 sj |
||
|
||
Songs about the British Motor Industry
|
|
|
Subject: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: mumblin len Date: 22 Feb 07 - 10:34 AM While reading a book about industrial folksongs recently, I noticed that, although there were lots of songs about coalmining, cotton weaving, and fishing, there did not seem to be any songs about making motor cars. Does anybody out there know any? I figure that, since the motor industry was once one of the biggest employers in this country, there ought to be some - or did car workers not sing? Any thoughts chaps (and chappesses)? len |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: GUEST Date: 22 Feb 07 - 11:04 AM I'm a bit rusty. |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: The PA Date: 22 Feb 07 - 11:16 AM Me other half worked at Longbridge for 40 years from an apprentice till it closed - now he can tell some tails !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps you songwriters out there could venture up to the wild and dangerous Midlands and do a bit of researching. We dont bite .... well not much! |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: beardedbruce Date: 22 Feb 07 - 11:18 AM I'm a Rover" ? |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: The PA Date: 22 Feb 07 - 11:31 AM Yeh, I was going to say anyone mentions Wild Rover, and we're comin after em !! |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: skipy Date: 22 Feb 07 - 11:49 AM Don't know about songs, but there are a lot os MORRIS tunes about! Skipy |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: The PA Date: 22 Feb 07 - 11:50 AM STOP IT NOW !!! |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Indust From: Chris Green Date: 22 Feb 07 - 11:53 AM What about 'Fiesta' by the Pogues? Or 'Anything You Kangoo, I Kangoo Better?' I'll get me coat.... |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Indust From: artbrooks Date: 22 Feb 07 - 12:15 PM Not about manufacturing cars, per se, but there's always The Bug-Eyed Sprite. ...In a bug-eyed Sprite There's lot's to do. But there just ain't enough Room to screw. Sorry...I'll leave now. |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: GUEST Date: 22 Feb 07 - 12:42 PM MGB GT Tom Bliss does a song about the rolls royce mascot |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: The Sandman Date: 22 Feb 07 - 01:58 PM what would be interesting would be songs about Henry Fords virulent anti unionism.I know ford was American,but they were making cars for a long time in England . |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Jean(eanjay) Date: 22 Feb 07 - 02:11 PM "One piece at a time" Johnny Cash. |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Jean(eanjay) Date: 22 Feb 07 - 02:13 PM Does the song have to be (1)a folksong (2) about making a car, or can it just be any old song that mentions cars? |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Richard Bridge Date: 22 Feb 07 - 02:17 PM Spencer the Rover - or Doug Hudson's parody Spencer the Peugeot. I'm sure there's an Irish song called something like "Clancy's motor car". Cliton Ford had a small hit with a song called "Get out and get under", about a car going wrong. Then there's "Grey Cortina" (Tom Robinson). |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Wesley S Date: 22 Feb 07 - 02:24 PM VINCENT BLACK LIGHTNING Oh says Red Molly to James "That's a fine motorbike. A girl could feel special on any such like" Says James to Red Molly "My hat's off to you It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952. And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour scheme" And he pulled her on behind and down to Boxhill they did ride Oh says James to Red Molly "Here's a ring for your right hand But I'll tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man. For I've fought with the law since I was seventeen, I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine. Now I'm 21 years, I might make 22 And I don't mind dying, but for the love of you. And if fate should break my stride Then I'll give you my Vincent to ride" "Come down, come down, Red Molly" called Sergeant McRae "For they've taken young James Adie for armed robbery. Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside. Oh come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside" When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left He was running out of road, he was running out of breath But he smiled to see her cry He said "I'll give you my Vincent to ride" Says James "In my opinion, there's nothing in this world Beats a 52 Vincent and a red headed girl. Now Nortons and Indians and Greeves won't do, Ah, they don't have a soul like a Vincent 52" Oh he reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys Said "I've got no further use for these. I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome, Swooping down from heaven to carry me home" And he gave her one last kiss and died And he gave her his Vincent to ride. - Richard Thompson - two letter words, © 1996 Richard Thompson |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: bubblyrat Date: 22 Feb 07 - 02:28 PM Red Velvet Steering -Wheel Covered Driver ?? |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Jean(eanjay) Date: 22 Feb 07 - 02:30 PM "Red Cortina" The Saw Doctors. |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Jean(eanjay) Date: 22 Feb 07 - 02:36 PM "Greased Lightnin'" John Travolta |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Big