Subject: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: Gurney Date: 25 Sep 05 - 12:19 AM I remember him singing this 30-odd years ago. It sounds like Music-Hall, and I can only remember the chorus and one verse. Ch: Wheel the perambulator, John, wheel it nice and slow. Don't get riled, mind the child, be careful how you go. When you turn the corner, John, when you cross the road, cock your front wheels up a bit or over goes your load! If you've got a tooth-ache and it's giving you terrible pain. divvent gan to the dentist, for that's a silly game, here's the thing to do, John, take a swig of Castor Oil an' gan an' sit upon the stove until it begins to boil! Donations gratefully received. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: Mark Cohen Date: 25 Sep 05 - 12:23 AM Oh...I thought this was going to be a parody of "Speed the Plow"! Aloha, Mark |
Subject: Lyr Add: WHEEL THE PERAMBULATOR (Black Family) From: Peace Date: 25 Sep 05 - 12:24 AM Songwriter: Traditional. Arrangement The Black Family WHEEL THE PERAMBULATOR As recorded by The Black Family on "The Black Family" (1986) 1. Well, now we've got the baby and what a babe she is! Her eyes are green; she's quite a queen; we call her pretty Liz, And every night when I get home, me wife she says to me: "Get the p'rambulator, John, and don't go far away. CHORUS: "Wheel the p'rambulator, John; wheel it nice and slow. Don't get riled; mind the child; careful as you go! When you turn the corner, John, when you cross the road, Just cock your front wheels up a bit or over goes your load." 2. Last time I took the baby out, it was in the pram. I turned the bloomin' thing upside-down; I don't know where I am. I cracked the baby's head and I took a piece off his nose, And now I daren't go home again for fear of my wife Rose. CHORUS 3. The other night when we went out, we left the babe behind. I said to me wife: "I think you're very kind." But as we were a-walkin' along, we met with Mrs Gray. She had the perambulator and she was goin' our way. CHORUS Repeat first verse; CHORUS From www.frances-black.net/disco/songs/146.htm Black Family Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58y_jSyseN0 |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: Gurney Date: 25 Sep 05 - 01:01 AM 5 minutes! How's that for service! Likely the original of Bob's varient. Thank you very much. from memory, Bob sings: "I tippled the baby over, took a little bit off its nose, and now I daresn't go home agen, for fear me life I'll lose!" |
Subject: Lyr Add: WHEEL THE PERAMBULATOR (from B Davenport) From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Date: 25 Sep 05 - 03:44 AM Here's the version I have from Bob Davenport. Unfortunately my song folder doesn't say whether this was from a live recording of him that I made or from record, and at the moment my records are (temporarily) stuck behind a lot of things waiting to be moved, so I can't check the records. When I have the chance I'll compare it with the record version. Mick WHEEL THE PERAMBULATOR First time I took the baby out I took it in the pram I was going down the High Street I don't know where I am. I tippled the baby over, took a little bit off its nose And now I daren't go home to me wide for fear me life I'll lose. Chorus: Wheel the perambulator, John, wheel it nice and slow, Don't get riled, mind the child, careful how ye go. When ye turn the corner, John, or when ye cross the road Cock your front wheel up a bit or over goes your load. Now if ye've got the toothache, it's giving you terrible pain, Don't go to the dentist, for that's a silly game. Save yourself some money, take a swig of castor oil, Go and sit upon the stove until it begins to boil. Well, if you've got a nagging wife, take her in a boat, Place her gently into the sea to see if she can float. Then you sit and watch her and then you begin to think You take the oars, you row away, you leave the old bugger to sink. Source: Bob Davenport |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: Susanne (skw) Date: 25 Sep 05 - 04:44 AM A local band sings a Low German version of this. I've often wondered where they got it from. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: GUEST,Jim Ward Date: 25 Sep 05 - 10:31 AM This song was a great favourite of the Suffolk traditional singer, Percy Webb, who died about 25 years ago. I think this likely source for Bob's version. