Subject: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Jack Campin Date: 22 Jan 07 - 08:43 PM There has *got* to be a song in this. The grand old tradition of the Cornish wreckers lives on: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/6287457.stm (The video is hilarious, grab it while you can). Nappies? Barrels? BMW motorbikes out of the ocean? Richard Thompson's Vincent meets the Great Selkie? |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: GUEST, Jim Hancock Date: 22 Jan 07 - 09:09 PM Vin Garbutt's already written it after a similar but smaller scale event off the North East coast, I believe it was called "Fell off the back of a ship" All the best Jim |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Charley Noble Date: 22 Jan 07 - 09:24 PM Jack- You're right, of course. It's a classic situation for a rousing song. Charley Noble |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Scrump Date: 23 Jan 07 - 04:41 AM "Give us a wreck or two, good Lord For winter along this coast is hard: The grey frost leaves but nowt alive No bike in the garage, no car in the drive. One rich wreck is all we pray, Busted abroad at break of day, Broken and splintered upon the reef With cars and bikes to calm our grief! Lord of rock and tide and sky, Heed our call, hark to our cry! Wine by the case, beer by the cask - A new BMW is all we ask." Ahaaaaaaaaarrrrrrhhhh! |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Flash Company Date: 23 Jan 07 - 10:23 AM Not sure I can be funny about this one, just been reading about a lady having to watch on TV in Scandinavia as her possessions were looted out of a container. FC |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: MMario Date: 23 Jan 07 - 10:24 AM so be serious about it. A song challenge doesn't have to be funny. |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Captain Ginger Date: 23 Jan 07 - 10:31 AM It's hard to think of any song that does justice to this rabble of thieving selfish scumbags, unless it's one of the more mindless chants from the football terraces - endless repetition of "Ingerland, Ingerland.." at nauseam, perhaps. |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Georgiansilver Date: 23 Jan 07 - 11:48 AM The Ballad of Branscombe Beach. The home grown dockers wait upon the sand, With friends along to lend a helping hand. As containers hit the crowded beach, No chattels seeming too far out of reach. Barrels of new wine and nappies neat, Landing on the beach close by their feet. Perfumes, clothing, owned by some poor other, Might have been your sister or your brother. Greedy eyes survey the scattered coast, A few with prized possessions make their boast. But there's a lack of ownership or right, For some there may be many a sleepless night. Flotsam and jetsam, are there for the taking, There on that beach where the waves are breaking. But beware the greedy who have made their killing, To prosecute, the government are willing. |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: BB Date: 23 Jan 07 - 03:22 PM Just in case you're not aware, it would seem that the majority of the scavengers (*not* wreckers) were from every other part of the country *but* Devon, and they have been effectively terrorising the inhabitants of Branscombe, with trespass, theft and abuse common. The residents seem to be locking themselves indoors, by and large. (Anyway, who says that wrecking is a Cornish tradition? It happened all round the South-West peninsula.) Barbara |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: MartinRyan Date: 23 Jan 07 - 03:35 PM "As down by Devon's Water I carelessly did stray, I spied a band of wreckers who unto me did say: F*** Off! That's mine!" Regards |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Herga Kitty Date: 23 Jan 07 - 03:47 PM There is a BS thread on the Whisky Galore theme, but this isn't really funny. The looters have just been helping to spread the wreckage and damage the World Heritage Site coast. Kitty |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: bubblyrat Date: 23 Jan 07 - 04:49 PM The recent events near Sidmouth have elicited numerous references to "Whisky Galore" which was,of course, a comedy film,and very enjoyable in its way, but it is worth remembering that the real-life stranding of the SS Politician, and the resulting efforts of the local populace to purloin the cargo,was regarded with great seriousness by the Government . The Customs & Excise officers who were sent to deal with the situation,dealt ruthlessly and severely with anyone caught in possession of any of the cargo, and ,I believe,a good many prosecutions of offenders led to substantial prison sentences. But ,of course,with Tony, and John (Reid) in charge,nothing like that is ever likely to happen to the unsavoury hordes on the Devon beaches !! Oh Tempora ! Oh Mores ! ( is that right,Kitty??) |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Georgiansilver Date: 23 Jan 07 - 05:00 PM It is rumoured that some people who have advertised nappies on Ebay have already been approached by the Police and others are imminent. |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: bubblyrat Date: 23 Jan 07 - 05:13 PM I have just been on the "Colouring Book --the Song " thread, where I pointed out that the song was sung by NANA MOUSKOURI in a Eurovision Song Contest of long,long ago, & this popped into my head-- THIS IS THE SHIP WHOSE FREIGHT WE DEPENDED UPON : COLOUR IT----GONE !! |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Herga Kitty Date: 23 Jan 07 - 05:48 PM Efforts are continuing to pump out the oil, before it pollutes the sea. Containers that could have continued to contain chemical and other pollutants have been broken into by the scavengers. The ship was carrying 2400 containers, I think. This isn't the cue for a rousing jolly song. Kitty |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Georgiansilver Date: 23 Jan 07 - 06:04 PM I guess my song above was not rousing or jolly for that very reason. I feel so sorry for those people who watched their personal possessions being rifled by scavengers on their TV...it must have been heart rending for them. |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Charley Noble Date: 23 Jan 07 - 07:24 PM Real piracy and real wrecking were never fun things. They were serious and ruthless enterprises that often involved killing innocent people or at least looting others of their legal possessions. It's only fun in books or in movies, or in the sea music circle. I certainly enjoy singing such songs, as romantic fantasies. There is some basic appeal, however, in getting something for nothing, and it's hardly surpising that hundreds of people are flocking to this shore to scavenge what they can. I am surprised that those in authority haven't exercised more effort to secure the area. Charley Noble |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: GUEST,Greycap Date: 23 Jan 07 - 07:30 PM Joking apart - the property isn't theirs - it's straight forward theft. 