Al Whittle Date: 22 Feb 07 - 02:38 PM Grey Cortina - Tom Robinson I seem to remember Malc Stent wrote a song when the Metro came out and it was on the telly - the national news on both channels that night. Knowing Malc, flushed with that success, I bet he wrote a few more! |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Dave Sutherland Date: 22 Feb 07 - 02:44 PM Was "Fisher's Clock" by The Bushbury Mountain Daredevils connected with the West Midland's motor trade? |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Rasener Date: 22 Feb 07 - 03:10 PM Take you riding in my car car Hey PA, I know Longbridge was a big place, but did you ever come across Mike Guise and Ray Bond on your Travels. Big mates of mine and worked at Longbridge for many years. Hy home town - Birmingham, not the one in Alabam - Clifford T Ward Bridget the MIDGET - used to have one of those when I was in Brum. Isle Of CAPRI |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Indus From: greg stephens Date: 22 Feb 07 - 03:17 PM When Ewan McColl packed in making Radio Ballads, Charles Oarker(the producer of the original series) got Alisdair(sp?) Clayre(sp?) to take over. How many he made I dont know, but he made at least one, about the Morris works at Cowley(Oxford). I presume(hope?) that the BBC still have tapes. Clayre wrote a number of songs for this, including one I remember "The Ballad of Tiny Newman". It recalls a legendary worker in the 30's, who was so strong he could change tyres with his bare hands, a trick with which he delighted visitors to the works. Now someone, with any luck, might come up with some words and music from this forgotten bit of BBC history. |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Indust From: Susan of DT Date: 22 Feb 07 - 03:24 PM MacColl's Britain's Motorways O Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz There is a keyword of automobile, but it is not on all of them. |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Grab Date: 22 Feb 07 - 03:26 PM "Any old iron", given how fast the buggers rusted? Everything from the 1970s onwards was better forgotten. :-( Some friends of ours wrote a "Wild Rover" parody - have to post it if I can remember it. Graham. |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Rasener Date: 22 Feb 07 - 03:36 PM Have a look at this one i-cant-find-brummagem |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: oldhippie Date: 22 Feb 07 - 03:38 PM Jim Haynes from Australia sings "The Old Holden Waltz"; and Oscar Brand did a whole LP "Sports Car Songs For Big Wheels". Richard Thompson sings about his "MGBGT". But, actually about making British cars, I can't think of any at the moment. |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: GUEST,Chris Date: 22 Feb 07 - 03:40 PM I remember years ago hearing a song written by a guy called Peter Rooke. I think he was from the Midlands. The song named all the makes of British motor bikes. |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Indust From: Greg B Date: 22 Feb 07 - 03:55 PM Leyland, Lady, Leyland? 'The Incapable Morris?' |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Declan Date: 22 Feb 07 - 04:21 PM Mini the Moocher? |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: melodeonboy Date: 22 Feb 07 - 04:53 PM Some years ago, when I was living in the Middle East, I bought a battered ten-year-old Range Rover. I had so much trouble with the bloody thing I ended up writing this (to the tune of Wild Rover): I've had a Range Rover for many's the year And I've spent all my money on sprockets and gears But now I'm returning with rials galore I never will drive that Range Rover no more And it's no, nay, never No nay never no more Will I drive that Range Rover No never no more I went to a garage I used to frequent And I told the mechanic my camshaft was bent I aske him to fix it, he answered me "Nay" Saying "If I were you, I'd just chuck it away". Chorus Then out of my pocket I pulled rials bright And the mechanic's eyes opened wide with delight Saying "That'll do nicely, I'll see what I can do, and then it might last you a fortnight or two". Chorus I'll go back to the garage, confess what I've done, I drove to Herne Bay on two wheels just for fun, And if they repair it as oft times before. Then I might have to drive that bloody Range Rover once more Chorus |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Richard Bridge Date: 22 Feb 07 - 06:04 PM Paul Carr used to sing Tiny. I don't know if he still does. |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: bubblyrat Date: 22 Feb 07 - 06:54 PM " I"m a Champion at Keeping "em Rolling " mentions an AEC lorry !! |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: GUEST Date: 22 Feb 07 - 07:09 PM "Jowett Javelin" Harvey Andrews |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 22 Feb 07 - 08:40 PM THE RUSTY FORD CORTINA ~ Mark Gillett (:with apologies, he insists, to Hugh MacDonald!!!) chorus: For the rain always falls on my rusty Ford Cortina Bits keep falling off and get left behind And the muffler's mighty roar Always causes a sensation And I'll drive this hack till the driving's done. Lyr Req: Songs about Fords |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Leadfingers Date: 22 Feb 07 - 11:29 PM And No One mentioned The Ballad of Mini Cooper |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Little Robyn Date: 23 Feb 07 - 01:30 AM Arthur Toms used to sing a parody of the Gypsy rover. I can only remember