28 Jun 99 - 12:20 PM (#90389) Subject: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Ewan McVicar Here's another one I believe to be pretty exclusively Scottish, but I'd be content to be proved wrong. For a start, Ken Dodd sang it the other night on TV, clearly expecting his Scouser audience to know the next - rude line. I have collected many variants. Most usual first line is Aunty Mary had a canary, up the leg of her drawers But older versions have Aunty Mary had a canary, whistled the Cock of the North or even Barnum and Bailey had a canary The tune I've almost invariably found used is indeed The Cock of the North. After the first line things go many ways. In older versions the Canary wins the Victoria Cross for noble or rude deeds. Santa Claus sometimes falls into the act. Peeing and farting abounds in versions I have. What I now seek is - if you are not Scots, what version do you have of the song, and when and where did you hear it? Has it travelled to the USA? (I have one version from Australia, from Scots emigres.) Please help me. |
28 Jun 99 - 03:32 PM (#90441) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Doctor John Yes I heard the "Aunty Mary had a canary up the leg of her drawers, when she f...etc" on the streets forty years ago in South Lancashire. It began: "We keep hens in our back yard we feed 'em on Indian corn, One's a bugger for raggin' the other and that's how they were born." We used to dance to the tune at the village hall and sing the words after too much Tetleys. DrJohn
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28 Jun 99 - 06:36 PM (#90486) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Bob Bolton G'day Ewan, Here in Australia, I seem to have always known (and therefore probably learned from my ex-Lancashire Grandfather, who was in the Australian Army in both World Wars) a version that ran: Aunty Mary had a canary, Up the leg of her drawers. For 'oors and 'oors, it cursed the Boers And won the Victoria Cross. When we we putting together a set of dance tunes for the Bush Music Club (in the 1970s) a Scouser lass, married to a local fiddler, was helping and she half-remembered another variant. This was probably: Aunty Mary had a canary, Up the leg of her drawers. When it came down, it's beak was brown And it said "I'm the Cock of the North". but she didn't remember the last line and none of us could remember the name of the the tune we used at a certain point - so it was published as "Aunty Mary" ... which is now a common Australian synonym for Cock of the North. Incidentally, this song must be slightly related to one (obviously to Comin' Thro' the Rye) that ended up in the first Australian Scout Songbook, which my father worked on. Sister Mary bought a canary From the butcher boy Sister Mary bought a canary It was her pride and joy But the bird would never whistle And she wondered why; 'Till she saw the sparrow's feathers Comin' thro' the dye Regards, Bob Bolton |
29 Jun 99 - 03:01 AM (#90621) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Murray on Salt Spring Rwan, you'll have seen the version in Barke's essay on "pornography & Bawdry in Literature and Society" [a very pompous title, that!] in the Smith-Barke-Ferguson edition of The Merry Muses of Caledonia (1959 etc.), which is the same as Bob's above. The "Barnum & Bailey" version is in Nicht at Eenie (1932), 33, with music, whence Montgomerie, Scottish Nursery Rhymes (1946), 95.[This has no mention of unmentionables.] Nicht at Eenie has another, ibid., which may be the original of that one, namely "Sister Mary had a canary Whustled "The Cock o' the North." It whustled for hoors & frightened the Booers, And won the Victoria Cross. A long time since I heard just a fragment of what may be another version,:- "Auntie Mary had a canary Up the leg o' her breeks" [Leslie, Fife, circa 1940 maybe]. But I don't see what the ensuing rhyme would be. |
29 Jun 99 - 05:22 AM (#90644) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Ewan McVicar I am developing a theory that the most efficient way of collecting folklore is to use the Net. First three responses are all gold dust. Doctor John – you and Bob Bolton both locate versions in Lancashire, suggesting a drift south from Scotland. Plus, is 'oor' for hour Lancashire pronunciation? [I assume it is, but know not. If so, how much further south would such a pronunciation run, think you?] Was your (great) quoted verse to the first strain of the tune, or to the same strain as Aunty Mary? (I had by the way an initial image of dancehall teabag abuse, then recollected other brown liquids.) Bob – thank you for two new variant lines – 'cursed' instead of 'frightened', and the "When it came down" line. Incidentally, which version of the song known is maybe a fair indication in some areas of when the pronunciation shift from Boer (boor) to Boer (bore) happened. Maybe. Your Sister Mary song is brilliant as a possible source [or indicator of shared origin] for the fist line of Aunty Mary. Murray – I know the Nicht at Eeenie and Montgomerie sources, [since music in both is by the same hand, I wonder if the Montgomeries had a hand in Nicht at Eenie?] but not the Barke one – thanks for that. Aunty Mary is in JRR Ritchie, but I've not found her in the Opies or Frank Shaw's You Know Me Aunty Nellie? She turns up in Scottish single person recollections a lot. I'd assumed from Nicht at Eeenie's version that Sister Mary was a nurse in the Boer War, but as always in this game the more information I get the less I know for sure. Most likely rhyme for breeks that occurs to me, because of the double meaning, is 'leeks', as in say Aunty Mary had a canary, Up the leg o' her breeks It whistled for oors among the floors, And piddled among the leeks. There was a Mudcat thread at the end of May on 'Nonsense songs to dance tunes' which produced a possible source for the entry of the drawers to what can be polite enough: To the tune of Cock of The North: Chase me Charlie, Chase me Charlie, Lost the leg of my drawers Chase me Charlie, Chase me Charlie, please will you lend me yours? Prince Charles' party piece, learned from his Scots granny I expect, is Aunty Mary had a canary, whistled the Cock of the North It whistled for hours, and frightened The Boers, and won the Victoria Cross. One other point in what is rather long for a posting – the final line of Sister Mary is shared by another squib which begins "Jean McPherson is a person with bonny yellow hair". Thanks again. |
