by Cliff Gerrard
Gerry Kearns vocal & guitar
Each time our Joe became a dad,
He’d act aw posh an’ regal,
An’ hopin’ it would be a lad,
He’d book t’top room at th’ Eagle.
But every time he geet let down,
As lass would follow lass,
His brow would wrinkle in a freawn,
An’ he’d scarcely raise his glass.
T’relations didn’t mind one bit,
Twelve lovely do’s they’d had,
They’d say “Weel done Joe, this is it,
Ten bob says it’s a lad!”
An’ then – when Joe were forty-eight,
A lad! Eawer Joe went daft,
T’top room at th’Eagle groaned wi’ t’weight,
They supped, they skriked, they laughed.
“Who does he favver,” Joe asked one,
“Yore Jem, Yore Jack, or Grace?”
Joe grinned. “Ah’ve no idea owd son,
Ah’ve ne’er looked at his face!”
Vocal & Guitar Gerry Kearns
Each time our Joe became a dad,
He’d act aw posh an’ regal,
An’ hopin’ it would be a lad,
He’d book t’top room at th’ Eagle.
But every time he geet let down,
As lass would follow lass,
His brow would wrinkle in a freawn,
An’ he’d scarcely raise his glass.
T’relations didn’t mind one bit,
Twelve lovely do’s they’d had,
They’d say “Weel done Joe, this is it,
Ten bob says it’s a lad!”
An’ then – when Joe were forty-eight,
A lad! Eawer Joe went daft,
T’top room at th’Eagle groaned wi’ t’weight,
They supped, they skriked, they laughed.
“Who does he favver,” Joe asked one,
“Yore Jem, Yore Jack, or Grace?”
Joe grinned. “Ah’ve no idea owd son,
Ah’ve ne’er looked at his face!”
Vocal & Guitar Gerry Kearns
Eawer Joe’s Lad was written by Cliff Gerrard, whom Gerry always describes as “a dialect poet; and a good ‘un”. Cliff wrote the piece as a poem and Gerry later added the music. In his sensitivity, clearly disguised by northern humour, Cliff depicts the frustrations and disappointments of a St Helens father unable to determine the sex of his offspring. When Gerry sings this song in concert, audiences often display as much relief as Joe himself.
Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers
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.
Released on CD 2006
The Oldham Tinkers
For Old Time’s Sake PIERCD 507
Released under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England
© 2006 Pier Records
Pier Records is a Wooden Hill recordings Ltd label
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.
Released on CD 2006
The Oldham Tinkers
For Old Time’s Sake PIERCD 507
Released under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England
© 2006 Pier Records
Pier Records is a Wooden Hill recordings Ltd label