success to the weavers
Vocal John Howarth; Gerry Kearns guitar; Larry Kearns mandolin
Come ladies and gents I’ve a song ready made
And to hear it I’m sure you will not be afraid
For I’ll tell you at once I’m a weaver by trade
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
Here are goods every day we’re exporting by bales
And in merchandise ours, as an art, never fails
For each ship leaving port owes the weaver for sails
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
The Queen in her robes may so gracefully stand
And her nobles about her may look great and grand
Still they get all their cloth by the work of our hand
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
But for us how your soldiers would often repent
When houseless to sleep on their knapsacks they’re sent
But the weaver, you see, gives each soldier his tent
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
If exhausted you feel and by Morpheus you’re beat
In the heat or the cold a small rest will be sweet
Then think of the weaver’s fine blanket and sheet
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
The ladies are pretty as all will confess
And he’s stupid or blind, I’m sure, who says less
But then to the weavers they’re indebted for dress
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
Then since we for mankind are sent here to weave
O’er our looms and our shuttles we’ll not idly grieve
But my song is just ended – so I’ll take my leave
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
Traditional,
Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers.
Come ladies and gents I’ve a song ready made
And to hear it I’m sure you will not be afraid
For I’ll tell you at once I’m a weaver by trade
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
Here are goods every day we’re exporting by bales
And in merchandise ours, as an art, never fails
For each ship leaving port owes the weaver for sails
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
The Queen in her robes may so gracefully stand
And her nobles about her may look great and grand
Still they get all their cloth by the work of our hand
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
But for us how your soldiers would often repent
When houseless to sleep on their knapsacks they’re sent
But the weaver, you see, gives each soldier his tent
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
If exhausted you feel and by Morpheus you’re beat
In the heat or the cold a small rest will be sweet
Then think of the weaver’s fine blanket and sheet
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
The ladies are pretty as all will confess
And he’s stupid or blind, I’m sure, who says less
But then to the weavers they’re indebted for dress
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
Then since we for mankind are sent here to weave
O’er our looms and our shuttles we’ll not idly grieve
But my song is just ended – so I’ll take my leave
So we’ll sing success to the weavers
The weavers for ever, huzza.
Traditional,
Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers.
Nineteenth century textile workers’ songs are mostly either complaints of hard treatment or celebrations of pride in the trade. The protest songs were made by the workers themselves; the moral boosters were mainly the work of professional entertainers. Not always though. Maybe this perky broadside piece was written by a weaver. The Oldham Tinkers learnt it in the mid sixties when taking part in a documentary radio feature by the author and historian Charles Chilton, this song is indeed a proud musical celebration of a trade.
It is hardly likely however that the enthusiasm of the song was shared by the weavers of the day. In 1820, William Varley of Higham near Burnley, himself a weaver wrote, “Alas poor weaver, thy fond hopes of better days always prove abortive; distress and pain are thy true companions; thy haggard and meagre looks indicate thy hard wage, slavery which knows no bounds”. How do you bet?
It is hardly likely however that the enthusiasm of the song was shared by the weavers of the day. In 1820, William Varley of Higham near Burnley, himself a weaver wrote, “Alas poor weaver, thy fond hopes of better days always prove abortive; distress and pain are thy true companions; thy haggard and meagre looks indicate thy hard wage, slavery which knows no bounds”. How do you bet?
First recorded and published by Topic Records 1971
Album: OLDHAM’S BURNING SANDS. 12TS 206 STEREO
The Oldham Tinkers
Ballads, Songs & Daft Ditties
First published by Topic 1971
Recorded at TPA (Tin Pan Ally) Studios 1971
Produced by A L Lloyd
Sleeve design Humphrey Weightman
Photography by Benny Kearns
Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 1999 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The C.D. The Oldham Tinkers, ‘A FINE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN’, The best of TOPIC YEARS. PIERCD 501
Pier Records is a Wooden Hill Recordings Ltd label.
This album features remastered original recordings of the very best or the Oldham Tinkers. Compiled by B.B.C. presenter ANDY KERSHAW with a booklet including extensive new sleeve notes by Larry Kearns.
Album: OLDHAM’S BURNING SANDS. 12TS 206 STEREO
The Oldham Tinkers
Ballads, Songs & Daft Ditties
First published by Topic 1971
Recorded at TPA (Tin Pan Ally) Studios 1971
Produced by A L Lloyd
Sleeve design Humphrey Weightman
Photography by Benny Kearns
Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 1999 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The C.D. The Oldham Tinkers, ‘A FINE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN’, The best of TOPIC YEARS. PIERCD 501
Pier Records is a Wooden Hill Recordings Ltd label.
This album features remastered original recordings of the very best or the Oldham Tinkers. Compiled by B.B.C. presenter ANDY KERSHAW with a booklet including extensive new sleeve notes by Larry Kearns.