Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)

Subject: Lyr Req: 'Hev yew gorra loight boy?'
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 05:47 AM

A number of people are looking for the words of this classic by Allan Smethurst - The Singing Postman. Can anybody help please?

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Hev yew gorra loight boy?'
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 06:13 AM

I've had no joy with Google.

If nothing else comes up I can try to write out for you tommorrow. I won't be able to write it in the Norfolk dialect though.

This song and others were relased on CD shortly before his death. The reference for the CD containing this (and other favourites of mine like Come Along Me, They're Orl Playing Dommies in The Bar, Ha Th Bottom Dropped Out and A Miss From Diss) is Anglian Music AM00100.

The spelling on (and indeed title of) this CD differs from your request. It is "Hev Yew Gotta Loight Bor?".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Hev yew gorra loight boy?'
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 06:43 AM

A biography with lyrics and all the CDs are available from Anglian Music

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Hev yew gorra loight boy?'
From: s6k
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 06:51 AM

harriwatts band - the ciggy song

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Hev yew gorra loight boy?'
From: GUEST,Lindsay
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 08:20 AM

After the death of "The Singing Postman" (Allan Smethurst) a wealth of his lovely songs became available on CD which hadn't been around since the 60s. I got mine from Anglian Music. His song "Mystery of Owld Tom's Grave" is probably my favourite song, and I have a book of the sheet music to all the songs featured on his early LP "Recorded Delivery".

I think it is a great shame that Allan Smethurst became largely forgotten after his early success with "Hev You Got A Loight Bor". He died in relative obscurity about 3 years ago in a Salvation Army Hostel (thank goodness SOME kind people looked after him) in Grimsby. Ironically, he died within a few days of my other hero, Sir Jimmy Shand.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Hev yew gorra loight boy?'
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 08:31 AM

Thanks for the info Mick. I'd failed to pick up that they had a website and am now tempted to invest in the biography some time.

My own feeling towards Alan Smethurst is that while some of his songs are sort of "samey" in style, he has been badly under-rated over the years. It seems to me that he tends to get classed as some sort of "Norfolk hick" (even though he wasn't born there) who wrote one or two novelty songs when his words can be quite thoughtful and reflective. In that sense, I consider him to have been someone who I class as a folk singer/songwrigher even though that opinion would seem to be unfashionable.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Hev yew gorra loight boy?'
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 08:35 AM

We cross posted Lindsay. Pleased to see someone else expressing some sentiments I have.

Jon

PS, I think Jimmy Shand was fantastic. Totally diferent area of music but a fine musician.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Hev yew gorra loight boy?'
From: GUEST,Lindsay
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 11:40 AM

Thank you Jon, it pleases me to think that someone at least shares my impeccable tastes in music....!! :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Hev yew gorra loight boy?'
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 05:04 PM

I've got a version of it by Rolf Harris.

Subject: ADD: Have you got a light Boy?
From: Bugsy
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 07:58 PM

Here's the words I use. I've typed it as clearly as I can but it should be sung in the Suffolk Dialect.

Have you got a light Boy?

I knows a gal a real fine gal, down in Roxham way
She were whooly nice to me back in the old school days
She would smile all the while, but Daddy didn't know all
What she used to say to me down by the garden wall
"Have you got a light Boy?
Have you got a light?"

Chorus.
Molly Lindley, she smokes like a chimney
But she's my little nicotene gal

Now you'll see her and me never more to part
We would wander hand in hand together in the dark
'Til one night I held her tight in the old back yard
But when I tries to hold her close she says "Now hold you hard!"
Have you got a light boy?
Have you got a light?

Chorus

Then one day she go away. I don't see her no more
'Til by chance I see her down along the (Mundley?) shore
She be there twice as fair but will she now be true
So when she sees me passing by she says "I'm glad that's you!
Have you got a light boy?
Have you got a light"

Chorus

By and by we decide on a wedding day
So we toddles off to church to hear the preacher say
Will you now take this vow to honour all the time
Before I has a chance to stop her, she begins to pine
"Have you got a light boy?
Have you got a light?"

