Billy Winker
Vocal & Guitar Gerry Kearns; Chorus John Howarth
Billy Winker dhrove a cart
For a brewer deawn at Shay;
Wi full ale barrels he’d start
On a journey every day;
Empty kegs he’d get fro some,
But- o th’shameful tale to tell-
When wi th’empties he geet whom
He were oft brimful hissel.
CHORUS
Oh Billy ! What a mon!
Life’s last bodle soon tha spent,
Neaw tha’s supped o’ th’ale tha con;
It were getting’ time tha went!
Customers, never thinking wrong,
Used to give him ‘leawance glasses,
Mild or bitther wake an’sthrong,
Every mak fro’ Coop’s to Bass’s;
Winker olez sattl’t th’lot,
Owt were reet his spark to sleck;
Jug or bottle, glass or pot,
He could empty deawn his neck.
CHORUS
Bill grew fat , an’ Bill grew fatther,
Whol his nose wi’ shame went pink.
He’d forgetten t’ taste o’ watther
Sin’ he’d taen to mix his dhrink;
So it is bad habits floor
Th’ best o’ folk ‘at live bi sweat;
Iv he’d stuck to milk it’s sure
Th’ fellah could ha’ bin here yet.
CHORUS
Billy’s maisther, soft I’ th’ yead,
Co’d his mon in one fine day;
‘’Here’s nine gallon, lad,’’ he said,
‘’Tak it wom-- tha’s nowt to pay.
Tha con swallow weel, aw think,
Or tha’rt ill belied bi folk;
Set thyself to side this dhrink,
An aw’ll time thee, just for the joke.’’
CHORUS
Billy thanked him wi’ a grin,
T’barrel on his shoolder cocked,
Made for whoam, an safely in,
Front an’ back his durs he locked,
Tapped his bung , an’ deawn he sit,
Bucklin’ to a neet’s hard work;
Th’ale so fast began to flit
It were welly gwone bi dark.
CHORUS
Mornin’ coome- bi nine o’ o’clock
Back wi t’ barrel billy went,
Stonnin steady as a rock,
Fillin th’spot wi barmy scent.
“Done bi neaw!’’ his maister cries;
“Billy Winker ,tha’rt a cure!
“Done! Why, mon , to tell no lies,
For th’ supper aw’d to fot some more.’’
CHORUS
“Put thi barrel deawn I’ th’ nook,’’
T’brewer said; ‘’tha’s sattll’t me!’’
Bill ne’er shapped to tak his hook ,
But stood his greaund wi twinkling’ e’e.
“What art stopping’ there fer? Bowt!”
T’maisther sheauted in a crack;
“Come!’’ says billy;“s there not
At o’ for bringin th’barrel back?’’
CHORUS
Oh Billy ! What a mon!
Life’s last bodle soon tha spent,
Neaw tha’s supped o’ th’ale tha con;
It were getting’ time tha went!
Billy Winker dhrove a cart
For a brewer deawn at Shay;
Wi full ale barrels he’d start
On a journey every day;
Empty kegs he’d get fro some,
But- o th’shameful tale to tell-
When wi th’empties he geet whom
He were oft brimful hissel.
CHORUS
Oh Billy ! What a mon!
Life’s last bodle soon tha spent,
Neaw tha’s supped o’ th’ale tha con;
It were getting’ time tha went!
Customers, never thinking wrong,
Used to give him ‘leawance glasses,
Mild or bitther wake an’sthrong,
Every mak fro’ Coop’s to Bass’s;
Winker olez sattl’t th’lot,
Owt were reet his spark to sleck;
Jug or bottle, glass or pot,
He could empty deawn his neck.
CHORUS
Bill grew fat , an’ Bill grew fatther,
Whol his nose wi’ shame went pink.
He’d forgetten t’ taste o’ watther
Sin’ he’d taen to mix his dhrink;
So it is bad habits floor
Th’ best o’ folk ‘at live bi sweat;
Iv he’d stuck to milk it’s sure
Th’ fellah could ha’ bin here yet.
CHORUS
Billy’s maisther, soft I’ th’ yead,
Co’d his mon in one fine day;
‘’Here’s nine gallon, lad,’’ he said,
‘’Tak it wom-- tha’s nowt to pay.