29 Jun 99 - 06:36 PM (#90813) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Den Ewan we had a version in N. Ireland that went Auntie Mary had a canary Up the leg of her drawers. When she was sleeping we were peeping Up the leg of her drawers. |
29 Jun 99 - 06:49 PM (#90818) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Bob Landry Before this thread, the only times I ever heard "Auntie Mary Had a Canary" was from Newfoundland singers. Great Big Sea incorporated part of this tune in one of their instrumentals which receives a lot of airplay in Canada. I don't know the name of the tune or of the CD. My father played Cock of the North as I grew up in Nova Scotia while, at the same time, my buddy Garry learned it in 3000 miles away in Alberta. Based on this, I would guess it's played all over North America. Bob |
29 Jun 99 - 06:59 PM (#90822) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Captain Swing My Mum used to sing We had three chickens in our back yard, We fed them on Indian corn, We had three chickens in our back yard, Now we've got none at all. Chase me Charley, round the barley, I've lost the leg of me drawers. Chase me Charley, round the barley, will you lend me yours? |
30 Jun 99 - 04:19 AM (#90954) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Ewan McVicar Den - got that one - but you're my first Northern Ireland report so far [which is astonishing considering the interaction between the North and Scotland). Bob - you might know it would be Newfies - I was telling stories at a festival in Prince Edward Island last Sept and met a few. Captain Swing - where where where did your mum come from, and when did you hear the song from her? [I need to try to establish chronologies as best I can.] If it was sung to the Cock of The North tune it seems undoubtedly a source for the drawers element. Even if not it fits the bill so neatly. (It could be the other way, but the neat nature of your verses maeks that very unlikely.) All contributors - I should have explained before now that at the age of 57 years I'm working on a doctorate on Scottish Children's Song, the working title of which is Auntie Mary Had A Canary. I'm working over my first chapter, using this song as an exemplar on how such songs are so often cut-and-paste remakes and reassemblies. Thanks again for help. |
30 Jun 99 - 04:53 PM (#91131) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Doctor John Ewan, The first verse I gave was to the first part of the tune. Dr John |
01 Jul 99 - 07:39 AM (#91307) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: gargoyle By any chance, do you folk know of a site which has the tune "Cock of the North." To all of you it appears to be a standard. In the States I am not familar with it by that name. Thanks |
01 Jul 99 - 09:56 AM (#91335) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Bert Here 'tiz http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/Info/RRTuneBk/RRtunes1/01/00000100.html |
01 Jul 99 - 02:49 PM (#91426) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Captain Swing Ewan, my mum was born and brought up in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, UK. She sang those words to me when I first started playing the mandolin around 1971/72. The 'Cock of the North " was one of the first tunes I learned and she heared me practising it. I guess she picked it up at school between 1925 and 1935. Captain Swing |
01 Jul 99 - 05:37 PM (#91465) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Tim Jaques tjaques@netcom.ca If I am not mistaken there is also a song called Cock of the North which is not to the same tune. I think that was discussed here or on the Scots Music list some time back. The tune to Auntie Mary is the fiddle tune known as Cock of the North. Figgy Duff from Newfoundland recorded the version Bob mentions, and I suspect GBS got it from their recording. Figgy Duff called it Auntie Mary, not Cock of the North. |
02 Jul 99 - 03:11 AM (#91618) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Steve Parkes I seem to recall (v-e-r-y slowly!) that the "Auntie Mary" tune was called "The dashing white sergeant" when I were a lad - or is that just the dance? |
02 Jul 99 - 05:09 AM (#91636) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Ewan McVicar To thicken the plot, I've just found the statement in Emmerson's Rantin' Pipe and Tremblin String that "The jig Cock o' the North became the Irish Auntie Mary or the English Joan's Placket." Emmmerson transcribes Jaon's Placket, published 1817. On another Mudcat thread I learned that Irish fiddler Denis Murphy called the tune Chase Me Charlie. Can any Irish tune person help re Auntie Mary as a tune? It is not in O'Neill's 1001 Irish Tunes. |
02 Jul 99 - 07:36 AM (#91645) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Ian More info in an earlier thread - here Auntie Mary is probably chasing Charlie! |
02 Jul 99 - 07:40 AM (#91646) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Steve Parkes There was a show or music hall song "Chase me Charlie" which was not unlike AMHC in the opening bar or two: Chase me Charlie, chase me Charlie, Over the garden wall!" is all I can remember. Steve |
