JUMPING JACK
John Howarth vocal & banjo; Gerry Kearns chorus & guitar; Larry Kearns chorus & mandolin
Chorus
Watch ‘im goo, you gradley prancer,
Tappin’ toes, an’ clackin’ ‘eels;
Jumpin’ Jack, ‘ee’s best clug dancer
E’er stepped eawt wi’ jigs an’ reels.
Twistin’, turnin’, pointin’, prancin’,
While th’ owd fiddle sings away;
Leeter than a fither dancin’
On a breeze i’ t’month o’ May
Watch yon childer clap together,
Keepin’ time t’ click an’ clack,
Summer, Winther, onny weather,
Eawt thi coom to Jumpin’ Jack.
Carnivals corn’t do wi’ eawt ‘im,
Churches want ‘im for t’ bazaars,
O’er Sixties weren’t bi beawt ‘im,
Sooner ‘im ner t’ telly stars.
Chorus
Watch ‘im goo, you gradley prancer,
Tappin’ toes, an’ clackin’ ‘eels;
Jumpin’ Jack, ‘ee’s best clug dancer
E’er stepped eawt wi’ jigs an’ reels.
Twistin’, turnin’, pointin’, prancin’,
While th’ owd fiddle sings away;
Leeter than a fither dancin’
On a breeze i’ t’month o’ May
Pair on pair o’ clugs ‘ee’s batthered,
Still ‘is pins er sthraight an ‘ thrue,
As on t’ day when ‘ee fust clatthered,
I’ new clugs when ‘ee were two.
Jack lad, keep thi toes I’ fettle,
Mak’ eawr spirits gay an’ leet,
Though thi clugs be shod wi’ metal,
Wi find gowd I’ them two feet.
Chorus
Watch ‘im goo, you gradley prancer,
Tappin’ toes, an’ clackin’ ‘eels;
Jumpin’ Jack, ‘ee’s best clug dancer
E’er stepped eawt wi’ jigs an’ reels.
Twistin’, turnin’, pointin’, prancin’,
While th’ owd fiddle sings away;
Leeter than a fither dancin’
On a breeze i’ t’month o’ May
Words Eric Holt
Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers
Chorus
Watch ‘im goo, you gradley prancer,
Tappin’ toes, an’ clackin’ ‘eels;
Jumpin’ Jack, ‘ee’s best clug dancer
E’er stepped eawt wi’ jigs an’ reels.
Twistin’, turnin’, pointin’, prancin’,
While th’ owd fiddle sings away;
Leeter than a fither dancin’
On a breeze i’ t’month o’ May
Watch yon childer clap together,
Keepin’ time t’ click an’ clack,
Summer, Winther, onny weather,
Eawt thi coom to Jumpin’ Jack.
Carnivals corn’t do wi’ eawt ‘im,
Churches want ‘im for t’ bazaars,
O’er Sixties weren’t bi beawt ‘im,
Sooner ‘im ner t’ telly stars.
Chorus
Watch ‘im goo, you gradley prancer,
Tappin’ toes, an’ clackin’ ‘eels;
Jumpin’ Jack, ‘ee’s best clug dancer
E’er stepped eawt wi’ jigs an’ reels.
Twistin’, turnin’, pointin’, prancin’,
While th’ owd fiddle sings away;
Leeter than a fither dancin’
On a breeze i’ t’month o’ May
Pair on pair o’ clugs ‘ee’s batthered,
Still ‘is pins er sthraight an ‘ thrue,
As on t’ day when ‘ee fust clatthered,
I’ new clugs when ‘ee were two.
Jack lad, keep thi toes I’ fettle,
Mak’ eawr spirits gay an’ leet,
Though thi clugs be shod wi’ metal,
Wi find gowd I’ them two feet.
Chorus
Watch ‘im goo, you gradley prancer,
Tappin’ toes, an’ clackin’ ‘eels;
Jumpin’ Jack, ‘ee’s best clug dancer
E’er stepped eawt wi’ jigs an’ reels.
Twistin’, turnin’, pointin’, prancin’,
While th’ owd fiddle sings away;
Leeter than a fither dancin’
On a breeze i’ t’month o’ May
Words Eric Holt
Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers
Jumping Jack
Vocal and Banjo John Howarth; Vocal and Guitar Gerry Kearns; Mandolin Larry Kearns
Jumping Jack written as a poem by Eric Holt is so onomatopoeic that it calls to mind Hilaire Belloc’s Tarantella:
‘And the Hip! Hop! Hap!
Of the clap
Of the hands to the twirl and the swirl
Of the girl gone chancing,
Glancing,
Dancing,
Backing and advancing,
Snapping of the clapper to the spin
Out and in
And the Ting, Tong, Tang of the Guitar.’
In Eric’s poem the exotic Iberian air is replaced by a warmer homelier Lancashire atmosphere and the rhythm of Jumping Jack is less complicated but no less catchy. Gerry’s tune adds enthusiasm and variation.
Vocal and Banjo John Howarth; Vocal and Guitar Gerry Kearns; Mandolin Larry Kearns
Jumping Jack written as a poem by Eric Holt is so onomatopoeic that it calls to mind Hilaire Belloc’s Tarantella:
‘And the Hip! Hop! Hap!
Of the clap
Of the hands to the twirl and the swirl
Of the girl gone chancing,
Glancing,
Dancing,
Backing and advancing,
Snapping of the clapper to the spin
Out and in
And the Ting, Tong, Tang of the Guitar.’
In Eric’s poem the exotic Iberian air is replaced by a warmer homelier Lancashire atmosphere and the rhythm of Jumping Jack is less complicated but no less catchy. Gerry’s tune adds enthusiasm and variation.
First published by Topic 1977 "Sit Thee Down" LP 12TS323 STEREO
The Oldham Tinkers
Gerry Kearns vocal, guitar
Larry Kearns vocal, mandolin, whistle
John Howarth vocal, banjo, whistle
Recorded and produced by Tony Engle in London
Notes by Larry Kearns
Sleeve design by Tony Engle
Illustration by John Atkinson
Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 2002 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The C.D. The Oldham Tinkers, ‘Sit Thee Down’ PIERCD 505
A classic Lancashire folk album, available for the first time on CD, with four bonus tracks and full song
The Oldham Tinkers
Gerry Kearns vocal, guitar
Larry Kearns vocal, mandolin, whistle
John Howarth vocal, banjo, whistle
Recorded and produced by Tony Engle in London
Notes by Larry Kearns
Sleeve design by Tony Engle
Illustration by John Atkinson
Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 2002 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The C.D. The Oldham Tinkers, ‘Sit Thee Down’ PIERCD 505
A classic Lancashire folk album, available for the first time on CD, with four bonus tracks and full song