Chorus

Now the doctor tells me a daddy I shall be
but when I asks him "Whats the score?" he says there's only three
So here I go Cheerio, to see how she do fair
I know what she will say to me as soon as I get's there
"Have you got a li..............ght, b.............o................y?"



Hope this helps

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Hev yew gorra loight boy?'
From: Bugsy
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 08:02 PM

Whoops! looks like I've got it wrong with the dialect. I always thought he was from Beccles.

There you go, you live and learn!


CHeers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Req: Hev yew gorra loight boy? (Singing Postman)
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 09:38 PM

Yep Bugsy, Beccles is in Sufolk - only been there once but a good session in the Bear and Bells there. The page MCP gave said he lived in Sherringham. That's North Norfolk coast and about 20 minutes from me. Nice town too.

One thing I'm pretty sure you are wrong on with your words is Roxham. I think that would be Wroxham which again is not far from here. It's on the Broads.

Jon

Subject: RE: Req: Hev yew gorra loight boy? (Singing Postman)
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 02:43 AM

Thanks for the words Bugsy and thanks for the pointer to Anglian Music which I've come across before but didn't have the biog for sale at the time.
I used to live in Peterborough and someone I met there made his own instruments - A Hurdy Gurdy was his pride and joy but he made other mandolin-type things as well. He was telling me that he was asked if he could fix a guitar that belonged to the Singing Postman which he duly did but no money was forthcoming to pay for the repair. As far as I know that guitar is still in my mate's loft!

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Req: Hev yew gorra loight boy? (Singing Postman)
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 03:39 AM

I always though he sang "Mollie Wimbly" (or Wimly) but on the Times obit page Obit - Allan Smethurst gives it as "Mollie Windley".

Mick

Subject: RE: Req: Hev yew gorra loight boy? (Singing Postman)
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 10:08 AM

I have an MP3 of this by Allan Smethurst which I 'could' post, for a few days, anyway...or email to someone.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev yew gorra loight boy?(Singing Postman
From: GUEST,Lanfranc at the orifice
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 08:39 AM

And the "shore" in verse 3 is Mundesley, also in Norfolk..

Alan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev yew gorra loight boy?(Singing Postman
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 11:38 AM

here is the MP3 of the song done by Alan Smethurst if you click on it, it will either play, or ask you if you want to save it, depending of your settings)

I will leave this up a few days. (It is 4+ million bytes)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev yew gorra loight boy?(Singing Postman
From: Bentley
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 05:39 PM

Many thanks for the worms to 'ave yew gotta a loight boy. I've taken the liberty of adding a few letters so it reads as a Norfolk dialect. I'll sing it now.I come from that part of the world so no prob. Cheers,Henry

Subject: Lyr Add: HEV YEW GOTTA LOIGHT BOY? (A Smethurst)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Sep 04 - 09:53 AM

I've listened carefully to the mp3 file linked above, and I have a few corrections to make. The most important is the sequence of verses. There are some minor changes in the wording. Also, I've looked up the place names and I believe I have the spelling correct. I haven't attempted to reproduce the Norfolk pronunciation, except in the title, and I've checked that against some reliable sources, as well as the author's name.

HEV YEW GOTTA LOIGHT, BOY? [HAVE YOU GOT A LIGHT, BOY?]
Allan Smethurst, "The Singing Postman," released 1966.

I had a gal, a really nice gal, down in Wroxham way.
She were wholly nice to me back in the old school days.
She would smile all the while, but Daddy didn't know all.
What she used to say to me behind the garden wall:
"Have you got a light, boy? Have you got a light?"

Then one day she went away. I don't see her no more,
'Til by chance I see her down along the Mundesley shore.
She was there twice as fair. Would she now be true?
So when she sees me passing by, she say, "I'm glad that's you!
Have you got a light, boy? Have you got a light?"

CHORUS: Molly Windley, she smokes like a chimney,
But she's my little nicotine gal.