the last verse: He is no gypsy my father, she said But manager of General Motors And I will stay till my dying day In my gypsy's whistling Rover. Robyn |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: The PA Date: 23 Feb 07 - 03:20 AM Hi Villan, I never worked at Longbridge myself, but the old man did, I ask him if he ever met your mates. There was a tale that in its heyday in the 70's someone did actually phone the main switchboard and ask 'can I speak to our Fred, he works on the track' - there were 20 thousand plus working there at the time.!! Just as an aside - Saw George Papavgeris last night at Bromsgrove, he sang a beautiful song about the last nail maker in Bromsgrove, Charlie Troth, got the idea from our local 90 year old historian Bill Kings. Maybe we should get George on to it. |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: GUEST, Tom Bliss Date: 23 Feb 07 - 04:10 AM I drove a landrover for many a year But just couldn't get the thing out of first gear I longed to off-road but I couldn't leave town Cos it wouldn't go uphill it only went down So I went to a garage I used to frequent And told the head salesmen I wanted a Bent(ly) He found me a banger, all rust and decay Said customise that and you'll be on your way I went back to my parents, parked it in the porch And set to work with my acetaline torch I added a tailfin, some wings and a jet And everyone said it's the best Bently yet I drove it to Paris, to Moscow and Rome And then I got bored so I drove it back home Parked it up close on the Landrover's patch Poured petrol on both and then tossed in a match I have a much better Landrover now. (True, I do have a song about Eleanor Thornton, model for the Spirit of Ecstasy, who was on the Persia with her lover Lord Beaulieu when she was torpedoed in the Med in 1016. He survived, she didn't lyrics and mp3) |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Indust From: Dave Hanson Date: 23 Feb 07 - 04:20 AM They called him Tiny Newman because he was so small, No higher than a lampost, not so broad as he was tall, His job was fitting motor tyres, he did it with his hands, And he took some home when his ma made jam, to use for elastic bands. By Alasdair Clayre as Greg said above. All I can remember eric |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Scrump Date: 23 Feb 07 - 05:34 AM "Bentley and Craig" by Ralph McTell |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Rasener Date: 23 Feb 07 - 06:33 AM Thanks PA George does a lot of lovely songs. He must have his missus crying all the time listening to them :-) |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Indust From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 23 Feb 07 - 07:42 AM The Charge of the Khaki & Grey from 'Elsie Marley's Mates' by wheeze & Suck Band 9. The Charge of the Khaki & Grey (Ian Macintosh) Dedicated to the men and women of Morris Motor Works and Pressed Steel Fischer who in my youth poured up and down my street on their bikes twice every working day... Just as our world switched from black and white to technicolour. Unfortunately neither the words or music are on their site. The Wheezers are all pommy migrants & some are morris men as well & they make great music. |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: GUEST,HughM Date: 23 Feb 07 - 08:00 AM Richie Kavanagh does an amusing song about a Morris Minor on his Aon Focal Eile CD. (The reference to a 1940 Commer van isn't strictly correct though: the Commer brand name didn't exist then!) |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Gurney Date: 23 Feb 07 - 07:55 PM I have a LP somewhere called 'The Wide Midlands' which features a song called, I think, 'Motor Trade Workers.' I'm one of the motor trade workers, we're labelled as loafers and shirkers. We're crippling the country, the newspapers say with too low an output and far too much pay Far too much pay, far too much pay, with too low an output and far too much pay. We rise every morning at seven, and drive to our mechanised heaven, we drink cans of tea, have a laugh and a crack, the the half-seven bell rings and off goes the track..... Our track is a steel overseer, we pray he'll break down, but no fear! For his vital organs are swithes and knobs, and he has us poor working lads sweating great cobs.... There's more, but I'd have to remind myself (old age, you know.) Does anyone want it? |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: mumblin len Date: 23 Feb 07 - 08:08 PM Very interesting so far, but not too many songs about motor making - perhaps the factories were so noisy no-one could be heard singing? I still figure there should be more than one or two songs about! Len |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Indust From: LukeKellylives (Chris) Date: 23 Feb 07 - 08:09 PM England's Motorway (Come me Little Son) |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Industry From: Girl Friday Date: 23 Feb 07 - 08:13 PM Len's other half here. See Tom Bliss has been on. Thanks for that Tom. I got your demo cd this morning- thank you. I'll give it a spin, and see what we can do regards a booking. I need for the club to pick up a bit. Attendances are low at present. Be in touch. Sue Orpington Friday Folk |
|
