happy? - Sept 30 (Alley-Alley-oo)

Subject: happy? - Sept 30 (Alley-Alley-oo)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 30 Sep 05 - 10:09 AM


        The big ship sailed down the Alley-Alley-oo,
           Alley-Alley-oo, Alley-Alley-oo;
        The big ship sailed down the Alley-Alley-oo
        On the last day in September.

[Thanx A. Lees of the Greater Manchester County Record Office] who says:

'Alley Alley-oo' (Big Ship Sails) was sung (probably still is) by children as they were skipping. We know that the Alley Alley-oo refers to the Manchester Ship Canal but do not know to what ship the song is about.

The Opie's book The Singing Game confirms that it's probably based on the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal (officially opened on 21 May 1894). [thanx AndyG of Mudcat & Mike Murray]

Copyright © 2005, Abby Sale - all rights reserved
What are Happy's all about? See Clicky

Subject: RE: happy? - Sept 30 (Alley-Alley-oo)
From: GUEST,V Green
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 01:19 PM

thank a lot. my husband remembers it from his primary school and now I can't get it out of my head.