05 Jul 99 - 03:08 AM (#92483) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Bob Bolton G'day Ewan, Since you are using the information on Aunty Mary's peripatetic canary in an academic context, I should caution against putting too much trust in the regional origins of my grandfather's songs. Although he was born in Lancashire, at Haslingden, in 1897, he went away to Grammar School in 1908 and would have had two or three years of Grammar Schooling before his father died and his mother migrated to Australia with the two boys. In Australia, he served an appenticeship as a carpenter, in a country district and, as soon as his apprenticeship was complete (and his mother allowed him) he enlisted in the Australian Army to fight in World War I. He fought in Europe with the Artillery and was demobbed under the description of "driver" - presumably of horse-drawn artillery. He met my grandmother in the south (Titchfield) in this period. He returned to Australia and worked as a carpenter until the great depression, when he spent a period on the 'Susso' - sustenance employment on government projects around the countryside - before he got a job as a carpenter on the Sydney Harbour Bridge construction and then work in building, as the economy picked up. When the Second World War broke out, he re-enlisted and spent the early part of the war in training, then the latter part, as a Warrant Officer One (Regimental Sergeant Major), in charge of guards at Hay Prison Camp. The point to all this is; Grandfather had a reasonably good start to his education and then was widely-travelled ... and spent a good decade, in two slices, in the army. He was a good singer and my memory is of a taste for 'parlour' songs and the repertoire of singers like Peter Dawson. It is possible that he could have learnt songs from many places and people (or printed sources) and it is not safe to assign a definite regional provenance to any of his songs ... but he did have a fondness for the Lancashire he was torn from as a lad. Regards, Bob Bolton |
23 Jan 00 - 12:44 PM (#167135) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: the plumber Aunty Mary had a canary Up the leg of her drawers It widnae come doon for half a croon It was caught on the leg of her drawers. This is the version we sang in Glasgow as children --The Plumber
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23 Jan 00 - 04:31 PM (#167211) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Bruce O. "Joan's Placket Is Torn", 1685, is given as an ABC, B248 on my website. |
23 Jan 00 - 04:44 PM (#167217) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Mary G I heard another verse...maybe in Newfoundland along with Auntie Mary.. Uncle Charlie had some barley Up the leg of his drawers. If you don't believe you can feel me Up the leg of my drawers. mg |
23 Jan 00 - 07:21 PM (#167292) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Jo Taylor Steve Different tunes, different dances - Dashing White Sergeant Cock o' the North Jo |
23 Jan 00 - 07:54 PM (#167309) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Stewie Here in Australia, there was a children's rhyme that went along the lines of:
Aunt Mary had a canary There may have been another line after 'fry the eggs and bacon'. I think the ditty may have been included in Ian Turner's collection of Australian children's rhymes: 'Cinderella Dressed in Yella', but I have not seen that book in years. Stewie. |
12 Jan 04 - 05:32 PM (#1091435) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST we came from an irish/scottish family and had an auntie mary to whom we as children would sing; auntie mary had a canary up the leg o' her drawers she pulled a string and made it sing and it whistled the cock o' the north Don't know which the side of the family we learnt this from but our auntie mary was irish. |
12 Jan 04 - 05:58 PM (#1091453) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: akenaton Believe it or not this was used as a childrens play song in the West of Scotland,in my byhood (when our parents wern't around). Iv since discovered a dark side,as the third line refers to prostitution,andthe last to menstruation Aunty Mary had a canary, up the leg o her drawers. It widna come doon for half a croon , but doon came Santa Clause...Ake |
13 Jan 04 - 11:41 AM (#1091866) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: ard mhacha Captain Swing the last time I was in Grimsby it was in Lincoln, just over the River Humber from Hull. And Den`s version of this lovely melody is the same in all other parts of the North. |
13 Jan 04 - 12:02 PM (#1091884) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Dave Bryant I've always sung (to the "A" part of Cock of the North) - Aunty Mary had a canary Up the leg of her draws, First it farted, then it departed To a round of applause. |
13 Jan 04 - 02:35 PM (#1092044) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Herga Kitty Dave I think the version I heard was similar, but "When she farted it departed" - which would be understandable in the circs... Kitty |
13 Jan 04 - 03:02 PM (#1092068) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: RoyH (Burl) Growing up in Nottingham through the 1930s and 40s I learned from my parents, 'We've got chickens in our backyard We feed 'em on Indian corn, Some lay eggs and some lay pegs And some lay nothing at all. Chase me Charlie, Chase me Charlie, Lost the leg of me drawers. If you find it, never mind it, Stitch it on to yours'. They also sang, 'I wish I was a bobby, Dressed in bobby's clothes. With a big top hat, and a bellyful of fat, And a pancake on my nose'. And, 'We've got a baby, we've got a baby. The neighbours know it's true. In the middle of the night, We have to strike a light, And smack its little bottom 'til it's blue'. (Sung to the tune of an old pop song called 'We're in the Navy', not to be confused with the Village People song.) Other gems from the family repertoire include 'I like Pickled Onions', May the moon shine bright on Charlie Chaplin', 'I'm looking for the Ogo Pogo'. 'You are my sunshine, My double Woodbine'. And several more that I can't quite remember just now. |
13 Jan 04 - 04:17 PM (#1092124) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: gary213 This is the version i know Auntie mary had a canary up the leg o' her dra'ers she pulled a string, Her bra went ping and doon came santa claus |
06 Jul 04 - 03:48 AM (#1219759) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Purtisha fae Glesca |
06 Jul 04 - 04:09 AM (#1219765) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Purtisha, fae Glesga Oops! Lost my message. The gist of it was that my grandmother's maid taught my father and uncles a relatively innocuous version, but still considered very rude by my grandmother's standards, and it went like this: Auntie Mary had a canary Up the leg o' her drawers, And when it came down, It danced on its crown And won the Victoria Cross. My, what strange stuff one comes across in the middle of the night! |