Now you'll see her and me never more to part.
We would wander hand in hand together in the dark.
Then one night I held her tight in the old back yard.
So when I tried to hold her close, she say, "Now, hold you hard!
Have you got a light, boy? Have you got a light?" CHORUS

By and by, we decide on the wedding day,
So we toddles off to church to hear the preacher say:
"Do you now take this vow to honour all the time?"
Before I has a chance to stop her, she begins to pine:
"Have you got a light, boy? Have you got a light?" CHORUS

Now the doctor tells me a daddy I will be,
So when I ask him, "What's the score?" he say there's only three.
So here I go, cheerio, to see how she do fare.
I know what she will say to me as soon as I get there:
"Have you got a light, boy?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: GUEST,annitacm
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 10:59 AM

Hi!
I'm doing a project about the Norkfolk dialect. I was thinking that it would be interesting to use Allan Smethurst's Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? as an example, but I cannot find the song anywhere. Could you please help me and re-establish the link you had here?
Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 01:44 PM

Dear Mark Dowding,

The Peterborough instrument maker you mention would be the Terry Warrington - all round great bloke - last time I was down there he was still singing with his wife, Florence.
Years ago another great Peterborough bloke, Alan Twelvetree (organiser of P'boro Folk Club in the 60s), claimed to have taught Alan Smethurst some chords on the guitar.
I thought that Mr Smethurst had died about 30 years ago (in P'boro) - maybe not? I sense a mystery here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: a gud ole bwoy
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 04:17 PM

Now look you here. If you are serius about this here Norfolk stuff, GUEST annitacm, then yu orta contact Winston the singin farmer,who is singin lots of Alan Smethust stuff, or goo on the Sid Kipper site which hes a link tu lurnin Norfolk dialec.
I dun't know nuthin about it, 'cos I'm frum Nuthamptunshear. Apart frum which i dun't smoke.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 26 Nov 05 - 12:38 PM

Slight corrction: What Mollie Wimbley smooked loike was a CHIMBLEY, not a chimney
Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 07:35 AM

Hi DM

Yes it was Terry Warrington. I haven't seen him for years since I moved away from the area back up to Lancashire. I have a banjo that belonged to Harry Boardman whic had a very warped neck. Terry had a look at it and said he could fix it for me which he duly did. All that it needed were a couple of wedges to adjust the neck - the originals had long since disappeared. I now have a banjo that cost me a couple of pints for the repair!

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 02:01 PM

So, Mark,

You know Terry Warrington and you knew Harry Boardman! It's a very small world - we must have moved in very similar circles!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurs
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 06:41 PM

Hi DB (not DM!!) If I knew your name I'd probably say it's been ages since I've seen you -how are you doing!
Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: GUEST,Peter McCall
Date: 17 Apr 06 - 10:09 PM

This is with the broad Norfolk dialect. I think I may have gone over the top a bit though.

OI had a gal, a reallie noice gal, down in Wroxham way.
She were hoolly noice to me back in thur owl' school days.
She would smile all thur while, bu' Daddy din' know all.
waa she used to say to me ahoind thur garden wall:
"Hev yow go' a loigh', boo-i? Hev yow go' a loigh'?"

Then one day she wen' away. OI doon' see her noo more,
'Til by chance OI see her down along thur Mundesley shore.
She woos there twice bairn uz fair. Would she now be true?
So when she sees me passin' by, she say, "I'm glad that's yow!
Hev yow go' a loigh', boo-i? Hev yow go' a loigh'?"

CHORUS: Mollie Windley, she smokes like a chimbley,
Bu' she's moi little nicotine gal.

Now you'll see her and me navver more to par'.
We would wander hand in hand agatha in thur dark.
Then one noight OI held her stark in thur owl' back yard.
So when OI tried to 'owld her clooss, she say, "Now, 'owld yow hard!
Hev yow go' a loigh', boo-i? Hev yow go' a loigh'?" CHORUS

By and by, we decide on thur weddin' day,
So we toddles orff to chaach to hare thur preacher say:
"Do yow now tairke this vow to honooor all thur toime?"
Afore OI has a chance to stop her, she begins to pine:
"Hev yow go' a loigh', boo-i? hev yow go' a loigh'?" CHORUS

Now thur doctor tells me a daddy OI will be,
So when OI ax him, "What's thur score?" he say there's oolly tree.
So 'are OI goo, chairioo, to see hew she do fare.
OI know waa she will say to me uz soon uz OI gi' there:
"Hev yow go' a loigh', boo-i?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: GUEST,chris
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 04:14 AM

