Coalhole Medley
John Howarth, vocal & banjo; Gerry Kearns, vocal & guitar; Larry Kearns, vocal, whistle and mandolin
We’re reet down in t’ coal ‘ole where t’muck slops on t’ winders,
We’ve used all our coal up an’ we’re reet down to t’ cinders.
If t ’bum bailiff calls he wont know where to find us,
‘Cos we’re reet down in t’ coal ‘ole where t’ muck slops on t’ winders
Cups an’ saucers, plates an’ dishes, little black lads wi’ calico britches.
Where’s tha’ bin lad, a sellin’ papers, who a’for, mi Uncle Willie.
What’s he gan thi, a skinny owd ‘alfpenny, tight owd bugger
He ought to dee.
On the croft, on the croft, where we played pitch an’ toss
An’ a copper came an’ chased us away;
So I hit him on the head wi’ a bloody big lump o’ lead,
An’ the slimey little bugger ran away.
Oh Mary was a weepin’ a weepin’ a weepin’,
Oh Mary was a weepin’ on a bright summer’s day.
Oh Mary what you weepin’ fer, what ‘yu’ weepin’ fer, what ‘yu’ weepin fer,
Oh Mary what you weepin’ fer, on a bright summer’s day
I’m weepin’ fer mi lover, fer mi lover, fer mi lover,
I’m weepin fer mi lover, on a bright summers day.
Don’t touch my silk dress, mi mother will tell.
Mi boots are guinea gold, an’ yours are black lead.
Mi bonnet is blue, mi heart it is true
An’ I dare not be seen wi’ such rubbish as you.
Ee by gum, I’n’t it fun, shootin’ peas up a nanny goat’s bum?
Well I went up to heaven, one mornin’ in May.
Th’ angels said “Where dost come from an’ where dost tha’ stay?”
When I towd ‘em from Owdham, how they all did stare,
They said “Come in lad th’ert welcome, th’ert first ,un from there”.
Traditional Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers
We’re reet down in t’ coal ‘ole where t’muck slops on t’ winders,
We’ve used all our coal up an’ we’re reet down to t’ cinders.
If t ’bum bailiff calls he wont know where to find us,
‘Cos we’re reet down in t’ coal ‘ole where t’ muck slops on t’ winders
Cups an’ saucers, plates an’ dishes, little black lads wi’ calico britches.
Where’s tha’ bin lad, a sellin’ papers, who a’for, mi Uncle Willie.
What’s he gan thi, a skinny owd ‘alfpenny, tight owd bugger
He ought to dee.
On the croft, on the croft, where we played pitch an’ toss
An’ a copper came an’ chased us away;
So I hit him on the head wi’ a bloody big lump o’ lead,
An’ the slimey little bugger ran away.
Oh Mary was a weepin’ a weepin’ a weepin’,
Oh Mary was a weepin’ on a bright summer’s day.
Oh Mary what you weepin’ fer, what ‘yu’ weepin’ fer, what ‘yu’ weepin fer,
Oh Mary what you weepin’ fer, on a bright summer’s day
I’m weepin’ fer mi lover, fer mi lover, fer mi lover,
I’m weepin fer mi lover, on a bright summers day.
Don’t touch my silk dress, mi mother will tell.
Mi boots are guinea gold, an’ yours are black lead.
Mi bonnet is blue, mi heart it is true
An’ I dare not be seen wi’ such rubbish as you.
Ee by gum, I’n’t it fun, shootin’ peas up a nanny goat’s bum?
Well I went up to heaven, one mornin’ in May.
Th’ angels said “Where dost come from an’ where dost tha’ stay?”
When I towd ‘em from Owdham, how they all did stare,
They said “Come in lad th’ert welcome, th’ert first ,un from there”.
Traditional Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers
Children’s songs have always been favourites with the Oldham Tinkers and over the years they have constructed many of them, after pooling their childhood memories and usually following a theme or thread which runs throughout the medley. This was the Oldham Tinkers’ first medley and except for the fact that the song reflects the lads’ childhoods it has no theme. The songs in this group are more confined to the North-West, (the first two, Coalhole and Where’s Ta Bin Lad are also clamed by Yorkshire children). The medley is delightfully disjointed and gleefully childish. However, a little childishness at the right time often does a power of good.
Traditional Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers
First recorded and published by Topic Records 1968
Album: DEEP LANCASHIRE 12T 188
Recorded by Bill Leader
Re-issued by © PIER RECORDS 2002 under licence from TOPIC RECORDS, England.
Album: SIT THEE DOWN. PIERCD 505
First recorded and published by Topic Records 1968
Album: DEEP LANCASHIRE 12T 188
Recorded by Bill Leader
Re-issued by © PIER RECORDS 2002 under licence from TOPIC RECORDS, England.
Album: SIT THEE DOWN. PIERCD 505