Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs

Subject: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: fi_in_nz
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 10:13 AM

Hi there - I'm looking for the lyrics to two Yorkshire songs - the first about the weaving industry begins:
"Come ladies and gents I've a song ready made
To hear it I'm sure you will not be afraid
chorus
And sing your success to the weavers
The weavers forever hussar!" (sp on Hussar)

The second is a Holmfirth Hunt song and begins:

"Master Smith said to Joe do you know where I can find....

Anyone know the lyrics and origins of these songs? Thanks in advance. F

Subject: Lyr Add: SUCCESS TO THE WEAVERS
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 10:36 AM

This is the version (from memory) of "Success to the Weavers" from the Oldham Tinkers' LP "Owdhams Burning Sands". The song has been rereleased on CD on "A Fine Old English Gentleman" Pier Records.
I haven't got the details to hand

SUCCESS TO THE WEAVERS

Come ladies and gents I've a song ready made
And to sing it I'm sure you will not be afraid
For I'll tell you at once I'm a weaver by trade
Sing success to the weavers
The weavers forever hussah

Here are goods every day we're exporting by bales
And in merchandise ours as the night never fails
For each ship leaving port owes the weaver for sails
Sing success to the weavers
The weavers forever hussah

The ladies are pretty as all will confess
And he's stupid or blind I am sure who says less
But then to the weavers they're indebted for dress
Sing success to the weavers
The weavers forever hussah

But for us how your soldiers would oft times repent
When houseless to sleep on their knapsacks they're sent
But the weaver you see gives each soldier his tent
Sing success to the weavers
The weavers forever hussah

The queen in her robes may so gracefully stand
And her nobles about her may look great and grand
But they get all their cloth by the work of our hand
Sing success to the weavers
The weavers forever hussah

If exhausted you feel and by Morpheus you're beat
In the heat or the cold a small rest would be sweet
Just think of the weaver's fine blankets and sheets
Sing success to the weavers
The weavers forever hussah

So since we for mankind are sent here to weave
From our looms and our shuttles we'll not hardly grieve
My song is just ending so I'll take my leave
Sing success to the weavers
The weavers forever hussah

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: fi_in_nz
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 10:40 AM

Thanks Mark - jeez, Mudcat never fails...... now anyone out there with the Hunt one? Cheers F

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 10:57 AM

If it's any help, The Holme Valley Tradition recorded it on an LP about 25 years ago; Bright Rosy Morning. Hill and Dale HD 851.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: GUEST,Cath
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 11:03 AM

Ray Padgett might be your man for this one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: GUEST,squeezeboxhp
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 11:17 AM

look it up as away whip em jack
recorded live at the fleece Holme by the hunt about 30 years ago

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: fi_in_nz
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 03:37 PM

Hmmmm - guess Ray might be in Whitby.... will pm him a link to this thread and see if he knows... thanks Cath. F

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: Scrump
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 04:40 AM

Is "Success to the Weavers" definitely a Yorkshire song? I've only ever heard it sung by Lancashire singers (e.g. the Oldham Tinkers or the Houghton Weavers) and always assumed it was a Lancashire song. I know Oldham's not far from West Yorks, but it's important to get these things right! Can anyone confirm the song's origins?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 05:02 AM

Unfortunately I haven't got access to my record collection until next week - it's all in store waiting to be moved into my new house! My Dad's shed has about 50 boxes of books, videos and CDs waiting for transfer. One of those boxes contains the vital information on the CD insert. I imagine it won't see the light of day for a while until I get round to sorting them all out. Hopefully someone else can provide the answer! (I would have said it was a Lancashire song though)

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: Scrump
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 05:57 AM

That's what I thought too Mark, i.e. that it's a Lanky song ;-)

I'll see if I can look at the LP tonight and find out.

(p.s. Hope the move goes well!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: squeezeboxhp
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 01:08 PM

until the boundary changes a large slice of Oldham Metropolitan was in the west riding of yorkshire

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 05:39 PM

Fi, if I've understood your messages correctly you're currently in Whitby where you should be able to find Will Noble. He sings the song 'Master Smith Says to John' from the book of Hunters' Songs by the Holme Valley Beagles.

Its him you can hear singing it in 1984 on the recording which Fred mentioned earlier.