06 Jul 04 - 04:22 AM (#1219770) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: John MacKenzie To pick up on the thread drift on the words to the tune of Coming through the Rye. Alex Campbell used to sing these words. Jean MacPherson is a person Wi lang yella herr We went thegither doon the watter Last Glesca Ferr The rain cam poorin oot the sky Her herr she couldnae keep dry And oh the day the streaks o' grey Kept comin through the dye. I also remember a snatch of another set of nonsense words, and that was to the tune Blaze Away. That started off, When all of a sudden a great mealie pudden Cam fleein' through the air Giok |
06 Jul 04 - 05:15 AM (#1219789) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Billy the Bus G'day Ewan (if you are still with us), Going backi to your original post from a half-decade back... "Aunty Mary" was sung by kids in New Zealand in the 1950s, with verses much like those above - especially those from Bob Bolton. Some verses were NEVER sung in front of our parents, Akenaton!!! Despite having learned the Vowdlerised version from Mum and Dad. Gary213 - Thanks for reviving the thread, I haven't thought of the song in a half-century. I haven't caught it before. Burl - your contri from a half-year back mentioned a song about the moon and Charlie Chaplin, that was in your family song-fest... That's taken me back to the 50s too (with a different tune to Aunty Mary and her Canary) - but with similar sentiments. The chorus went something like.... Oh, the sun shone down on Mrs Porter, And on her daughter, who was a snorter, Yes, the sun shone down on Mrs Porter [and on her daughter] And it threw their shadows on the sh*t-house door Or somesuch... Can't remember any more at the moment. Must follow it up and start a new Fred.... Cheers - Sam |
06 Jul 04 - 09:12 AM (#1219908) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Snuffy Sounds like that was the Redwing tune, Billy |
06 Jul 04 - 09:48 AM (#1219935) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Big Al Whittle I marriesd a bonny wee Yorkshire lass She wore a utility frock the only thing that she could say is Stop your tick-e-ling Jock I tickled her here I tickled her there I tickled her ev'rywhere I tickled her here I tickled her there I tickled her ev'rywhere |
06 Jul 04 - 10:28 AM (#1219955) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Flash Company Blaze Away always came out as:- Aint it a pity she's only one t---y To feed the baby on! FC |
06 Jul 04 - 10:50 AM (#1219969) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: The Borchester Echo Stewie posted several years ago from Australia: Aunt Mary had a canary She also had a duck She took it behind the kitchen door And taught it how to Fry the eggs and bacon Leave it alone and play with your own And paddle your own canoe This reminds me of Essex singer, dancer and box player extraorinaire Simon Ritchie's repertoire of cock-a-doodle-doo songs ("Me cock's me own so leave it alone, sing cock-a-doodle-doo"). A children's skipping song from North-East England: One two three o'leary I saw my Auntie Mary Sitting on the lavatory Eating chocolate dainties. |
06 Jul 04 - 10:58 AM (#1219974) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Billy Suggers .. in a cage indoors it whistled & sang and went off "bang" and blew the leg off her drawers (E Suffolk .. 1950s) goes with There was a bonny scotsman at the battle of Waterloo the wind blew up his petticoat and shew his kangaroo His kangaroo was dirty so he showed it to the queen who gave to him some Sunlight soap to wash the bugger clean (Lowestoft .. 1930s or before as me mum-in-law sang it as a girl) |
06 Jul 04 - 11:21 AM (#1219989) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Big Jim from Jackson On one of Gary and Vera Aspey's recordings Gary sing a quick verse (pretty much already covered in the comments)of "Aunti Mary". Of course, they are both Lankeys, clean to the bone! |
06 Jul 04 - 03:19 PM (#1220124) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Jim McLean One, two three O'leary, I saw Wallace Beery, Sittin' on his bumbleerie, Kissin' Shirley Temple (showing my age now!) |
20 Aug 04 - 02:47 AM (#1251657) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Brooke I'm from Australia and the version I know is: Aunty Mary had a canary; she also had a duck. She took them behind the kitchen door to teach them how to... Fry eggs for dinner, fry eggs for tea. The more you eat, the more you drink, the more you want to... Peter had a boat; the boat began to rock. Up jumped Jaws and bit off his... Cocktails, ginger ales, 40 cents a glass. If you don't like it, shove it up your... Ask no questions; tell no lies. I saw a copper doing up his... Flies are bad; mosquitoes are worse. This is the end of a clean country verse. |
20 Aug 04 - 05:32 AM (#1251754) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: The Walrus Returning to 'Aunty Mary' The version I grew up wth as a child was similar to Dave Bryant's: My Aunty Mary had a canery Up the leg of her drawers When she farted, down it darted Out the leg of her drawers. as for 'One, two, three o'leary', one that lurks in the memory is: One, two, three o'leary My ball's gone down the airy Please give it back to Mary Not to Charlie Chaplin. The 'airy' was the 'area', the 'light well' in front of a basement, where the dustbins are kept and which gives access to the coal celler. Thinking back, I must have picked this up from friends and/or family in the early 1960s - but as, by then we were living on a suburban estate with never the breath of an 'airy' for miles... (we moved out of Battersea in about 1962, during the great clearance/rebuild, before that there were airies a-plenty, as I recall). Walrus |
20 Aug 04 - 01:18 PM (#1252226) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: RoyH (Burl) Yes, my tune, (and everybody elses I think), to 'Charlie Chaplin' was 'Pretty Redwing'. We also had 'One, Two, Three Alaira, I saw my Auntie Sara, Sitting on a German aira, Eating chocolate biscuits. My wife used to skip to that one. Burl. |