Tha con swallow weel, aw think,
Or tha’rt ill belied bi folk;
Set thyself to side this dhrink,
An aw’ll time thee, just for the joke.’’
CHORUS
Billy thanked him wi’ a grin,
T’barrel on his shoolder cocked,
Made for whoam, an safely in,
Front an’ back his durs he locked,
Tapped his bung , an’ deawn he sit,
Bucklin’ to a neet’s hard work;
Th’ale so fast began to flit
It were welly gwone bi dark.
CHORUS
Mornin’ coome- bi nine o’ o’clock
Back wi t’ barrel billy went,
Stonnin steady as a rock,
Fillin th’spot wi barmy scent.
“Done bi neaw!’’ his maister cries;
“Billy Winker ,tha’rt a cure!
“Done! Why, mon , to tell no lies,
For th’ supper aw’d to fot some more.’’
CHORUS
“Put thi barrel deawn I’ th’ nook,’’
T’brewer said; ‘’tha’s sattll’t me!’’
Bill ne’er shapped to tak his hook ,
But stood his greaund wi twinkling’ e’e.
“What art stopping’ there fer? Bowt!”
T’maisther sheauted in a crack;
“Come!’’ says billy;“s there not
At o’ for bringin th’barrel back?’’
CHORUS
Oh Billy ! What a mon!
Life’s last bodle soon tha spent,
Neaw tha’s supped o’ th’ale tha con;
It were getting’ time tha went!
Billy Winker
Vocal and Guitar Gerry Kearns; Chorus John Howarth
Billy Winker tells of the prodigious drinking exploits of a drayman. But however much we marvel at Billy’s enthusiasm and capacity for ale and no matter how much we enjoy the story the song tells, we are haunted by the last line in each refrain which reminds us that Billy, though a great drinker has “supped” himself near to death. The words are included in “Sketches and Rhymes in the Rochdale dialect” by John Trafford Clegg (Aldine Press, 1895). Clegg died March 1895, aged thirty-eight.
Vocal and Guitar Gerry Kearns; Chorus John Howarth
Billy Winker tells of the prodigious drinking exploits of a drayman. But however much we marvel at Billy’s enthusiasm and capacity for ale and no matter how much we enjoy the story the song tells, we are haunted by the last line in each refrain which reminds us that Billy, though a great drinker has “supped” himself near to death. The words are included in “Sketches and Rhymes in the Rochdale dialect” by John Trafford Clegg (Aldine Press, 1895). Clegg died March 1895, aged thirty-eight.
First published by Topic 1975
For Old Time’s Sake LP TOPIC 12TS276stereo
OLDHAM TINKERS
FOR OLD TIME’S SAKE
TOPIC 12TS276stereo
Recorded by Tony Engle
Recorded by Tony Engle, London, July 1975
Side 2 track 6, rcorded by Pete Johnson at Piccadilly Radio Studios July 1975
Notes by The Oldham Tinkers and A. L. Lloyd
Sleeve design by Tony Engle
Sleeve picture ‘Children’s Games’ by Tom Dodson, courtesy of Bell Galleries Publications
Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 2006 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The C.D. The Oldham Tinkers, ‘For Old Time’s Sake’ PIERCD 507
A classic Lancashire folk album, available for the first time on CD, with four bonus tracks and full song notes by the band and A. L. Lloyd.
For Old Time’s Sake LP TOPIC 12TS276stereo
OLDHAM TINKERS
FOR OLD TIME’S SAKE
TOPIC 12TS276stereo
Recorded by Tony Engle
Recorded by Tony Engle, London, July 1975
Side 2 track 6, rcorded by Pete Johnson at Piccadilly Radio Studios July 1975
Notes by The Oldham Tinkers and A. L. Lloyd
Sleeve design by Tony Engle
Sleeve picture ‘Children’s Games’ by Tom Dodson, courtesy of Bell Galleries Publications
Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 2006 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The C.D. The Oldham Tinkers, ‘For Old Time’s Sake’ PIERCD 507
A classic Lancashire folk album, available for the first time on CD, with four bonus tracks and full song notes by the band and A. L. Lloyd.