'Course, if I knew that a container was full of hermetically sealed, waterproofed Martin and Taylor guitars were drifting off-shore, my high moral tone might change. Right? |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Georgiansilver Date: 24 Jan 07 - 02:57 AM The container with the 4,000 Martin guitars is still on the Napoli..sorry. |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: GUEST,Greycap Date: 24 Jan 07 - 12:00 PM Bugger! |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: bubblyrat Date: 24 Jan 07 - 02:25 PM In today"s Daily Telegraph,there is a photo of the three young men from SIDMOUTH who liberated the BMW motorbike . One of these lads is called Jack PYNE !! Open up those cellars, Colin !! |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Flash Company Date: 25 Jan 07 - 07:11 AM I now read that the police have been told NOT to prosecute looters! Too much paperwork involved. (O tempora, o mores....translation Oh The Times, Oh The Daily Mirror) FC (stealing from the late Mike Flanders) |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: skipy Date: 25 Jan 07 - 07:31 AM Bottles of whisky from "Whisky Galore", the SS politian as she was are still (66 years on) coming ashore on eriskay, containated with water, label gone of course! They auction at up to £6000! Skipy |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Georgiansilver Date: 25 Jan 07 - 01:11 PM Anybody fancy diving the wreck? |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: RTim Date: 25 Jan 07 - 01:51 PM The film Whisky Galore when available/shown in the USA was called "Tight Little Island"! Tim Radford |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: bubblyrat Date: 26 Jan 07 - 04:13 AM Makes you wonder what they might have done with "Octopussy ". |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Folkiedave Date: 26 Jan 07 - 04:18 AM I thought it was funny when the news ran a story of how we need to improve our understanding of British culture. A caller to a phone-in suggested we started educating people with a video of and the story of Branscombe Beach. |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: BB Date: 26 Jan 07 - 06:04 AM A hundred or so people is hardly demonstrative of British culture! Barbara |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Scrump Date: 26 Jan 07 - 06:59 AM Try telling the people who watch Big Brother on telly that! :-) |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: BB Date: 27 Jan 07 - 06:06 AM Uh-huh. You're probably right. Barbara |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: basscommavocal Date: 21 Feb 07 - 09:50 AM I just spotted this thread, about a month late. If anyone's still interested, I did a song about Branscombe beach. It went down OK at the First In Last Out in Whitby. Not sure how well it would have gone down in Devon. The link takes you to a page of my demos. The relevant song is the last one on the list, called 'Napoli' (for want of a better title). There's also a link to the lyrics. Jon's Front Porch Demons |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: BB Date: 21 Feb 07 - 02:33 PM At least part of the reason that it wouldn't (doesn't!) go down well in Devon is the implication that it was all local people who were the scavengers - the majority were coming down from up country in vans to take as much as they could cram in - and their treatment of the local residents was appalling! And where were these riot shields? At least get your facts right! Barbara |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: Herga Kitty Date: 21 Feb 07 - 03:27 PM The deadline has just passed for people to report the "salvage" they carried away from the beach. Kitty (who is looking forward to being in Sidmouth on Friday) |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: basscommavocal Date: 26 Feb 07 - 08:30 AM Facts???! Blimey, what's happened to folk music? Fair enough though, I'll stick to singing it north of the Wash. Jon (who'd better stay out of Sidmouth, or else) |
Subject: RE: Song Challenge: the Devon Scavengers From: GUEST,Geoff Date: 02 Mar 07 - 01:03 PM My three penn'th: Over the hill by the donkey sanctuary there goes I to Branscombe by the sea. Cho:Oh,let there be from the Napoli oh,let there be something left for me. A soggy bag of nappies a bike that doesn't work I'll be happy with a little bit of Merc. Cho. Covered in sew'age dry or soaking wet I'll be happy to flog it on the net Cho. If it's not in the water and not above the line it's on the foreshore that makes it mine. Cho. The barrels are long gone so is the ale theres lots of polystyrene and now a mankey whale. Cho. Apart from the aforesaid theres nothing to be found but double-time contractors all standing 'round. Cho. (Spoken:)They're a bunch of bl**dy scavengers Robbers one and each... two quid to park and they fence off the beach! Cho. Rept v1 Cho-with a big finish. It can be shoe-horned into this: Key G,register of your choice I've used 4&5, 1=crochet,2=minim 0=crochet rest.4/4 g42 g41 a41|b42g41g41|a41 g41 a41 b41|g42g42|g42 b42|g41 a41 g41 a41|b41 g42 0| Cho:g42 b41 a41|g42 d41 e41|f#41 g41 e41 d41|0 d52 d51|e51 d52 b41|g41 a41 f#41 g41|| Words and music copyright G.Perrin Mar.2 2007.Mudcat users can perform without reference in non-commercial circumstances. |
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