If you can't get the words from Will or anybody else, I can try to post it here for you. I've mislaid my copy of the Hunters' Songs book, but I should be able to transcribe the words from the LP.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: fi_in_nz
Date: 25 Aug 06 - 09:34 AM

Hi Matthew - we were in Whitby last weekend and even heard Will Noble singing (but not Master Smith Says to John), blimey, this is the second of two near misses for songcatching at Whitby since I've also found that one of the Shanties I'm looking for was by someone else we heard sing there ....... so Matthew, if you do have the words, I'd be really grateful for them.... will pm this to you too to be sure you see it. Cheers F

Subject: Lyr Add: MASTER SMITH SAYS TO JOHN
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 26 Aug 06 - 07:45 AM

MASTER SMITH SAYS TO JOHN

(sung by Will Noble on LP, Bright Rosy Morning, The Holme Valley Tradition, 1985 Hill and Dale HD 851)

Master Smith says to John, 'Do you know where we can find,
An old hare there is that will well please our mind?'
'Oh yes, Oh yes,' says John, 'Let you try yonder dell,
An old hare there is, and I know she can run well.'

   And I know she can run well, and I know she can run well,
   An old hare there is and I know she can run well.

When Comely gives mouth I will have you all to mind,
We shall not be long ere an old hare we find.
She's up! She's up! She's up! And away, away, away,
When the hounds they are in chase, there's no time to delay.

   There's no time to delay, there's no time to delay,
   When the hounds they are in chase there's no time to delay.

No opening of gates, no breaking down of gaps,
When the hounds they are in chase there's no time to do that.
But over them we go, make the best of our way,
When the hounds they are in chase, there's no time to delay.

   There's no time to delay, there's no time to delay,
   When the hounds they are in chase there's no time to delay.

Master Woodman on his grey, he rides hard up to John,
But he cannot overtake him nor once get in front,
At the tail of his hounds, then Jack his whip did crack,
That's the beauty of all hunting, and away with 'em, Jack.

   And away with 'em Jack, and away with 'em Jack,
   That's the beauty of all hunting, and away with 'em, Jack, Jack, Jack.


Sleeve notes: Comment by Will Noble to Ian Russell
"Cyril Ford used to sing that song an I always liked it. I learnt it pretty soon after going up to the Beagles. Of course I never sang it there because it was Cyril's song. I've sung it other places, folk clubs, and always found it went down well. It's in the book so anything I wasn't sure about I could just check up. I sung a wrong word, 'No taking down of gaps' instead of 'breaking'. You couldn't tell but round here they would."

The book Will is referring to is Hunters' Songs published by the Holme Valley Beagles.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 26 Aug 06 - 09:02 AM

Redundant and without cookie!

Just got baCK from Whitby and can say that plans are well in advance for the Yorkshire Garland song data base which may well include 'Master Smith said to John' which I first heard sung by Will and was also recorded by Bill Price [from Bob Auty]on his 'Fine Old Yorkshire Gentleman LP

I was chatting to Bob at Whitby and he seems to have rekindled his interest in singing

'Success to the Weavers' I believe is also on Bill Prices' LP [cant find it at the mo'!! West Yorkshire as Mark said Saddleworth was in Yorkshire so was Greenfield and my Great Aunt married the village bobby [Tom Webb]

Cheers Fi_ in_ NZ and Mark Dowding

Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: GUEST,Padgett
Date: 26 Aug 06 - 09:19 AM

Sleeve notes from Bill Prices' LP shows that it is in Holroyds Yorkshire Ballads pub 1892

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WEAVERS
From: nutty
Date: 26 Aug 06 - 03:34 PM

The song in the Holroyd Collection differs slightly from the version given above.
The oral tradition at work again , but below is the original in it's entirety.

THE WEAVERS

Air - O the Roast Beef of Old England

Come ladies and gents I've a song ready made
And to sing it I'm sure you will not be afraid
For I'll tell you at once I'm a weaver by trade

So we'll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever huzza!

Here are goods every day we're exporting by bales
And in merchandise ours, as an art, never fails
For each ship leaving port owes the weaver for sails

The king in his robes may so gracefully stand
And his nobles about him may look great and grand
Still they get all their cloth by the work of our hands

But for us how your soldier would often repent
When houseless to sleep on their knapsacks they're sent
But the weaver, you see, gives each soldier his tent


Some tradespeople are always making a fuss
But their merits are trifling when talking to us
And in argument we leave them at a nonplus

If exhausted you feel, and by Morpheus, you're beat
In the heat or the cold a small rest would be sweet
Then think of the weaver's fine blanket and sheet

The ladies are pretty, as all will confess
And he's stupid or blind, I'm sure, who says less
But then to the weavers they're indebted for dress

Then since here for mankind we're sent here to weave
O'er our looms and our shuttles we'll not idly grieve
But my song is just ending, so I'll take my leave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 26 Aug 06 - 10:54 PM

Could some kind soul provide an ABC or MIDI of the tune to "Master Smith Says to John"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: r.padgett
Date: 27 Aug 06 - 09:44 AM

over to you nutty!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: West Yorkshire Weaving and Hunt songs
From: nutty
Date: 27 Aug 06 - 11:40 AM

Sorry Ray .... this is one that I don't know the tune to.