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Lyr ADD: Messing About with Your Liver

01 Aug 02 - 05:16 AM (#757983)
Subject: Messing about with your liver
From: Sooz

Anyone know the words to this parody of Messing about on the river?


01 Aug 02 - 07:54 AM (#758035)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Skipjack K8

George Best?

Skipjack


01 Aug 02 - 08:17 AM (#758042)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Sooz

HoHo


01 Aug 02 - 01:09 PM (#758221)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Joan from Wigan

This parody was requested in a previous thread: messing about on the river but all the info gleaned then was that the parody was sung by Hamish Imlach and contained the line "There's nothing so fine as a wee glass of wine for messing about with your liver". A Google search only came up with that previous Mudcat thread.

Joan


02 Aug 02 - 01:48 AM (#758546)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: GUEST

Shurly, there MUST be something MORE!!

It should have been Sinatra's theame song.


02 Aug 02 - 04:12 AM (#758574)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Sooz

Its enough to turn me to drink!


02 Aug 02 - 06:19 AM (#758615)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: ozmacca

I was going to make a pithy comment, but then I changed my mind. I just kidney be bothered......


02 Aug 02 - 06:24 AM (#758617)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar

Mind you, there may not have been a whole song, only that line!! I am unsure.


02 Aug 02 - 07:00 AM (#758633)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Sooz

I vaguely remember the chorus being lots of names of beers - something like "There's Whitbread and Watneys and Worthington E..........I'm sure you'll agree, There's nothing so fine as a bottle of wine for messing about with your liver"


03 Aug 02 - 07:59 AM (#759228)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Sooz

Still hopefull!


03 Aug 02 - 01:37 PM (#759333)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Joan from Wigan

Just a thought. As Hamish Imlach was said to have sung the song, he may well have recorded it. He did an album called "Ballads of Booze", which I haven't got, and can't find a track listing on line, but it seems a likely candidate for the song to be on. Does anyone have the track listing?

Joan


03 Aug 02 - 03:35 PM (#759383)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Sooz

Well?


03 Aug 02 - 05:54 PM (#759429)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Susanne (skw)

It isn't on 'Ballads of Booze' nor on any of the other half dozen Hamish albums I've got. I've got a vague memory of hearing him sing it, but either it fitted him so well that it's a sort of false memory syndrome on my part, or else he may have used it for sound checks, and I only heard the couple of lines he sang for that. Sorry to be of no help!


04 Aug 02 - 09:47 AM (#759574)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Barry Finn

Anyone got any other liver songs? It be interesting if not healthful? Or for that matter any transplant songs? Maybe it's a not to folkie topic even though there is blood shed, sex could be a factor, drink(?) & many of the other great qualities of the normal folk song/ballad. Barry


04 Aug 02 - 10:32 AM (#759582)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Jim McLean

In 1972 I wrote a set of lyrics to Messing about on the River for the Upper Clyde Ship Builders support LP, Unity Creates Strength. It was an attack on Ted heath and his mob and is quite dated now. If anyone wants it I'll get it off the album. It was sung by Alastair McDonald. Cheers, Jim Mclean


04 Aug 02 - 01:26 PM (#759627)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Joan from Wigan

A Google search for "liver lyrics" throws up 15,900 hits, including such delicious-sounding songs as "Always Hug Your Liver", "Bad Liver and a Broken Heart", "Take Me To The Liver", "Fifty Ways to Love Your Liver"...

Joan


04 Aug 02 - 04:12 PM (#759698)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Susanne (skw)

Jim, I've just been looking at the album again and realised there were a few of your songs on it. I'd love to get the lyrics, but there's no hurry!


04 Aug 02 - 05:30 PM (#759734)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Jim McLean

OK Susanne, we've just got a new puppy so when I recover from a few sleepless nights I'll post the lyrics. By the way did you get my email of last week? I've been away for a few days. Jim McLean


05 Aug 02 - 05:35 PM (#760264)
Subject: Lyr Add: COWES CAPERS and HEAD TEETH (Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean

Hi susanne, I'm still up with the puppy so here goes.

Title: COWES CAPERS
Melody MESSING ABOUT ON THE RIVER
Lyrics: Jim McLean

Don't forget I did say the lyrics were dated and specifically written in 1972 to celebrate the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work in.

It's great whit ye hear,
When drinkin yer beer,
O' things that go on in the Channel.
Ted Heath has been seen,
(Ye know whit Ah mean)
Just messin' aboot in the Channel.
When sailin' yer boatie aroon aboot Cowes,
They say that it's no' safe tae lean ower the bowes.
Just zip up yer mac,
An' don't turn yer back'
When messin' aboot in the Channel.

