Nowt About Owt
John Howarth vocal; Larry Kearns mandolin; Chris Holmes piano.
My name it is William and folk around here call me William ‘cos that is my name.
I works on a farm, every month of the year and each day of the week just the same,
But I’ve fallen in love with a buxom fine wench and I think she’s a fancy for me,
‘Cos only last evening we sat on a bench, underneath the old sycamore tree,
And we gauped at one another and never said nowt about owt.
She went a walking with me you know, down through the fields were the turnips grow,
We sat holding hands for an hour or so, and never said nowt about owt.
Last week we’d a dance down at farmer Giles barn, so I went in my best velvet cords.
Although I’m no dancer I’m willing to learn how to clump with my clogs on the board.
Now Betty were theer and she looked a fair treat, like a blooming Geranium,
And when she said “William, tha’s getten big feet, but I’ll dance with thi” I was struck dumn.
And we gauped at one another and never said nowt about owt.
She cuddled up close that I felt so queer, I wished that nobody else were near,
‘Cos I wanted to bite a lump out of her ear, But I never said nowt about owt.
At toppin’ or tailin’ or ditchin’ or railin’ I think of her all the day through.
I’m feeling that spoony I’m going quite looney, she fair makes me riddle she do.
And whether I’m ploughing or driving the cow in, I thinks when I meet her again.
Last night I said “Betty, if mother will let e, come out for a walk down the lane”,
And we gauped at one another and never said nowt about owt.
She looked at me sloppy like full of love , and cuddled up close like a turtle dove,
She looked that theer soft I gave her a shove and never said nowt about owt.
But just at that moment the moon were hid, and into my arms with a bump she slid,
’m not going to tell you just what I did, but I never said nowt about owt,
Not nowt, bowt owt, I never said nowt about owt.
My name it is William and folk around here call me William ‘cos that is my name.
I works on a farm, every month of the year and each day of the week just the same,
But I’ve fallen in love with a buxom fine wench and I think she’s a fancy for me,
‘Cos only last evening we sat on a bench, underneath the old sycamore tree,
And we gauped at one another and never said nowt about owt.
She went a walking with me you know, down through the fields were the turnips grow,
We sat holding hands for an hour or so, and never said nowt about owt.
Last week we’d a dance down at farmer Giles barn, so I went in my best velvet cords.
Although I’m no dancer I’m willing to learn how to clump with my clogs on the board.
Now Betty were theer and she looked a fair treat, like a blooming Geranium,
And when she said “William, tha’s getten big feet, but I’ll dance with thi” I was struck dumn.
And we gauped at one another and never said nowt about owt.
She cuddled up close that I felt so queer, I wished that nobody else were near,
‘Cos I wanted to bite a lump out of her ear, But I never said nowt about owt.
At toppin’ or tailin’ or ditchin’ or railin’ I think of her all the day through.
I’m feeling that spoony I’m going quite looney, she fair makes me riddle she do.
And whether I’m ploughing or driving the cow in, I thinks when I meet her again.
Last night I said “Betty, if mother will let e, come out for a walk down the lane”,
And we gauped at one another and never said nowt about owt.
She looked at me sloppy like full of love , and cuddled up close like a turtle dove,
She looked that theer soft I gave her a shove and never said nowt about owt.
But just at that moment the moon were hid, and into my arms with a bump she slid,
’m not going to tell you just what I did, but I never said nowt about owt,
Not nowt, bowt owt, I never said nowt about owt.
Nowt About Owt
John Howarth Vocal; Larry Kearns Mandolin; Chris Holmes Piano.
Paul Graney a longstanding friend of the Oldham Tinkers, assures the lads that ‘Nowt About Owt’
was first sung by an opera singer called Earnest Butcher. Earnest Butcher
must certainly have had a sense of humour, a feeling for the working man and indeed an eye for a pretty girl.
Nowt About Owt makes a pleasant change from the ‘kiss and tell’ songs that one encounters.
John Howarth Vocal; Larry Kearns Mandolin; Chris Holmes Piano.
Paul Graney a longstanding friend of the Oldham Tinkers, assures the lads that ‘Nowt About Owt’
was first sung by an opera singer called Earnest Butcher. Earnest Butcher
must certainly have had a sense of humour, a feeling for the working man and indeed an eye for a pretty girl.
Nowt About Owt makes a pleasant change from the ‘kiss and tell’ songs that one encounters.
That Lancashire Band 12TS399 stereo
The Oldham Tinkers
First published by TOPIC 1979
Produced by Tony Russell
Recorded by John Brierley, Cargo Recording Studio, Rochdale, April 1979
Notes by Larry Kearns
Released under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England
That Lancashire Band PIERCD 504
Re issued in 2000 by Pier Records
Pier Records is a Wooden Hill Recordings Ltd Label
The Oldham Tinkers
First published by TOPIC 1979
Produced by Tony Russell
Recorded by John Brierley, Cargo Recording Studio, Rochdale, April 1979
Notes by Larry Kearns
Released under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England
That Lancashire Band PIERCD 504
Re issued in 2000 by Pier Records
Pier Records is a Wooden Hill Recordings Ltd Label