Pennine Rangers
Three Pennine Rangers went up to’ th’ hut,
The beans
were on the primus all covered with soot.
One Pennine Ranger went to shut the door,
The beans fell off the primus and covered the floor.
Three Pennine Rangers looking very sad,
One said to th’ other “Ee my lads that’s bad.
For there goes our supper, sustaining and supreme.
How can a Ranger exist without his beans?”
Then in the distance coming very quick
Came a Pennine Ranger and in hand a stick
An’ in t’other, what do you think was seen?
You’re right first time lads, a dozen tins of beans.
Soon the Pennine Rangers were sat down to a feed.
Each the other’s capacity was trying to exceed.
When they had finished they couldn’t get through the door.
So they had to spend the night with the beans upon the floor.
Now my gentle Rangers my story it is told
And if you’ll take my advice you’ll eat your beans stone cold,
without a spoon.
Traditional
Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers
The beans
were on the primus all covered with soot.
One Pennine Ranger went to shut the door,
The beans fell off the primus and covered the floor.
Three Pennine Rangers looking very sad,
One said to th’ other “Ee my lads that’s bad.
For there goes our supper, sustaining and supreme.
How can a Ranger exist without his beans?”
Then in the distance coming very quick
Came a Pennine Ranger and in hand a stick
An’ in t’other, what do you think was seen?
You’re right first time lads, a dozen tins of beans.
Soon the Pennine Rangers were sat down to a feed.
Each the other’s capacity was trying to exceed.
When they had finished they couldn’t get through the door.
So they had to spend the night with the beans upon the floor.
Now my gentle Rangers my story it is told
And if you’ll take my advice you’ll eat your beans stone cold,
without a spoon.
Traditional
Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers
This song was taught to the Oldham Tinkers by their two friends, Laurie Cassidy, alas now deceased and Francis Connor, who were part of a walking club called the “Pennine Rangers.” The antics of some of its members are incredible and are still being recounted in serial form by Francis Connor every time he and the Oldham Tinkers get together for a “do”, even though each instalment actually happened forty years ago. Francis swears that when they were hiking the “Pennine Rangers” lived solely on beans and there lies the crux of the song. It was written by Laurie’s brother Jim, or Seamus as he is sometimes known together with the now famous Bernard Cribbins, both of whom were members of the “Pennine Rangers”.
First published by Topic Records 1974
Best O’T’ Bunch LP 12TS237 STEREO
The Oldham Tinkers
(John Howarth, Larry Kearns, Gerry Kearns)
Back Street Songs of Lancashire
Recorded at Livingstone Studios
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
Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 2003 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The C.D. The Oldham Tinkers, ‘Best O’ T’ Bunch’ Back Street Songs of Lancashire. PIERCD 506
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.
Best O’T’ Bunch LP 12TS237 STEREO
The Oldham Tinkers
(John Howarth, Larry Kearns, Gerry Kearns)
Back Street Songs of Lancashire
Recorded at Livingstone Studios
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
Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 2003 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The C.D. The Oldham Tinkers, ‘Best O’ T’ Bunch’ Back Street Songs of Lancashire. PIERCD 506
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.