22 Aug 04 - 07:26 AM (#1253372) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar This thread continues to produce great versions of Aunty Mary! Re 'Down the airy' I've heard that from someone recalling it in London in the 1940s. The Scots version of 1 2 3 aleary links back to the poem Piers Plowman!! |
20 Jan 07 - 10:46 PM (#1942984) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,dunc Interesting that Billy Suggers remembers a version from Lowestoft... I learnt it there as a kid in the 60s, and it's taken me years to remember the last line. For us it went: Auntie Mary had a canary Up the leg of her drawers. When she farted it departed Never to sing any more. |
21 Jan 07 - 03:32 PM (#1943514) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Andyval Very similar to the version I remember; Auntie Mary had a canary Up the leg of her drawers Whan she farted it departed Through the patio doors |
22 Jan 07 - 05:04 PM (#1944725) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Jim I Giok had "When all of a sudden a great mealie pudden Cam fleein' through the air" FC had Blaze Away always came out as:- Aint it a pity she's only one t---y To feed the baby on! I seem to recall "Mrs McVitty had only one t**ty To feed the baby on. The poor little fu**er Had only one sucker to gnash his teeth upon. When all of a sudden a great mealie pudden Cam fleein' through the air It hit poor auld Nelly A shot in the belly And knocked her tae the flair." |
22 Jan 07 - 06:37 PM (#1944852) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,meself A couple of summers ago, my otherwise thoroughly proper mother shocked us all - not least of all my father - by singing: Help me, Charlie, I've got barley, Up the leg of me drawers; Help me, Charlie, I've got barley, Up the leg of me drawers. This was from her childhood on Prince Edward Island ... |
02 Jun 07 - 06:31 AM (#2066399) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,betty swollocks my auntie mary had a canary up the leg of her draws when she farted down it darted like a racing horse LOL |
02 Jun 07 - 06:33 AM (#2066401) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,hakuna mahaha has anyone heard this one My uncle Billy had a 10 foot willy And he showed it to the neighbours next door She thought it was a snake And hit it with a rake And now its only 4 foot 4! |
02 Jun 07 - 06:34 AM (#2066402) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,hakuna mahaha or this one MILK MILK LEMONADE ROUND THE CORNER... ...CHOCOLATES MADE HAHAHAHAHA |
02 Jun 07 - 07:17 AM (#2066411) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Snuffy Hakuna Neither of themn have anything to do with Aunty Mary - the first one is sung to the tune of "Not For Jo(e)", while the other is not a song, but just a rhyme that we used to chant in the schoolyard over 50 years ago. |
03 Jun 07 - 03:12 PM (#2067452) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Hakuna Thanks for telling me that, its made my day, infact its changed my life! |
09 Jun 07 - 05:20 AM (#2072028) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Maggie Miles Thanks Hakuna, It really did change my life because my Uncle Billy actually did have a ten foot willy but wouldnt show it to the neighbour coz thats a mugs game!!! Happy Motoring from Maggie Miles and Kelly Kilometers |
26 Jun 07 - 02:29 AM (#2087070) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Young Buchan As a child about 4 I used to stay on Saturday nights with my grandmother who lived near the village hall, where my parents would go for a dance. I soon learn to recognise the tune Cock of the North, since it always heralded the return of my parents. I realise 50 years down the line that they probably finished each time with Circassian Circle. But what confused me for many years was the disapproval of my grandmother who would pout and shake her head and mutter 'I wish they wouldn't play that dirty tune!' I didn't understand then. Or for a long time afterwards, how a tune, as opposed to a song could be dirty. But I finally realized that in her mind the tune was so inextricably linked to "Cockadoodle, cockadoodle, lost the leg of my drawers. Cockadoodle, cockadoodle, won't you lent me yours." that she considered the tune to be a reference to drawers even when the words were not sung. I don't recall how she coped with Colonel Bogey! |
26 Jun 07 - 07:02 AM (#2087220) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Young Buchan That, incidently, for those who thought it 'almost exclusively Scottish' or 'creeping over the border', was in Suffolk. |
08 Jul 07 - 06:52 AM (#2096874) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,aly Aunty Mary had a canary, thought it was a duck, Took it behind the kitchen door and taught it how to—— Fry eggs for breakfast, cook fish for tea. The more you eat the more you drink the more you—— Peter was a fisherman who sailed the seven seas, Along came a fish and bit off his—— Cock-a-doodle-doo! What's it got to do with you? Leave it alone, play with your own and paddle your own canoe. |
14 Aug 07 - 03:22 AM (#2125030) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Jeannie This is another version of the Auntie Mary had a canary etc. Same tune. Ooshallalla, ooshallalla, lost the leg o me drawers. Ooshallalla, ooshallalla, won't you lend me yours. Can't go out with the boys tonight, ain't got any to wear. Ooshallalla, ooshallalla, won't you lend me a pair. I'm from London, who knows where it came from, soldiers I suspect. Here's another one. A sol. A sol, a soldier I must be, To fight for the old count', fight for the old count' Fight for the old country. Two pis', two pis', two pistols on my knee, To fight for the old count', fight for the old count'. Fight for the old countreeeee. Also remember 'One two three alairy, my balls down the airy'. Can't remember the beginning but there was a song about soccer and it went.. Where was the goalie when the ball was in the net. Hanging from the goalpost with his trousers round his neck. Singing....ask no questions tell no lies. Ever seen a chinaman doing up his flies...are dangerous, bugs are worse. That's the end of the Chinese verse. Don't write songs like that any more. |