Subject: ADD: Khaki and Grey (Ian Macintosh) From: GUEST,The Pump - Wheeze and Suck Band Date: 26 Feb 07 - 03:57 AM This is the lyric from 'Khaki and Grey' - my song about the Morris Cowley and Pressed Steel workers - available on the Wheeze and Suck Band album, 'Vincent Street'. Written as an homage to all those people who came to Oxford between the wars and after 1945 to build cars - and to amaze me when I watched them pass as a child, growing up in Cowley. Khaki and Grey (Ian Macintosh) How well I remember to this very day, Lord Nuffield's army in khaki and grey, they came to our city fresh back from the war to build the famed Bull-Nosed Morris, that prince among cars In rank and in file they swept through our streets, in their old army raincoats they looked so complete, With a flask of hot tea and an old 'tommy's' bag through the cold iron gates for one more daily drag ch Come away, come away, come away at the end of the day we'll away at the end of the day, we'll roll with tide and ten thousand will ride at the charge of the khaki and grey, From all over England and all over wales from the coal mining valley's and cities and dales, they hammered they welded they hauled the black tyres and the pressed steel was gleaming beneath gleaming spires In war and in peacetime they worked night and day and they always defended conditions and pay ten thousand would lift up their hands and they'd shout "to hell with lord Nuffield it's everyone out!" ch but where have the likes of those working men gone? No more Oxford station rings to the Welsh song. Brought down by tyhe Tories whome we all oppose, the factory's a greenfield the iron gate's closed. But mother I feel something shaking my feet, the khaki and grey as they roll down our street. Like the waves on the sea as they crash on the shore they'll pass and they'll fade and go riding no more. ch In winter when oxford is sleeping at night ten thousand grey spirits will have one more ride. The old air raid siren gives one last refrain, and the khaki and grey will go riding again. ch Come away, come away, come away at the end of the day we'll away at the end of the day, we'll roll with tide and ten thousand will ride at the charge of the khaki and grey...COME AWAY.
-Joe Offer- Here's a note of clarification from Sandra in Sydney: |
|
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the British Motor Indust From: NormanD Date: 26 Feb 07 - 03:53 PM Perhaps the best song about car making is "Hard Workin' Man" by Captain Beefheart and Ry Cooder, written by Jack Nitzsche for the film "Blue Collar". It features, as the rhythmic pulse of the song, the thump of pressing machines. The film is set around a car factory. Unfortunately, it's a US film (and song) so probably no good for your collection. I have an old 45 (somewhere) put out by the Ford shop Stewards Committee (Dagenham) as a fund raiser for one of their big strikes in the 1970s. I'll dig it out and report back. Norman |
|
Subject: ADD: Motor Trade Workers (Don Perrygrove) From: GUEST,Malcolm Speake Date: 13 Jul 07 - 06:09 PM Below are the words for Motor Trade Workers, this was a song written by Don Perrygrove who was a toolmaker at the Austin Car Factory at Longbridge in Birmingham (now no more). I think Don went to Wales and became a university lecturer, and good luck to him I say. You can tell from the words he was pretty pissed off with all the criticism car workers used to get at that time. If you're interested Varner Road was a notorious place for prostitution, these days all the girls operate from so called massage parlors. I think Banner Theatre have sung this number as part of one of their productions. Motor Trade Workers (Don Perrygrove) Oh we are those motor trade workers We're labelled as loafers and shirkers We're crippling the country the newspapers say With too low an output and far too much pay Far too much pay far too much pay With too low an output and far too much pay Each morning we rise around seven And drive to our mechanised heaven We drink cans of tea have a laugh and a crack Then the half-seven bell rings and off goes the track Off goes the track off goes the track Then the half-seven bell rings and off goes the track Our track is a steel overseer We pray he'll break down but no fear For his vital organs are switches and knobs And he has us poor working lads sweating great cobs Sweating great cobs sweating great cobs And he has us poor working lads sweating great cobs We're pressing and turning and milling We're finishing and trimming and drilling We paint and wet flat and we rivet and bore While the foreman walks round like a Varner Road whore Varner Road whore Varner Road whore While the foreman walks round like a Varner Road whore The big banker who's running our nation Claims we are the cause of stagflation He sits at his desk on his fat pin stripped arse While we do the donkeywork he counts the brass He counts the brass he counts the brass While we do the donkeywork he counts the brass Our trade fluctuate with the season That's mainly the cause and the reason We organise now and go in with both feet For tomorrow we may well be walking the street Walking the street walking the street For tomorrow we may well be walking the street Investors and financial backers Are greedily counting the ackers That they have procured by a working mans sweat Then the bastards begrudge us the wages we get Wages we get wages we get Then the bastards begrudge us the wages we get So a word to you wealthy fat Tories Who dream up those newspaper stories If it's true what they say and we're all in the stew Then we're the red peppers the dumplings are you Dumplings are you dumplings are you Then we're the red peppers the dumplings are you |
| Share Thread: |