 03:17 PM

Erm... yes? If I find it I hope to take the piss out of it even further so that would make it a parody of a parody of a parody! Or something... :-)

Subject: RE: Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody (Shanty Singers)
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 03:38 PM

As I could never stand the first parody - my father was a union official and my family live in Barnsley - miners union HQ, or Arthur Scargill country as my mother used to call it, I look forward to hearing this and subsequent versions.

I must confess to making alterations to dire rhymes and sometimes writing a whole new version of something with many versions none of them very good, I added a verse to 'Buzzers Blowing' because it is too good to be so short, and now 'Shelves of Herring' has a couple more verses, one referring to the Atkins diet.

As I am not intending to do anything to impose my versions other than sing them and see what the reaction is, I don't think it does any harm. Fixing a rhyme is hardly a crime.

Please do parodise,

Anne

Subject: RE: Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody (Shanty Singers)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 11:57 AM

Fixing a rhyme is hardly a crime.

Is mending an ode not much of a load?
or correcting a verse realy much worse?

Carry on without me - I'm off...

:D

Subject: RE: Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody (Shanty Singers)
From: Gervase
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 05:08 PM

Possinly heresy, I know, but Miner's Lifeguard goes really well to a reggae beat, or to a speeded-up R&B rhythm.
I have a sneaking regard for Anne's views - it's a powerful song, but there's always something a tad strange about seeing a bunch of comfortably middle-class teachers, local authority white-collar workers and IT professionals holding their fists aloft and belting out the chorus. Where were they doing in '84, I wonder? But perhaps I'm just being a curmudgeonly cynic (as ever!).

Subject: RE: Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody (Shanty Singers)
From: Chris Green
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 11:40 AM

If it helps, I'm a teacher and in 1984 I was in school. However I was seven years old!

Subject: RE: Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody (Shanty Singers)
From: Schantieman
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 12:32 PM

Why do lots of people not sing the third verse? Or at least, the one that goes, Soon this trouble will be over etc. ? Was it, perhaps, not original?   But then, if the whole thing is a parody anyway....???

I'd've said a parody is a version in which the words are changed, keeping close(ish) to the original, usually with humorous intent. So, is "Miners' Lifeguard" a parody or is it just another set of words to the tune?

See you (some of you) at Warwick/Sidmouth/Dartmoor

Steve

Subject: RE: Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody (Shanty Singers)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 03:23 PM

Hi, Steve - take a look at this thread, Gospel Origins, Civil Rights and Labor Songs. Parodies are usually defined as humorous, and these songs usually arent - but they certainly follow the textual structure of the gospel songs that preceded them and don't just borrow a tune. So, are they parodies, or not?
"Miner's Lifeguard" is a particularly interesting case. If you look at the text, it's obvious that it must be based on the old gospel song, "Life's Railway to Heaven" - but it's often sung to a different tune in the UK, Calon Lan; and people in the UK are often unaware of the gospel roots of the song.
But hey, does anybody have the Shanty Singers' parody of this song???? It's probably better to discuss the other stuff in the threads crosslinked at the top of this thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody (Shanty Singers)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 03:44 PM

The verse already published would fit morris dancers too.

Morris dancers stand together
.....
.....
And your mind upon your bells.......

Best regards,

folkiedave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody (Shanty Singers)
From: Abuwood
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 04:42 AM

There's another one - Real Ale drinkers stand together - keep your hand upon your tankard and your mind upon the ale...
Refreshing to try to get the words to either of these parodies please.

Subject: RE: Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody (Shanty Singers)
From: GUEST,richard graham
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 01:14 PM

I am trying to find the words to yet another parody from the late '50s that I remember a part of as follows:

Miners life is soft and cushy
In their air conditioned home
They have lovely hours and wages
Still they'll grumble and they'll groan
Persecute their organizers
Throw their leaders into jail
Keep your eyes upon the dollar
Readjust the crooked scales.

Any help in this department? I heard it in the Villiage as a folk musician in 1960. I am not a neo-con, but I liked the black humor.

Subject: RE: Req: Miner's Lifeguard Parody (Shanty Singers)
From: Dead Horse
Date: 25 Oct 08 - 10:54 AM

Being a shanty singer and a lover of parodies, I am following this thread with interest.




Currently at 4.3%