Eawr Sarah's Getten A Chap
Eawr Sarah’s Getten A Chap
6 verses.
by Sam Fitton
Vocal and Banjo John Howarth; Mandolin ,Larry Kearns;Guitar Gerry Kearns.
Eh, dear; there’s bin some changes in
Eawr heause this week or two;
Where once there used to be a din
It’s like a Sunday schoo’;
We never fight for apple pie,
We very seldom frap;
An’ what d’ye think’s the reason why?
Eawr Sarah’s getten a chap.
Eawr fender shines just like a bell,
We’n had it silvered o’er;
An’th cat appears to wash itsel’
Moor often than before;
Eawr little Nathan’s wiped his nose,
Eawr Jimmy’s brushed his cap;
An’ o this fuss is just because
Eawr Sarah’s getten a chap.
He’s one of those young “nutty” men
They sen he’s brass an’o,
My mother’s apron’s alls clen,
For fear he gives a co;
We’n polished up th’dur knocker , too;
We’r swanky yo’ can tell;
But Sahra says it winno do,
We’st ha to have a bell.
We bowt a carpet t’other neet,
To wear it seems a sin;
My feyther has to wipe his feet
Before he dar come in;
He never seems a’whoam someheaw,
He says he’s noan on th’ map;
He alllus wears a collar neaw
Eawr Sarah’s getten a chap.
He comes o’ courtin’ every neet,
He fills eawr cat wi’ dread;
He’s sky-blue gaiters on his feet,
An’ hair-oil on his yed;
He likes to swank about an’ strut
An’ talk abeawt his “biz”;
He’s summat in an office, but
I don’t know what it is.
He’s put eawr household in a whirl,
He’s sich a howlin’ swell,
I weesh he’d find another girl,
Or goo an’ loose hissel’;
Eawr parrot’s gone an’ cocked its toes,
Eawr rooster canno’ flap;
We’re gooin’ daft an’ o becose
Eawr Sarah’s getten a chap.
6 verses.
by Sam Fitton
Vocal and Banjo John Howarth; Mandolin ,Larry Kearns;Guitar Gerry Kearns.
Eh, dear; there’s bin some changes in
Eawr heause this week or two;
Where once there used to be a din
It’s like a Sunday schoo’;
We never fight for apple pie,
We very seldom frap;
An’ what d’ye think’s the reason why?
Eawr Sarah’s getten a chap.
Eawr fender shines just like a bell,
We’n had it silvered o’er;
An’th cat appears to wash itsel’
Moor often than before;
Eawr little Nathan’s wiped his nose,
Eawr Jimmy’s brushed his cap;
An’ o this fuss is just because
Eawr Sarah’s getten a chap.
He’s one of those young “nutty” men
They sen he’s brass an’o,
My mother’s apron’s alls clen,
For fear he gives a co;
We’n polished up th’dur knocker , too;
We’r swanky yo’ can tell;
But Sahra says it winno do,
We’st ha to have a bell.
We bowt a carpet t’other neet,
To wear it seems a sin;
My feyther has to wipe his feet
Before he dar come in;
He never seems a’whoam someheaw,
He says he’s noan on th’ map;
He alllus wears a collar neaw
Eawr Sarah’s getten a chap.
He comes o’ courtin’ every neet,
He fills eawr cat wi’ dread;
He’s sky-blue gaiters on his feet,
An’ hair-oil on his yed;
He likes to swank about an’ strut
An’ talk abeawt his “biz”;
He’s summat in an office, but
I don’t know what it is.
He’s put eawr household in a whirl,
He’s sich a howlin’ swell,
I weesh he’d find another girl,
Or goo an’ loose hissel’;
Eawr parrot’s gone an’ cocked its toes,
Eawr rooster canno’ flap;
We’re gooin’ daft an’ o becose
Eawr Sarah’s getten a chap.
Notes on LP ‘OWDAM EDGE’ 12T204 by Harry and Lesley Boardman.
‘Our Sarah’s Getten A Chap .
Close observation of the most minute details of family life and its comic aspect has been a strong point with Lancashire poets, song writers and comedians. Sam Fitton, the author of this song, took a situation known to many, where the whole family is disrupted when big sister starts courting. It would have been bad enough if Sarah had been pursued by a local lad from down the street, but a slickly dressed young man who worked in an office and was therefore, by definition ‘posh’ was too much. Most members the family could be expected to co-operate, but little brothers can take on an evil aspect in situations of this kind and have probably ruined many a beautiful relationship.
