Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 07:26 PM

Les and the Mrs Ackroyd Band did it for the finale/encore at Sidmouth a few years back: it made a picturesque exit of everyone from the big Marquee, holding long strips of toilet roll, but was a clever way of getting them all out in time for the final night fireworks; the marquee emptied MUCH quicker than on a normal night! (No night with Les is ever normal!)
Does anyone know the tune for the verses, or is it read? I think it's just the chorus (the Earwig-O bits) that use the Stars and Stripes tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 04:58 PM

So THAT'S what it's really called....

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 12:32 PM

Not "Blaze Away", but "Stars & Stripes Forever" IIRC
The "Earwig-O" bit comes in Just as the piccolo part disappears and all the heavy instruments take over

CHEERS
Nigel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 11:59 AM

Les Im sure appears over the water every now and then. take a look on his web site for details of his tours. and given the chance go and see for youself. If not the air fare to the Uk is not much and worth every penny to see him!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 10:45 PM

FWIW, Les Barker is one of the generous ones who has given permission for his work o appear in DigiTrad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:27 PM

Leadfingers

I think we might need some Souza expertise, here, but I didn't think that "Be kind to your web footed friends" was the follow-on from "Oh what a pity"?

Kitty

(if I find any web footed friends, I will be kind to them...)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:15 PM

Isnt the tune part of 'Blaze Away' ???? And yea - Be kind to your web footed friends Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:08 PM

Thanks gnomad, I was just about to post a message saying that "Earwig O" = " 'Ere we go " to the tune of web-footed friends.

Kitty

(who lives near Wemberley....)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: gnomad
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 06:54 PM

The tune is the one I have always associated with "Be kind to our web-footed friends". I assume it has another name, but I don't know that bit. Hope this may help the left-pond-siders a little.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 06:37 PM

Not a musician - but can manage the toilet roll bit.

Unwind a toilet roll along each row of the audience.

When the song gets to the chorus (Earwig - O) etc. then the audience raises the whole roll above their heads then wave them from side-to-side singing, (in time of course) Here we go, here we go, here we go, etc.

It was also used by the miners when on strike.

HTH

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 06:13 PM

OK, so what tune does he (or The Mrs Ackroyd Band) use when he (or they) sing (or play) EARWIG O? Since no one has asked for the tune, I assume it is a familiar one, at least to most of the people who have posted to this thread. I don't recognize it.

I know that Les Barker frequently writes parodies of songs that are familiar, at least to folkies. I thought this might be the case for EARWIG O, but if it is a parody, I don't recognize the song he is parodying. Maybe this is because I am an American while (or whilst) most Les Barker fans are British. Perhaps you misunderestimate the depths of American ignorance about British (or world) football (or soccer) customs. Can you enlighten me?

Also, how does one wave a toilet roll "football style"? And what, if anything, does toilet paper have to do with football or with earwigs?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: Tig
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 04:53 PM

Jim if you had ever seen Les Barker you would understand better. He's not just a poet who reads his poems. He also works with the Mrs Ackroyd Band.

Amongst other things before Earwig O he hands out toilet rolls which are passed along the audience and everyone joins in the chorus whilst waving them football style. It's a scream.

Any of his stuff (including the serious ones) are well worth reading.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 04:14 PM

Well, it certainly will fit in with a set of songs that includes slugs, roaches and even a little black fly or two.

Thanks, Jacqui, for transcribing it.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O (Les Barker)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 03:49 PM

OK, I think I get the joke—"Earwig O" is supposed to sound like "Here We Go"—but I don't know of any song by that name. Is it a song known only in Britain? Sung at football games maybe? "Here we go" is heard at American sports games, but only as a chant, not a song.

Or is EARWIG O only a poem, not meant to be sung?

I think it would get a little tiresome hearing a poet read aloud all those repetitions of "Earwig O" if there were no tune to go with it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 04:56 PM

Get down off your high horse, Leadfingers, Chris had already said that he has ordered (and paid) for the book with it in, it just hadn't arrived by the time he needed it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O
From: Leadfingers
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 07:29 AM

Guest Chris - Dont take my comment the wrong way ! Les is an old mate , and NOT a greedy man , and one of the few 'Big Names' still doing small clubs - Thus I hate to think the stuff he has for sale is passed around for free ! After all , he does have to nake a living !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 04:36 AM

you could still go to Kirkcaldy and see him in the flesh.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O
From: leeneia
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 10:46 AM

Thanks, Jacqui. That's delightful.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O
From: GUEST,Chris
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 11:37 AM

Hey Jacquie - you're a star - I can't thank you enough.
I shall now be able to attend my retirement bash with something up my sleeve!
Chris

Subject: Lyr Add: EARWIG O (Les Barker)
From: GUEST,Jacqui
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 09:49 AM

EARWIG O
(Les Barker)

Little Mrs Earwig, she had a little son.
She called the baby Earwig A, for he was number one.
The second she called Earwig B. Earwig C came next.
D and E soon followed, then F as you'd expect.
G and H were subsequent. I and J came then.
K, L and M were triplets, but who followed Earwig N?

Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O.

In the Insects league cup final, he gave the crowd a treat.
He gave the stick insects some stick. Earwig O could not be beat-o.
His first goal was a header, and his second sewed it up.
His third made it a hat-trick. Epsom Earwigs won the cup!
All the grasshoppers were chanting, all the spiders hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand,
As they sung the Earwig anthem, and it echoed round the stand:

Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O.

Little Mrs Earwig, I wonder if you know
That your fifteenth little offspring is the famous Earwig O?
"Earwig O" they sing at Wembley, "Earwig O" at White Hart Lane,
At the Oval, and Old Trafford, "Earwig O Wig O" again.
"Earwig O" they chant at Chelsea, and the Royal Albert Hall.
Some talk of Alexander Beetle, but the greatest of them all...

Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O.

Little Mrs Earwig, does it fill your heart with joy?
When they sing about your son-o, do you whisper "That's my boy"?

Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O.
Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O, Earwig O,
Earwig O, Earwig O.

Just transcribed from a tape of the BBC Radio 2 programme 'Mrs Ackroyd Explores Her Roots' from about 10 years ago! I always knew they'd come in useful sometime, if I kept them long enough!

Hope this gets to you in time,
Cheers, Jacqui

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 06:47 AM

Thanks.
I ordered and paid for ome three weeks ago.
Still has't arrived and I need it tomorrow - Monday.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earwig O
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 06:43 AM

You could ask Les for a copy of the book its published in !

Subject: Lyr Req: Earwig O
From: GUEST,Chris
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 04:58 AM

Where can I - fast - get the words to Les Barker's poem "Earwig O?"