Charlie Chaplin
Gerry Kearns, vocal & guitar; Larry Kearns, vocal & mandolin; John Howarth, vocal & banjo
Chorus
The moon shines bright on Charlie Chaplin
His boots are crackin’ for want of blackin‘
And his owd fusty coat is wanting mending
Until they send him to the Dardenelles
Charlie Chaplin had no sense.
He bought a fiddle for eighteen pence.
The only tune that he could play
Was tarara boomdiay.
Chorus
Charlie Chaplin meek and mild,
Swiped a sausage from a child.
When the child began to cry
Charlie socked him in the eye.
Chorus
Charlie Chaplin went to France
To teach the ladies how to dance;
“First you heel, then you toe;
Lift up your skirts and round you go”.
Chorus
Charlie Charlie Chuck Chuck Chuck
Went to bed with three white ducks.
One died. Charlie cried.
Charlie Charlie Chuck Chuck Chuck.
Chorus
One, two three, a lera,
I saw my auntie Sarah
Standing at the door, a lera
Kissing Charlie Chaplin.
Chorus
The moon shines bright on Charlie Chaplin
His boots are crackin’ for want of blackin‘
And his owd fusty coat is wanting mending
Until they send him to the Dardenelles
Chorus
The moon shines bright on Charlie Chaplin
His boots are crackin’ for want of blackin‘
And his owd fusty coat is wanting mending
Until they send him to the Dardenelles
Charlie Chaplin had no sense.
He bought a fiddle for eighteen pence.
The only tune that he could play
Was tarara boomdiay.
Chorus
Charlie Chaplin meek and mild,
Swiped a sausage from a child.
When the child began to cry
Charlie socked him in the eye.
Chorus
Charlie Chaplin went to France
To teach the ladies how to dance;
“First you heel, then you toe;
Lift up your skirts and round you go”.
Chorus
Charlie Charlie Chuck Chuck Chuck
Went to bed with three white ducks.
One died. Charlie cried.
Charlie Charlie Chuck Chuck Chuck.
Chorus
One, two three, a lera,
I saw my auntie Sarah
Standing at the door, a lera
Kissing Charlie Chaplin.
Chorus
The moon shines bright on Charlie Chaplin
His boots are crackin’ for want of blackin‘
And his owd fusty coat is wanting mending
Until they send him to the Dardenelles
All over the English-speaking world, North America and the Caribbean, Australasia and South Africa and Oldham, the dauntless chaplin still features as the hero of many children’s rhymes, and his adventures and fancies have remained green for more than eighty years, suitably fitted to an out-of-date yet deathless tune of an Indian maid, Redwing. Before television, children, especially the little girls, used to weave their dreams and fantasies as they indulged in skipping games, chasing games and ball games.
Such games were often dramatic and ritualistic and were accompanied by songs and chants. Mary Queen of Scots around whom the little girls danced in her sadness, the King of Spain who came to help them with their washing, Christ himself, Christ’s mother, Paul Temple, Dick Barton and Shirley Temple all featured.
However it was Charlie Chaplin who merited pride of place in the songs of the kids. About 40 years ago the Oldham Tinkers strung together all the songs they could remember being sung about Charlie Chaplin and punctuated them with a chorus which in its present form has its roots buried in the trenches of the great war.
Such games were often dramatic and ritualistic and were accompanied by songs and chants. Mary Queen of Scots around whom the little girls danced in her sadness, the King of Spain who came to help them with their washing, Christ himself, Christ’s mother, Paul Temple, Dick Barton and Shirley Temple all featured.
However it was Charlie Chaplin who merited pride of place in the songs of the kids. About 40 years ago the Oldham Tinkers strung together all the songs they could remember being sung about Charlie Chaplin and punctuated them with a chorus which in its present form has its roots buried in the trenches of the great war.
Traditional, Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers.
First recorded and published by Topic Records 1974
Album: OLDHAM’S BURNING SANDS. 12TS 206 STEREO
Recorded at Tin Pan Alley Studios
Produced by 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. PIERCD501
First recorded and published by Topic Records 1974
Album: OLDHAM’S BURNING SANDS. 12TS 206 STEREO
Recorded at Tin Pan Alley Studios
Produced by 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. PIERCD501