I MEAN TO WAIT FOR JACK
John Howarth vocal, Gerry Kearns guitar
Kate of Wyndham Manor, and Jack of Oldham Mill,
How Long they woo’d and long they coo’d, a faithful Jack and Jill,
But times were bad for lass and lad, and sadly both confessed,
‘Twas not the thing to buy the ring before they’d lined their nest.
“Courage, lad!” said Katie, yes we’ll have to wait,
But though my dear, it’s twenty year, I’ll take no other mate
( last two lines repeated )
England wanted Jack now, for war was in the air,
And arms more grim were pressed on him than Katie’s bonny pair,
So off to Spain in rough campaign he chivvied bold Massoo,
And he fired his gun, and made him run like fun at Waterloo.
The lads round Katie gathered, but Katie bade them pack,
There’s girls enough for you to woo, I means to wait for Jack.
( last two lines repeated )
The grey in Katie’s ringlets was mingling with the brown,
When, bump-a-thump, an eager stump came pegging through the town.
“It’s me you see, come whoam ” says he “exept a leg or so,
And safe and sound here’s twenty pounds, so let the parson know.”
Jingle, jingle jingle! Set the bells a chime!
To health to bliss to love like this, that bravely bides its time.
( last two lines repeated )
Kate of Wyndham Manor, and Jack of Oldham Mill,
How Long they woo’d and long they coo’d, a faithful Jack and Jill,
But times were bad for lass and lad, and sadly both confessed,
‘Twas not the thing to buy the ring before they’d lined their nest.
“Courage, lad!” said Katie, yes we’ll have to wait,
But though my dear, it’s twenty year, I’ll take no other mate
( last two lines repeated )
England wanted Jack now, for war was in the air,
And arms more grim were pressed on him than Katie’s bonny pair,
So off to Spain in rough campaign he chivvied bold Massoo,
And he fired his gun, and made him run like fun at Waterloo.
The lads round Katie gathered, but Katie bade them pack,
There’s girls enough for you to woo, I means to wait for Jack.
( last two lines repeated )
The grey in Katie’s ringlets was mingling with the brown,
When, bump-a-thump, an eager stump came pegging through the town.
“It’s me you see, come whoam ” says he “exept a leg or so,
And safe and sound here’s twenty pounds, so let the parson know.”
Jingle, jingle jingle! Set the bells a chime!
To health to bliss to love like this, that bravely bides its time.
( last two lines repeated )
I Mean to Wait for Jack:
An oleograph from the early nineteenth century. Boy and girl, working in the mill, are too poor to marry. Jack is recruited for the Peninsular War and only returns many years later, crippled for life. But a brave face is put on it, and the wedding bells ring out. The song is from a broadside published by Bebbington of Oldham Road, Manchester, c.1850.
An oleograph from the early nineteenth century. Boy and girl, working in the mill, are too poor to marry. Jack is recruited for the Peninsular War and only returns many years later, crippled for life. But a brave face is put on it, and the wedding bells ring out. The song is from a broadside published by Bebbington of Oldham Road, Manchester, c.1850.
First published by Topic Records 1974
Recorded at Livingstone Studios
Best O’T’ Bunch LP 12TS237 STEREO
The Oldham Tinkers
(John Howarth, Larry Kearns, Gerry Kearns)
Back Street Songs of Lancashire
Produced by Tony Engle
Sleeve design by Ken Lees
Sleeve illustration by Jim Andrew
Notes by A L Lloyd and The Oldham Tinkers
Topic Records Limited
27 Nassington Road, London NW3 2TX
Re-released on CD by Pier Records in 2003 “ Best O’T’Bunch”
PIERCD 506
Pier Records is a Wooden Hill Recordings Ltd label
Recorded at Livingstone Studios
Best O’T’ Bunch LP 12TS237 STEREO
The Oldham Tinkers
(John Howarth, Larry Kearns, Gerry Kearns)
Back Street Songs of Lancashire
Produced by Tony Engle
Sleeve design by Ken Lees
Sleeve illustration by Jim Andrew
Notes by A L Lloyd and The Oldham Tinkers
Topic Records Limited
27 Nassington Road, London NW3 2TX
Re-released on CD by Pier Records in 2003 “ Best O’T’Bunch”
PIERCD 506
Pier Records is a Wooden Hill Recordings Ltd label