They don't talk aloud,
Aboot Morning Cloud,
Or messin' aboot in the Channel.
When they come ashore,
They're a' lookin sore,
Frae messin' aboot in the Channel.
When asked aboot Clydeside
Dae ye know whit Heath says,
"I'd bend over backwards to help UCS"
But we're no'sae daft,
Let's build a wee raft,
And shove him back intae the Channel!

I've heard it's been said,
There's trouble for Ted,
If ever he steers oot the Channel.
If he tries the Clyde,
We'll boot his backside,
And make Edward sign on the Panel.
Noo Nero was fiddlin when Rome was on fire,
But Edward's been fiddlin' wi' rowlocks an' wires.
Let's finish his tricks,
Wi' twa well placed kicks,
An' stop a' his fun up the Channel!


Another song on the same LP, for the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work in, I wrote to the tune of CASEY JONES:
Title: HEAD TEETH
Lyrics Jim Mclean

The workers in the UCS were told they had to go,
But they began to organize and told the Tories "No!
It's you'll who'll be amoving 'cause you got us in this mess,
Now you're going to get the Message from the UCS"

CHORUS:
"Edward Heath, we have taken over,
Edward Heath, we'll have nothing less,
Edward Heath,we have got a work in,
And now you've gotta listen to the UCS."

So Edward said to Davis " You go up to see the men,
I'm far too busy sailing and I'm scared of Wedgewood Benn!"
So Davis came to Glasgow but the boys were not impressed,
And Davis got a Harvey Smith from UCS!

CHORUS: Edward Heath ...

When Davis got to London, someone said that Ted was lost,
He took his little periscope and scanned the English coast.
And there upon the skyline, sailing far into the West,
Ted was going like the clappers from the UCS!

FINAL CHORUS: Edward Heath ....

Both were sung admirably by Alastair McDonald.

Jim McLean


05 Aug 02 - 08:11 PM (#760369)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Susanne (skw)

Thanks a lot, Jim! And give my love to the puppy!


04 Oct 02 - 02:00 PM (#796951)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Joe Offer

I heard somebody sing this parody while I was in England, but I can't remember who sang it (maybe I was messing about with my liver...).
Dave Bryant? IanC? Did either of you sing this?
Geoff the Duck? Mrs. Duck?

Who else would be a likely suspect?
Micca denies it. I asked him first.

-Joe Offer, stone cold sober-


04 Oct 02 - 07:57 PM (#797124)
Subject: Lyr Add: MESSING ABOUT WITH YOUR LIVER
From: Leadfingers

Try this-I got this from someone at the old Handsome Mouldiworp-Can't
remember who now , its along time ago.

MESSING ABOUT WITH YOUR LIVER

We surgeons have fun when our days work is done
Just messing about with your liver
When we're tired or we're bored we go out on the ward
And start messing about with your liver
We pour nitric acid all over your spleen
In mild fascination we watch it turn green
And if we're ever in doubt we just pull something out
While we're messing About with Your Liver

I have a large knife which I use on the wife
While I'm messing about with her liver
And I practice at night when I've turned out the light
Just messing about with her liver
My first experiments went rather well
But I've noticed just lately she's started to smell
And I' not heard her laught since I used her best scarf
To block uo the hole in her liver

Now one man I know used an old garden hoe
For messing about with your liver
Another great man used an electric fan
Set the patients intestines a-quiver
Transplant rejections no problem these days
We simply remove and omit to replace
So whatever you've wrong,we'll make worse before long
When we're messing about with your liver.


11 Oct 02 - 11:19 PM (#801544)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Joe Offer

I'm truly disappointed. I thought for sure somebody would be able to post these lyrics. Micca failed me. Dave Bryant failed me.
Come on, now.
England, come help us in our time of need!!!
-Joe Offer-


12 Oct 02 - 02:45 AM (#801586)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Gurney

Can't help with the song, but Barry Finn wanted 'liver' songs so try 'On a Monday Morning.' You need to hear someone sing it for the savour, though.


12 Oct 02 - 05:07 AM (#801614)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: ced2

When I work out how to download this little ditty (wot I wrote) I will post it, but my brain does not seem to get round the computer as it does when stringing words together (any simple advice??). Joe Offer was right, he heard it in the rear room of the Tap & Spile in Whitby on the Wednesday night of Whitby week. I sang(?) it then. Clearly, he like most other had been indulging in M.A.W.Y.L.
Cedric


12 Oct 02 - 06:57 AM (#801641)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Herga Kitty

Cedric

Now that Mudcat has been upgraded to insert automatic line breaks, you should be able to just select the text you want to copy from your existing on-line copy, and paste it here from the clipboard - and you can preview it before sending.