19 Mar 08 - 08:01 AM (#2292500) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,frangipaniluva Here is a betta one Aunty mary had a canary, ahe also had a duck, she took them behind the kitchen door and taught em how to...... fry a fish 4 dinna, fry a fish 4 tea, the more you eat, the more you drink, the more u wanna...... pater had a boat, the boat began to rock up jumped jaws and bit him on the.... cocktails, gingerales, 40 cents a glass, if you dont like it shove it up ur...... ask no questions, tell no lies, i saw a blind man doin up his.... flies are bad, mosquitos r worse and thats the end of my dirty lil verse. |
15 May 08 - 08:57 AM (#2341112) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Ray a few months ago on a hillairius Radio 4 programme called Colnel Aurther he sang Aunti Mary had a Canary stuck up the leg of her draws, for half a crown (then breaking off after muttering thats enouhg of that )and after personally singing this little tune on many occasions driving my friends nuts as they kept asking to hear the end of the song , I am delighted to read your web page where upon i can now add several endings to a wonderful little ditty and end all my friends frustration thank you to all the contributers. |
15 May 08 - 01:52 PM (#2341416) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST Aunty Mary had a canary up the leg of her drawers it wouldnt come down fer half a crown so she peed the leg of her drawers mmm thats the scots one i remember as a lad along with the Santa Claus one if adults were about |
13 Jul 08 - 04:25 PM (#2387949) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,su gumble SMSL |
17 Jul 08 - 08:30 AM (#2391317) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,myrtle My grandmother used to sing "we've got three chickens in our backyard, we feed them on indian corn. One lays eggs and one lays bricks and one lays nothing at all. Chase me charlie chase me charlie lost the leg of me drawers Chase me charlie chase me charlie will you lend me yours Her father was Scottish (from Sutherland) but she grew up in Norfolk. |
12 Aug 08 - 02:58 AM (#2411225) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Cassie Auntie Mary had a canary. She thought it was a duck. She took it behind the kitchen door and taught it how to— Fry eggs for breakfast. Fry eggs for tea. The more you eat, the more you drink, the more you have to— Peter had a boat. The boat began to rock. Up jumped Jaws and bit off his— Cocktail, ginger ale, 20 cents a glass. If you don't like it, shove it up your— Ask no questions. Tell no lies. I saw a policeman doing up his— Flies are bad. Mosquitoes are worse. I saw a doctor lying in a— Nurse those babies. nurse them well. If you don't, then I will tell. |
03 Sep 08 - 03:26 PM (#2430124) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,fivnten To continue ... the version (apart from the Santa Claus one) I heard was Auntie Mary Had a canary Up the leg of her drawers When she farted Down it darted Scratching her leg with its claws !!! |
03 Sep 08 - 03:28 PM (#2430127) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,fivnten Further to my previous post the Santa Claus version I know is: Auntie Mary Had a canary Up the leg of her drawers She pulled a string To make it sing And down came Santa Claus |
19 Sep 08 - 08:06 PM (#2445533) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Ely chase me charlie,chase me charlie, lost one leg of me drawers, if you find them starch & iron them give them to one of the boys can anyone finish this off ? i would ilke to know the rest thank you |
03 Oct 08 - 05:29 AM (#2456202) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Richard Woodward, South Africa In about 1966 in Derbyshire I learnt, from a guy from Cumberland: Chase me Charlie, chase me Charlie, Lost the leg o' me drawers Chase me Charlie, chase me Charlie, Won't you lend me yours? We've got chickens in our back yard, We feed 'em on Indian corn, and One is a bugger for shaggin' the other, He's always getting the horn. Chorus: repeat first verse Auntie Mary had a canary, up the leg of her drawers, When she farted, down it darted out the bathroom door Chorus: first verse again One of the other songs referred to earlier in this thread; I got this version at the same time: A hundred and one, never been done, Queen of of all the fairies, When all of a sudden a bloody great pudden Came flying through the air; Oh, as swift as an arrow, as fat as a marrow And covered in curly hair. We used to sing these songs, along with numerous other bawdy rhymes, in the Derbyshire pubs around Chesterfield,between 1965 and 1968 and over the next few years up to 1971 around Rugby, Warwickshire. That's my three pennorth, for what its worth and posterity! |
03 Oct 08 - 12:22 PM (#2456500) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Art Thieme Ewasn, Yes, she had a canary. But her pussy ate it, As is their wont! Art |
03 Oct 08 - 12:24 PM (#2456503) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Art Thieme THEN she put it in her drawer. (for safe keeping) Art |
04 Oct 08 - 06:56 AM (#2456988) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: strad My befuddled mind recalls from a childhood in Kent: Chase me Charlie, chase me Charlie, Lost the leg o' me drawers, If you find them, starch and iron them And give them me back once more. to the tune of Cock o' the North |
11 Dec 08 - 03:15 PM (#2512853) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,i am a sado RE Hakuna mahaha Heres my rhyme MILK MILK LEMONADE ROUND THE CORNER... ..... SHOP PMSL-Which stands for pedal myself laughing lol |
08 Feb 09 - 03:48 AM (#2560619) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Feary.... I remember this much of the verse i knew, cant remember in which order it went and would LOVE to find the whole verse!!! Ask your mum for sixpence to see the big giraffe, with freckles on it's whiskers and pimples on it's aaaa.... aunty mary had a canary also had a duck, took it behind the kitchen door and taught it how to fuuuu...... fried eggs for dinner, fried eggs for tea, the more you eat the more you drink, the more you want to peeeee..... that's all i can remember but i know it went on and on.....my ex used to say it and he was raised in Victoria if that means anything.....lol.... |
