John Willie's Horse
From between the shafts of a ragman’s cart,
John Willie took an ‘orse.
He fed ‘im duck an’ muffin an’ he trained ‘im fer the course.
He raced ‘im at every racecourse ‘gainst the finest an’ the choice,
But there wasn’t a mount in England as could lick John Willie’s ‘orse.
Lick John Willie’s ‘orse.
Well a favourite with the gentry at Ascot Royal one day,
Unaffected by the Royalty and wealth an’ fine array,
He quickly took the lead and was the first to end the course
To the cheers of the Lords and Ladies shoutin’ “Up John Willie’s ‘orse”.
Up John Willie’s ‘orse.
Once Jimmy Frizzell sent fer ‘im when flu had taken its toll.
He turned out fer the Latics an’ he scored the winning goal.
The crowd went mad and cheered and sang an’ shouted themselves ‘oarse
And the players they all gathered round to kiss John Willie’s ‘orse.
Kiss John Willie’s ‘orse.
Last year the Owdam ‘Orse Show was held in t’middle o’t’ town.
There wer’ mares in t’ Mayor’s own parlour, there was ‘orse flesh shown all round.
There wer’ donkeys shown on t’ Greaves Arms’ steps and stallions too, of course.
But between the pillars on the town hall steps, John Willie showed ‘is ‘orse.
Words Larry Kearns
John Willie took an ‘orse.
He fed ‘im duck an’ muffin an’ he trained ‘im fer the course.
He raced ‘im at every racecourse ‘gainst the finest an’ the choice,
But there wasn’t a mount in England as could lick John Willie’s ‘orse.
Lick John Willie’s ‘orse.
Well a favourite with the gentry at Ascot Royal one day,
Unaffected by the Royalty and wealth an’ fine array,
He quickly took the lead and was the first to end the course
To the cheers of the Lords and Ladies shoutin’ “Up John Willie’s ‘orse”.
Up John Willie’s ‘orse.
Once Jimmy Frizzell sent fer ‘im when flu had taken its toll.
He turned out fer the Latics an’ he scored the winning goal.
The crowd went mad and cheered and sang an’ shouted themselves ‘oarse
And the players they all gathered round to kiss John Willie’s ‘orse.
Kiss John Willie’s ‘orse.
Last year the Owdam ‘Orse Show was held in t’middle o’t’ town.
There wer’ mares in t’ Mayor’s own parlour, there was ‘orse flesh shown all round.
There wer’ donkeys shown on t’ Greaves Arms’ steps and stallions too, of course.
But between the pillars on the town hall steps, John Willie showed ‘is ‘orse.
Words Larry Kearns
Just as in “Oldham’s Burning Sands” the Oldham Tinkers imply a contrast between the splendour of the Orient and the reality of Oldham; so here we have a metaphor in song involving a cowboy tune and John Willie’s Horse: a kind of Oldham Trigger with the town of Oldham, and indeed Ascot too, as its oyster. Larry, who wrote the song, avows that John Willie’s Horse was reared by Joe Batey on his ranch behind the Delta cotton mill, near where he and John went to school. Adding to the fun of the song is the fact that the trio has resurrected John Willie who was often heralded by George Formby and his father.
First recorded and published by Topic Records 1975.
Album: FOR OLD TIME’S SAKE 12TS276 stereo.
Recorded and produced by Tony Engle, London, July 1975
Notes by The Oldham Tinkers and A.L.Lloyd.
Re-released by © PIER RECORDS 1999 under licence from TOPIC RECORDS, England.
BBC Broadcaster Andy Kershaw put this CD together with the help of PIER RECORDS on an album entitled A FINE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN, The Best of the Topic Years. PIERCD 501
&
Released on CD 2006
The Oldham Tinkers
For Old Time’s Sake PIERCD 507
Released under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England
(P) 1975 (Tracks 1-12) (P) (Tracks 13-16) (P) (Track 17)
© 2006 Pier Records
Pier Records is a Wooden Hill recordings Ltd label
Album: FOR OLD TIME’S SAKE 12TS276 stereo.
Recorded and produced by Tony Engle, London, July 1975
Notes by The Oldham Tinkers and A.L.Lloyd.
Re-released by © PIER RECORDS 1999 under licence from TOPIC RECORDS, England.
BBC Broadcaster Andy Kershaw put this CD together with the help of PIER RECORDS on an album entitled A FINE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN, The Best of the Topic Years. PIERCD 501
&
Released on CD 2006
The Oldham Tinkers
For Old Time’s Sake PIERCD 507
Released under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England
(P) 1975 (Tracks 1-12) (P) (Tracks 13-16) (P) (Track 17)
© 2006 Pier Records
Pier Records is a Wooden Hill recordings Ltd label