Kitty


12 Oct 02 - 09:27 AM (#801697)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Salty reel

I went to see the Bumpstead Boys and Beryl recently, a group of entertainers in Suffolk, and one of them sang Messing about with your Liver, a complete song about the demon drink, and drunks, and pub singers. Today is the first time i've read this thread so it jogged my memory. As for the words, sorry, no chance after only hearing them once. They seemed to be quite well known so maybe someone else will know who the singer is.


12 Oct 02 - 10:17 AM (#801713)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: ced2

Still unclear, basically I have a set of words, with correct layout in "Word". Without having to retype them is there a simple way of getting them into the system? If so what is it? Or do I haver to re-type them?
cedric


12 Oct 02 - 10:45 AM (#801725)
Subject: Copy-pasting lyrics into Mudcat
From: Joe Offer

Hi, Cedric - if you have both this page and Word open, it's easy.
Highlight the lyrics in Word so that they change color.
Then, copy them (use [CTRL-C] or the "edit" menu in Word)
Then go to the Mudcat "Reply to thread" box and make sure your cursor is blinking in the box.
Paste [CTRL-V]the words into the box, tidy them up if they need tidying, and hit the "submit" button.

If you're unsure, check the "preview" box so you can see what you've done.

Give it a try - I want to see that song.

-Joe Offer-


12 Oct 02 - 11:35 AM (#801741)
Subject: Lyr Add: MESSING ABOUT WITH YOUR LIVER (C Binns)
From: ced2

MESSING ABOUT WITH YOUR LIVER
(Cedric Binns)

There's whiskey or wine, or vodka is fine, for Messing About With Your Liver,
You can even try hops, or the new alcho pops, for M.A.W.Y.L.,
There's ale of all sorts, there's porter and stout,
There's lager and cider, they're all good no doubt,
But stay off the gin, it will lead to ruin, when you're M.A.W.Y.L.


Cerebral pastimes, are far too refined, when you're M.A.W.Y.L.,
The dots on the doms, become ill-defined, when you're M.A.W.Y.L.
The rings on the dartboard, dance up and down,
The balls on the pool table spin round and round,
If you take my advice don't bet on your hand, when you're M.A.W.Y.L.

Your vision gets blurred, and your speech may be slurred, whilst M.A.W.Y.L.,
The road may zig zag, you'll have to blow in the bag, through M.A.W.Y.L.,
Excuse me says the copper, but you've told a whopper,
Eight pints at least, you've had with your feast,
Spend the night in our cell, we'll take your car as well, no more M.A.W.Y.L.

The OH radical, may bring ridicule, whilst M.A.W.Y.L.,
The gaseous ethane, changes to ethanol, for M.A.W.Y.L.,
If you light your methane it'll blow off your head,
An excess of methanol will soon leave you dead.
C2H5(OH), will suit you just fine, for M.A.W.Y.L.,

If you drink strong ale, you'll never get stale, whilst M.A.W.Y.L.
Its laxative properties, will put you at ease, whilst M.A.W.Y.L.
With bowels in overdrive, don't get taken short,
Long meetings or car trips are bound to be fraught,
You'll get a rebuke, if you have to puke, through M.A.W.Y.L.

If you drink too much soup, you'll need a counselling group, through M.A.W.Y.L.,
You'll feel in a mess, when you have to confess, to M.A.W.Y.L.,
The parson, the doctor, the nurse and the beak,
All sit there stony-faced, your salvation to seek,
But there's none can deny, they've all had a try, at M.A.W. their Livers.
© Cedric Binns 6/2001


12 Oct 02 - 12:45 PM (#801782)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Sooz

At last! Thats the closest we've got. I'd still like to get hold of the 1960's version though.


12 Oct 02 - 01:06 PM (#801793)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: ced2

I was never aware that there was a 1960's version and to the best of my knowledge the bag refered to in verse 3 did not arrive until the breathaliser tests in the 70's, alcho pops were not around until the 90's and pool was not being commonly played in UK pubs until the mid to late 70's I think . My next door neighbour, himself an ex-professional musician, approached me in the garden one day in June 2001. "I've got this idea for a song, it's been going around in my head for about 10 years and I'm not getting anywhere with it. I've just got a few words." He said. The words in question was very similar to the first couple of lines of the last verse. Having been set the challenge I couldn't resist. So unless my mate Peter is pulling a fast one, he gave me an idea for a song wot I then rote! Thanks Peter! It rarely fails to stop the pub!!!