Sam Fitton of Rochdale, described as a humorist, dialect writer, author, artist, playwright , reciter, singer and musician, was a cartoonist in Cotton Factory Times for a number of years and much of his work appeared in the Manchester Weekly Times and Liverpool Weekly Post in 1912, he began publishing the Crompton Chanticleer, a monthly magazine of humorous prose and verse, which was re-named Sam Fitton’s Humorous Monthly. Sam Fitton died in Rochdale in 1923.
Notes on CD ‘THAT LANCASHIRE BAND’ PIERCD 504 by Larry Kearns.
‘Our Sarah’s Getten A Chap’
Guitar- Gerry Kearns, Banjo & Vocal- John Howarth, Mandolin-Larry Kearns
This song of family turmoil caused by the otherwise normal and natural occurrence of the daughter taking a beau or starting courting is typical of many poems , tales and stories of its time. However, this one is a gem. A character destruction (and a family study).
It is only fair to assume that within the context of the poem, now a song, that the narrator is Sarah’s brother. The real author of course is Sam Fitton. Not born in Lancashire but in Spen Green near Sandbatch in Cheshire. However, he moved to Crompton near Oldham with his family when he was ten years old. His name has become synonymous with Lancashire dialect poetry.
John Howarth delved deeply and cleverly into the musical archives of his Gaelic relatives to match the poem perfectly with the tune of ‘O’Rielly’s Will’.
The Oldham Tinkers performed this song with many others for Colin Welland’s award winning ‘Television playoff the year’ on BBC1 inn 1973 ‘Kisses at Fifty’.
‘Our Sarah’s Getten A Chap .
Close observation of the most minute details of family life and its comic aspect has been a strong point with Lancashire poets, song writers and comedians. Sam Fitton, the author of this song, took a situation known to many, where the whole family is disrupted when big sister starts courting. It would have been bad enough if Sarah had been pursued by a local lad from down the street, but a slickly dressed young man who worked in an office and was therefore, by definition ‘posh’ was too much. Most members the family could be expected to co-operate, but little brothers can take on an evil aspect in situations of this kind and have probably ruined many a beautiful relationship.
Sam Fitton of Rochdale, described as a humorist, dialect writer, author, artist, playwright , reciter, singer and musician, was a cartoonist in Cotton Factory Times for a number of years and much of his work appeared in the Manchester Weekly Times and Liverpool Weekly Post in 1912, he began publishing the Crompton Chanticleer, a monthly magazine of humorous prose and verse, which was re-named Sam Fitton’s Humorous Monthly. Sam Fitton died in Rochdale in 1923.
Notes on CD ‘THAT LANCASHIRE BAND’ PIERCD 504 by Larry Kearns.
‘Our Sarah’s Getten A Chap’
Guitar- Gerry Kearns, Banjo & Vocal- John Howarth, Mandolin-Larry Kearns
This song of family turmoil caused by the otherwise normal and natural occurrence of the daughter taking a beau or starting courting is typical of many poems , tales and stories of its time. However, this one is a gem. A character destruction (and a family study).
It is only fair to assume that within the context of the poem, now a song, that the narrator is Sarah’s brother. The real author of course is Sam Fitton. Not born in Lancashire but in Spen Green near Sandbatch in Cheshire. However, he moved to Crompton near Oldham with his family when he was ten years old. His name has become synonymous with Lancashire dialect poetry.
John Howarth delved deeply and cleverly into the musical archives of his Gaelic relatives to match the poem perfectly with the tune of ‘O’Rielly’s Will’.
The Oldham Tinkers performed this song with many others for Colin Welland’s award winning ‘Television playoff the year’ on BBC1 inn 1973 ‘Kisses at Fifty’.
First issued by TOPIC 1970
‘OWDHAM EDGE’ LP 12T204
Popular Song and Verse from Lancashire
Recorded by Sean Davis 1970
Notes by Harry and Lesley Boardman
Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 2000 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The CD ‘That Lancashire Band’ PIERCD 504
Notes by Larry Kearns
‘OWDHAM EDGE’ LP 12T204
Popular Song and Verse from Lancashire
Recorded by Sean Davis 1970
Notes by Harry and Lesley Boardman
Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 2000 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The CD ‘That Lancashire Band’ PIERCD 504
Notes by Larry Kearns