25 May 09 - 03:03 AM (#2640262) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST guest feary I remember this much of the verse i knew, cant remember in which order it went and would LOVE to find the whole verse!!! Ask your mum for sixpence to see the big giraffe, with freckles on it's whiskers and pimples on it's aaaa.... aunty mary had a canary also had a duck, took it behind the kitchen door and taught it how to fuuuu...... fried eggs for dinner, fried eggs for tea, the more you eat the more you drink, the more you want to peeeee..... The whole poem or as much as I know God made the world, he made it out of glass, along came a billygoat and slipped upon his aaaa..... Ask your mother for a sixpence to see the tall giraffe, with hairs on it pimples, and pimples on it's aaaaaa..... Aunty Mary had a canary, thought it was a duck, she took it behind the kitchen door and taught it how to fffff..... Fry some eggs breakfast, fry some eggs for tea, the more you eat, the more you drink, the more you want to pppppp.... Peter had a boat, the boat began to sink, along came a shark and bit of his cockadoodledoo! leave it alone its got nothing to do with you, go away, play with your own and paddle your own canoe! There are a few slight variations in the 'lyrics' but you get the general picture. Hope this helps |
25 May 09 - 04:09 AM (#2640274) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: BobKnight Re: Ewan McVicar '99. "Oor" is the typical way of pronouncing "hour" in Scots. "The Cock O' The North" is a pipe tune and regimental march of the now amalgamated Gordon Highlanders. It was also the nickname for the chief of clan Gordon, based at Huntly in Aberdeenshire. |
25 May 09 - 07:35 AM (#2640350) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Tug the Cox Jeannie, aug o7, just seen that, we used to sing, in London in the 50's or 60's My old man's a dustman, he wears a dustmans hat he took me round the corner, to see a football match. The ball was in the centre, the rusty whistle blew, Fatty passed to skinny, and down the wing he flew. Skinny passed to fatty, fatty passed it back, Skinny took a flying shot and Knocked the goalie flat. Where was the goalie when the ball was in the net half way up the goalpost with his trousers round his neck They laid him on a stretcher, they laid him on a bed, They rubbed his belly with cast iron jelly and this is what he said Rule Britania, three monkeys up a stick One fell down and hurt his.. Dickie was a bulldog, sitting on the grass, along came a bumblebee and stung him on the... Ask no questions tell no lies, have you ever seen a chinaman doing up his.... Flies are a nuisance bugs are worse, that is the end of my little.. versus Arsenal one, if you don't like it you can stick it up your... Bumdidy bum bum, Bum Bum. Years later I heard an old matelot dom something similar, but thre Rule Brittania line was 'Rule britannia, marmalade and jam five chinese crackers up your arsehole bang bang bang bang bang' |
26 May 09 - 05:35 AM (#2641040) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Bryn Pugh Me Auntie Mary had a canary Up the side of her drawers. And whn she farted, down it darted To a roar of applause. Down our street was a copper Eating an apple pie. I asked him for a skinny bit, He hit me in the eye. I went and told me mother, She said "No, bugger off fast!" So I took the red hot poker And shoved it up the copper's arse. |
23 Sep 09 - 08:11 PM (#2730053) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Cathy I haven't heard this since my mum passed away. If memory serves me her version was Aunt Mary had a canary up the leg of me drawers If you don't believe you can feel me up the leg of me drawers |
29 Sep 09 - 12:08 AM (#2733778) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Dabuel Im from Australia and here is the version i know: Aunty Mary had a canary she also had a duck she took them behind the drawers and taught them how to fry eggs for breakfast fry egg for tea the more you eat the more you drink the more you want to Peter had a boat the boat began to rock up jumped jaws and bit him on the cocktails ginger ale 40 cents a glass if you dont like it you can shove it up your ask no questions tell no lies i saw a chinaman doing up his flys are bad mosquitos are worse that is the end to my dirty little verse. Enjoy. |
16 Dec 09 - 08:09 AM (#2789563) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: mikesamwild We sang it in Manchester in the 40s. One verse started 'We had a .... in our front room' can't just remember what it was though at the mo. |
05 Jan 10 - 02:39 PM (#2804187) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Peerie Me When we were young we sang Aunty Mary had a canary up the leg o her drawers, It widna cum doon for haaf a croon, So she kicked it up the arse I also remember other people singing the version about pulling a string that made him ping and down came santa claus |
20 Mar 10 - 09:32 PM (#2868397) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Ian Manning, South Australia. For what it's worth,I can remember my late Grandfather(born 1876) singing the below to the tune of the song "Coming through the rye": Aunt Mary bought a canary from the butcher's boy. She kept it in the dairy, where it was a joy. Strange to say it never whistled, never seemed to try. Seem to see cock-sparrow's bristles coming through the dye. |
30 Mar 10 - 11:08 PM (#2876167) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Mouldylocks, London Remembered from East London in the 50's: Chase me Charlie, Chase me Charlie, Chase the leg of me drawers Chase me Charlie, Chase me Charlie, What's the size a yours? (Two balls rhyme)One two three o'lairy, My ball's up in the airey, Don't forget to give it to Mary, NOT to Charlie Chaplin I never got to hear any more of the 'Auntie Mary had a canary up the leg of her drawers', as the adults muttered the rest when the kids were around. Strangely, they didn't mind singing: 'You ought to see my granny by the fire - toasting her crumpet. All day long she sits by the fire, toasting her crumpet. And as she sits she sews, and as she sews she sits, You ought to see my granny by the fire, toasting her crumpet. another kid's nonsense rhyme I remember: My name is ell-i, ell-i, chickal-i, chickal-i, ompompiley, ompompiley, willie willie whiskers, willie willie whiskers, cowboys and indians, BIG CHIEF (said with two fingers in a V sign, knuckles to forehead.) |