12 Oct 02 - 01:21 PM (#801805)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Liz the Squeak

I heard a version very similar to this way back in 1982, again before alcopops - I suspect that is a modern addition. I'm not saying you didn't write this one Ced, it's just that I did hear a song very similar to it in 1982.

LTS


20 Jan 03 - 01:05 PM (#870655)
Subject: LYRICS ADD: Messing About With Your Live
From: ced2

MESSING ABOUT WITH YOUR LIVER
(Cedric Binns)

There's whiskey or wine, or vodka is fine, for Messing About With Your Liver,
You can even try hops, or the new alcho pops, for M.A.W.Y.L.,
There's ale of all sorts, there's porter and stout,
There's lager and cider, they're all good no doubt,
But stay off the gin, it will lead to ruin, when you're M.A.W.Y.L.

Cerebral pastimes, are far too refined, when you're M.A.W.Y.L.,
The dots on the doms, become ill-defined, when you're M.A.W.Y.L.
The rings on the dartboard, dance up and down,
The balls on the pool table spin round and round,
If you take my advice don't bet on your hand, when you're M.A.W.Y.L.

Your vision gets blurred, and your speech may be slurred, whilst M.A.W.Y.L.,
The road may zig zag, you'll have to blow in the bag, through M.A.W.Y.L.,
Excuse me says the copper, but you've told a whopper,
Eight pints at least, you have had with your feast,
Spend the night in our cell, we'll take your car as well, no more M.A.W.Y.L.

The OH radical, may lead to ridicule, whilst M.A.W.Y.L.,
The gaseous ethane, changes to ethanol, for M.A.W.Y.L.,
But don't light your methane it'll blow off your head,
An excess of methanol will soon leave you dead.
C2-H5-(OH), will suit you just fine, for M.A.W.Y.L.,

If you drink strong ale, you'll never get stale, whilst M.A.W.Y.L.
Its laxative properties, will put you at ease, whilst M.A.W.Y.L.
With bowels in overdrive, don't get taken short,
Long meetings or car trips are bound to be fraught,
You'll get a rebuke, if you have to puke, through M.A.W.Y.L.

If you drink too much soup, you'll need a counselling group, through M.A.W.Y.L.,
You'll feel in a mess, when you have to confess, to M.A.W.Y.L.,
The parson, the doctor, the nurse and the beak,
All sit there stony-faced, your salvation to seek,
But there's none can deny, they've all had a try, at M.A.W. Their Livers.
CB

(I thought that I had done the necessary to add this to the thread when this title was requested a few moths ago, clearly not! Must have been MABWMyL.)


20 Jan 03 - 03:26 PM (#870761)
Subject: RE: LYRICS ADD: Messing About With Your Live
From: Sooz

Brill - at last


20 Jan 03 - 03:29 PM (#870762)
Subject: RE: LYRICS ADD: Messing About With Your Live
From: Sooz

Ooops - mean't to say thanks!


21 Jan 03 - 03:07 PM (#871632)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Messing About With Your Liver
From: Liz the Squeak

Dedicated to Brian Clough who is now messing about with a new liver?

Oddly enough, Liver and bacon was on the menu today at work... I went vegetarian, just in case....

LTS


21 Jan 03 - 06:00 PM (#871766)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: Nigel Parsons

Clarification (if required) that there was a song with some of these lyrics extant prior to June 2001 can be found in a posting dated 30 Sept 1998 in the thread messing about on the river

"From: Ewan McV - PM
Date: 30 Sep 98 - 06:46 PM

My word, how life comes back to get you. The song was written by Tony Hatch, and recorded by a mate of mine, Josh Macrae, in about 1962. I regret I don't have the words available, nor of the parody I recall sung by Hamish Imlach :
There's nothing so fine as a wee glass of wine for messing about with your liver.

So I suppose I'm not much use to you. But thanks for the memory! "

Nigel


20 Sep 04 - 06:32 PM (#1276773)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing about with your liver
From: GUEST


16 Jul 23 - 08:46 PM (#4177047)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing About with Your Liver
From: davidharley

The version Leadfingers posted ("we surgeons have fun...") is very close to the one I used to do, and I lived in Bracknell, so he might have got it from me. However, I'm pretty sure I got it from Alan Holdsworth when I lived in Manchester. I've messaged Alan to see if he can cast light. A bit late in the day, I know, but I suddenly remembered the song today after several years of repression, and found this thread...


16 Jul 23 - 08:53 PM (#4177048)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing About with Your Liver
From: davidharley

Got an answer from Alan Holdsworth. He says that the "we surgeons have fun" version is from Tom Lehrer.