I think the most interesting version I heard of this song was Peter Bellamy's 'blues' style using a borrowed guitar at the old Ampersand club at Barwell in Leicestershire many years ago (probably 25+)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: GUEST,bj
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 12:16 PM

Hi , A facinating set of threads as I have been looking for the words for some time, but please does anyone have the guitar tabs for the song?

thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: GUEST,hana
Date: 27 Nov 07 - 04:05 PM

have anyone got a link for this song, it is amazing and i love it but i just cant find it anywhere!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Nov 07 - 04:47 PM

I see I missed one request back in '05, so I'll re-post the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Nov 07 - 04:55 PM

Here it is

(I won't leave this up forever....I hope those who want to hear it get it soon)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: GUEST,Sarah, Barnsley
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 01:00 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 01:02 PM

(oops)

Thanks for that - I'd only heard the Winston version.   

Sarah

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: RamblinStu
Date: 01 Dec 07 - 06:43 PM

Thanks Bill

Great to hear Alan Smetherst again after all these years.

I worked with him a couple of times in the sixties, with a chap called Mark Martin or Dave Martin, he ran The Walnut Trees Shades club in Norwich. I wonder if anyone has heard what happened to him?

Stuart Pendrill

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: GUEST,Bill
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 07:33 PM

Yu mad mi month folks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: GUEST,Susan
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 09:53 AM

Thank you to everyone who posted the lyrics , but does anyone have the chords .. as want to cover the song for my friends 50th as we are all old norfolkians and I know it will bring a very big smile.. hears hoping

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: Silas
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 10:05 AM

Its actually 'she begins to CHIME' not pine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: The Sandman
Date: 25 Feb 19 - 05:11 PM

Born in Walshaw, near Bury, Lancashire, England,[4] the son of Allan and Gladys Mabel (née Curson),[5] Smethurst was raised in Sheringham, Norfolk. His mother came from the nearby village of Stiffkey. He later became a postman in Grimsby.[

Smethurst hummed tunes on his daily post round for twelve years, writing and singing songs in his native Norfolk dialect.[4] An audition tape sent to a BBC regional radio programme earned him a spot on Ralph Tuck's East Anglian VHF radio show Wednesday Morning, and Tuck recorded Smethurst on his own record label, The Smallest Recording Organisation in the World, based in Lowestoft. A four track EP made the EP charts in 1965 and, after another EP release by Ralph Tuck, and an album The Singing Postman's Year, he was signed to EMI who re-released earlier songs and recorded new items. He made numerous live and promotional performances, including on Top of the Pops, but was afflicted by nerves and stage fright.

In 1966, the Singing Postman's best known hit "Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy?" won Smethurst the Ivor Novello Award for best novelty song of the year. Rolf Harris recorded a cover version without success. The song had a small comeback in 1994, when it was featured on a television commercial for Ovaltine.

Smethurst left the music industry in 1970, later admitting he had an alcohol problem and that he had spent all of his money and was penniless. He spent his last few years living quietly in a Salvation Army hostel in Grimsby, where he died from a heart attack in December 2000.

In September 2010, a BBC Radio 4 programme, "In Search of the Singing Postman", was broadcast which was written and presented by D. J. Tayl

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: The Sandman
Date: 25 Feb 19 - 05:27 PM

he definitely sings pine not chime ,listen carefully

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Feb 19 - 05:36 PM

Definitely 'pine' (it means to whinge or complain)
I live in Norfolk and have all his CDs, plus a book with all the lyrics.
We often go to Wroxham for shopping.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 25 Feb 19 - 06:00 PM

Since this thread started, someone has put several of his songs on YouTube, if yew waant to hear 'em.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy? (A Smethurst)
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 26 Feb 19 - 02:37 AM

Suffolk singer John Lowe befriended Allan in his hostel days, and does convincing impressions of many of his songs. After Allan's death, the family gave him access to unfinished or unpublished lyrics which John has put to music, so our humble pub sessions sometimes gets 'new' Smethurst songs.