20 Jul 10 - 01:43 PM (#2948430) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Sue I When I was a kid in the 60's in the East End "Auntie Mary" was cockney rhyming slang for Big & Hairy........ |
20 Jul 10 - 02:09 PM (#2948444) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: catspaw49 Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? In her vagina.....It is said she was a "cheep" lay............... Spaw |
09 Oct 10 - 02:58 PM (#3003340) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Gill I remember my mother singing short rhymes to me as a child in the late 50's early 60's, her version seems different to any of the above probably learnt from my grandmother born mid 1800's in Birmingham Uncle Jimmy I've lost my shimmy and half a leg of my drawers Aunty Mary Aunty Mary lend me half of yours We've some hens in our back yard we feed them on Indian corn some lay eggs n some lay pegs and some lay nothing at all Gill |
25 Jan 11 - 04:30 PM (#3082320) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,annie I'm from Edinburgh and the version we all sang came from my mother and I haven't sen it mentioned yet. It was: My Auntie Mary Had a Canary Up the leg of her drawers She sat on the gas and burned her ass and down came Santa Clause |
18 Mar 11 - 01:31 PM (#3116532) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,guest lesley We used to sing it as a round Auntie Mary had a canary Up the leg of her drawers She pulled a string to make it sing But all that it said was "Auntie Mary had a canary etc |
14 Jun 11 - 10:34 PM (#3170761) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,George My dad who grew up in Providence Rhode Island used to sing the chicken song to us on Saturday mornings when we would invade our parents bedroom before breakfast. His version was I have to chickens in my back yard, I feed them on Indian corn. And one is a bugger for fighting the other When they get up in the morn. Based on the posts I have read, I suspect he learned it from his dad who was born in Glasgow. |
24 Sep 11 - 11:21 AM (#3228331) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Chris, OTLEY Is that you Jim the Mech. ? |
09 Oct 11 - 03:18 PM (#3236331) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST Back when I was a kid growing up in Birmingham in the 60's my grandad would simg I have a foul in our backyard We feed it on indian corn Some lay eggs & some lay bricks and some lay nothing at all He had Irish in his family but no Scottish as far as i know. |
26 Dec 11 - 04:58 PM (#3280299) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Plattsburgh, NY via Broughty Ferry, Scotland My father taught me this in the early 1950s Chase me Charlie Chase me Charlie Lost the leg of me drawers Chase me Charlie Chase me Charlie Please will you lend me yours |
26 Dec 11 - 06:14 PM (#3280319) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: Steve Parkes Sounds like the one about Lottie Collins, the 19th century risqué dancer: Lottie Collins lost her drawers; Won't you kindly lend her yours? |
10 Jan 12 - 05:29 PM (#3288324) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,bee.sting I haven't been all through this thread, so I am not 100% certain I am adding anything original, but the variant I was taught by my Grandad in Lancashire in the late 1960's is as follows: I went into the barber's shop and what do you think I got? Two black eyes and a bleeding nose and a little bit off the top Chase me Charlie, chase me Charlie, Lost the leg o' me draws Weary willie, weary Willie Will you lend me yours. Sorry - not a canary in sight - but it was to the tune Cock o' the North |
07 Dec 12 - 01:32 AM (#3448441) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Geoff Hi, I am from australia and the version I know is similar to Brookes of August 2004. I learnt this as a child in the 1960's from my grandmother who was born in Australia in the 1890's: Ask your mum for sixpence to see the big giraffe Pimples on his whiskers and pimples on his aarr.... ....auntie Mary had a canary thought it was a duck took it behind the kitchen door and taught it how to f-f-f..... ....fried eggs for dinner, fried eggs for tea the more you eat, the more you drink, the more you want to ppee... ....peter had a boat, the boat begaan to rock along came a shark and bit off his c-c-c... cock - a - doodle do that's all i have for you |
03 Feb 19 - 03:44 AM (#3974632) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Keith. Bristol, uk My Mum used to sing it to me and my brothers and sister in the 1960s,her version was, we keep chickens in our back yard, we feed um on Indian corn, some lays eggs, and some lays straw, and some lays nothing at all. Oh, cockadoodle cockadoodle, up the leg of your drawers. Auntie Mary had a canary up the leg of her drawers, when she farted down it darted and flew out the kitchen door. |
05 Feb 19 - 06:18 AM (#3974920) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST,Miranda I read that this version is from the Boer war, but which Boer war I don't know. The Auntie Mary thing is clearly older however. As far as I know, the earliest version is called "The Cock of the North", which is named after a tradition of calling the chief of the Scottish Gordon clan the same thing. It started with Alexander, Duke of Gordon (can't remember which Duke). Sae gie tae me the lad you'll see from Russia to the Forth, The lilt in his voice and the swing o' his kilt, man that's the Cock o' the North! |
11 Nov 19 - 03:46 AM (#4018435) Subject: RE: Aunty Mary Had a Canary - where? From: GUEST Racking my brains over what I heard as a foreign kid in Australia Aunty is.. Mary had a canary it put it's head between it's legs and whistled up its country girls are pretty, country girls are nice they like to talk to boys and wrestle with their diction is essential, diction is... can't remember the rest, went on for at least 6 verses |