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 25 Sep 05 - 11:57 AM Well, Bob Davenport certainly didn't get the song from the Black Family! Their original note, not quoted on that website, was as follows: "A once popular music hall ditty, now associated with Bob Davenport, but with verses collected by John Howson in Haughley, Suffolk. Learned from the singing of Dave MacLurg from Magilligan, Co. Derry." It isn't entirely clear whether they mean that their set (via Dave MacLurg), or Bob's, derived in whole or part from the unidentified Suffolk one. The full text and tune of Percy Webb's (Blaxhall, Suffolk) set appears in Ginette Dunn, The Fellowship of Song (London: Croom Helm, 1980), pp 70-71. It's rather different from the form Bob sang, but both follow the same pattern. Walter Pardon also had a fragmentary version. Peter Kennedy lists a few further examples, from Kent, Norfolk, Devon and Shropshire. Some years ago, a further text was posted here, taken from a Dublin City Ramblers record; but with no indication as to where they got it. Quite possibly from the Black record. See thread Wheel the Perambulator John (with some rather strange typos). |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Date: 25 Sep 05 - 01:04 PM I've just had a look at the Bob Davenport records I've got and I don't seem to have Wheel The Perambulator on record, so my source must be a live recording (early 70s IIRC). (It's on a small reel to reel tape and that isn't accessible!). Mick |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: Herga Kitty Date: 25 Sep 05 - 01:32 PM IIRC Mike Bettison of Flowers and Frolics used to sing this - probably the same version as Bob Davenport, given the Islington connection. Kitty |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: GUEST,cardboard cutout Date: 25 Sep 05 - 04:41 PM This song, together with "Your baby has gone down the plug-hole" was one which my husband thought suitable to sing to our offspring as bedtime lullabies. I'm not sure that it hasn't had a grave effect, especially on daughter's singing reperoire, even to this day.... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: Gurney Date: 26 Sep 05 - 04:57 AM CCout, your daughter sounds like the right stuff. Mick, I had it on tape, too, but all the carefully drawn and written sleeves have faded out and some have been over-recorded. I just can't find it. The lesson is, do NOT use water-base ink for anything important. Sunshine gives you cancer and buggers felt pen ink too. Thanks, guys. Everything I wanted and more. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: Fergie Date: 26 Sep 05 - 11:19 AM Bob is in Dublin at the moment. He will be guest singer in the Clai Club in Liberty Hall on this coming Wednesday. 28th Sept 05. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: The Borchester Echo Date: 26 Sep 05 - 11:28 AM Bob is in Dublin Heeeh! Gone to blag a few songs of the Blacks, has he? I think I know who Cardboard Cutout's daughter is. The thought of 'pram and plughole' songs with viola accompaniment is quite alarming . . . |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the pram... Bob Davenport From: GUEST,cardboard cutout Date: 26 Sep 05 - 03:17 PM Yes - "don't cry in your sleep bonny baby" and all that. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: BB Date: 12 Sep 09 - 06:11 AM Does anyone have any idea who wrote this? I know the Blacks credit it as traditional, which it has certainly become, but although it's obviously music hall, there's no trace of it in Kilgariff's book. Any help gratefully received. Barbara |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: Vic Smith Date: 12 Sep 09 - 06:23 AM The person I always associate it with is Lynn Breeze, who was living in East Anglia in the mid-60's when I first met her and she was certainly singing it then. She used to go to the pub sessions with the old singers and could well have learned it from Percy Webb or another old Norfolk/Suffolk singer. On the other hand, at the time Lynn was married to Trevor Sheridan who played banjo in the Marsden Rattlers, one of the bands that accompanied Bob Davenport, so she may well have learned it from Bob. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: Jim Dixon Date: 14 Sep 09 - 11:05 AM From Yesterday's Sunshine: Reminiscences of an Edwardian Childhood by Verne Morgan (Folkestone: Bailey & Swinfen, 1974), page 116: ... and the next thing we knew he was singing his lively six-eight-tempo ditty which went like this:— Wheel the perambulator, John. Be careful how you go. Don't get wild, but mind the child, and wheel it very slow. When you turn the corner, going across the road, Just lift the front wheels up a bit, and don't upset the load. He sang it with great gusto ... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: BB Date: 14 Sep 09 - 03:16 PM Thanks, Vic & Jim, but it's so frustrating not being able to trace the writer! Barbara |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Date: 14 Sep 09 - 03:39 PM Just for info - under the title Wheel The Perambulator, there are no records at Levy, The Bodleian, LOC or the Oxford OLIS/OPAC pre 1920 indexes. Mick |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: BB Date: 15 Sep 09 - 12:07 PM Thanks, Mick - not likely to find the answer then, eh? :-) Barbara |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Date: 15 Sep 09 - 12:42 PM Doesn't look likely Barbara - that last lot were just the major ones. I checked several other sources that have proved useful before, also without any result. (I even tried alternative spellings for perambulator!). Unless it had some other title it looks like being elusive. Mick |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: GUEST,Terry Date: 16 Sep 09 - 06:17 PM I've just come across this thread. I regularly sing Bob Davenports version, Wheel the perambulator, with Hartley MM. I learnt it from his record - Pal of my cradle days - Trailer Ler 2088 (1974). It is credited Copyright Control. Terry |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: GUEST,Andy Howes Date: 02 Oct 09 - 08:41 AM This verse is sung in Cagwith, Cornwall:- 'For it's coming on by degrees, It's coming on by degrees, We've got the table and the chair, We've got the baby's underwear. We've got the bar of soap to wash the baby with; We haven't got the baby yet but it's coming on by degrees. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: Jim Dixon Date: 05 Oct 09 - 04:36 PM The British Library Sound Archive has the following 3 catalog entries: Item title: Wheel your perambulator John / unidentified tunes Performer: Curtis, Dolly, 1905- (melodeon) Performer: unidentified (singer, male) Performer: Reeder, Reg, 1943- (hammered dulcimer) Collection title: Keith Summers Collection Collection title: Traditional Music in England Project Country: England Genre: English folk songs and music (Suffolk) Recording date: ca. 1981 Recording location: The Crown Inn, Brundish, Suffolk Item notes: Roud Folk Song Index No. 1496 Item copyright: Keith Summers and recorded artists Recordist: Summers, Keith Recording notes: slightly over-recorded FIND FORMAT: C1002/96 FIND FORMAT: 1CDR0010670 FIND FORMAT: 2CDR0009730 Item title: Wheel your perambulator John Performer: Jay, Reg, 1915- (singer, male) Collection title: Keith Summers Collection Collection title: Traditional Music in England Project Country: England Genre: English folk songs and music (Suffolk) Genre: Music hall Recording date: 1973 Recording location: Worlingworth Swan, Worlingworth, Suffolk Item notes: Roud Folk Song Index No. 1496 Recordist: Summers, Keith Recording equipment: Uher tape machine Recording notes: mono Recording notes: over-recorded FIND FORMAT: C1002/89 FIND FORMAT: 1CDR0010662 FIND FORMAT: 2CDR0009722 Work title: Wheel The Perambulator Alternative title: Wheel The Perambulator John Author/Composer: Trad (words and music) Author/Composer: Adams, Paul (arranger) Author/Composer: Fellsongs, Music Publishing N Publisher: Fellsongs Music Publishing LIST RECORDINGS: Wheel The Perambulator/Trad-Adams |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: Jim Dixon Date: 05 Oct 09 - 04:40 PM WorldCat.org lists the following: Album title: "Pal of My Cradle Days" Performers: Bob Davenport; Rakes (Musical group); Boldon Banjoes (Musical group) Publisher: Halifax, Yorkshire, UK: Trailer, 1974. Edition/Format: Musical LP: Folk music: English Contents: Moving day -- Twelve stone two -- Around the world -- Alexander's ragtime band -- The Durham clockmaker -- Delilah -- The road and the miles to Dundee -- The Robert E. Lee -- California here I come -- Wheel the perambulator -- Do you want your old lobby washed down -- If you knew Susie -- Yes sir, that's my baby -- How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm -- William Brown -- He's only and old village postman -- I don't work for a living -- Dream -- The Kentucky waltz -- Pal of my cradle days. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: GUEST,jed Date: 04 Nov 09 - 03:56 PM I used to play in the house band at Ipswich Folk Club, back in the mid 60's to early 70's. Bob Davenport was a regular there later on, just dropping in, as he had moved to the area. Percy Webb was also a regular and we used to travel with both of them to pubs in the countryside around Ipswich, on a regular basis, at the weekend. I would hate to suggest that that is where Bob got the song as, with such a wide repertoire and travelling experience, he could well have heard it from numerous other people beforehand. Having said that, I don't ever remember him using the song in his act before this period and, of course, he would never sing it when Percy was present. We used travel up to the King's Head, Islington, on occasion too and I am pretty sure that is where I heard Bob sing it for the first time. The version I have is by Percy Webb on Topic 12TS243. Someone mentioned Trevor Sheridan as well. He had also moved to the area (it was a great area to be living, in those days). I have two photographs of a gig that our band did showing Trevor sitting in on banjo, as he quite often did. I think it was at a Jesse Fuller concert. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenp From: GUEST,Lynn Breeze Date: 25 Nov 09 - 08:27 AM Hi Vic, Yes, I learned this song form Percy Webb, and had his permission to sing it! I change the last verse to "If you've got a boring MAN, take him in a boat" etc... Bob learnt it from Percy too. Percy died at least 30 years ago but lives on in the songs. Lynn. Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: Vic Smith Date: 12 Sep 09 - 06:23 AM The person I always associate it with is Lynn Breeze, who was living in East Anglia in the mid-60's when I first met her and she was certainly singing it then. She used to go to the pub sessions with the old singers and could well have learned it from Percy Webb or another old Norfolk/Suffolk singer. On the other hand, at the time Lynn was married to Trevor Sheridan who played banjo in the Marsden Rattlers, one of the bands that accompanied Bob Davenport, so she may well have learned it from Bob. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenp From: GUEST,Trevor Sheridan Date: 25 Nov 09 - 02:25 PM Vic (and also jed) Following on from Lynn's comment on Percy, we first saw him at the Kings Head (run by Rod and Danny Stradling) and he probably sang it there (1968 ?) and as noted in previous notes we met up with him quite a lot in the early 70's. The only difference in Lynn and Bob's versions is the chorus And by the way jed can you let me have a copy of the photo of me you have in the band...didn't know about Jesse Fuller ????? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: GUEST,Colin Haworth Date: 22 Mar 10 - 02:24 PM I found an old recipe for Piles in my local chemist, so I've added this verse If you've got the Piles and you're in terrible pain Don't go to the doctor for that's a silly game You save yourself some money Take a gallon of oakleaf oil Go and sit upon the stove until it begins to boil |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: GUEST Date: 27 Feb 20 - 03:22 PM maybe Percy WROTE it, explaining the lack of any earlier records? Does it then cease to be a folk song? aaaargh!!! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Date: 01 Jul 20 - 05:55 AM As a frequent visitor to the Sheridan or Davenport household many years ago, I often heard Percy singing this song & I have no doubt Lynn & Bob learned it from him & it went from there- no idea about the source of the song though.... I do remember about 1968 standing next to Percy at the King's Head club bar in Islington when a small lump of plaster fell from the ceiling, narrowly missing our beer! that pub went for years after 1971 ignoring decimal currency- all prices were in pounds, shillings & pence- I wonder if it still is? The current 'theatre pub' was a pretty dilapidated boozer then & in the course of our conversation Percy said 'I've been to London before, you know'. It surprised me a little- older people didn't travel much then but then he explained 'on me way to the war'. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: Gurney Date: 03 Jul 20 - 05:52 PM OK, I put most of the contributions together into this. Well, it's coming on by degrees, it's coming on by degrees, We've got the table. We've got the chair. We've got the baby's underwear We've got the bar of (special) soap to wash the baby with. We haven't got the baby yet, but its coming on by degrees! Well, now we've got the baby. And what a babe she is! Her eyes are green. Shes quite a queen. We call her pretty Liz. Every night when I get home, the wife she says to me, Go and get/push the perambulator, John, but don't go far away! Chorus Wheel the perambulator, John, wheel it nice and slow Don't get riled! Mind the child! Be careful how you go! When you turn the corner, John, when you cross the road, Cock your front wheels up a bit, or over goes your load! The other night, when we went out, we left the baby behind I said, to the wife, I think you're very kind. But as we were walking along, we met with Mrs. Grey. She had the perambulator, and she was going our way! (chorus) Now, last time I took the baby out, I took her in the pram., I'm going down the High Street, I don't know where I am! I tipped/tippled the baby over! Took a little bit off her nose! And now I daresn't go home again for fear my life I'll lose! (Chorus) (Further verses from Bob, to amuse, and tease the distaff side.) Now, if you've got a toothache, and it's giving you terrible pain, Don't go to the dentist, for that's a silly game. Here's the thing to do, man, take a swig of Castor Oil, And go and sit upon the stove until it begins to boil! If you've got a nagging wife, you take her in a boat, and place her gently in the sea to see if she can float! Then you sit and watch her, then you start to think. You take the oars. You row away. You leave the bugger to sink! Just collated for myself, you understand, but help yourself. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wheel the Perambulator (from B Davenport) From: GUEST,Lisa Date: 04 Sep 20 - 10:33 AM I used to go to the folk club at the Suffolk Punch in Ipswich in the 60s, at the time when Bob Davenport was a regular, and an old chap, who I assume was Percy Webb, often used to sing it; One of his verses was: If you've got a jawing wife, take her in a boat, Row her out, throw her in, see if she can float, If she goes down and up three times, then you begin to think, Take your oars, row away, and leave the old bugger to sink! |
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