Peace be upon you
PEACE BE UPON YOU by Gerry Kearns
ASala malekum
We sing a song in Oldham town it’s called a mon like thee
About welcoming and friendship and hospitality
This follows a long tradition in the county of Lancashire
Of greeting strangers near and far with genuine words of cheer.
CHORUS:-
ASala malekum, ASala malekum, ASala malefum Wa alaikum assalaam
For cotton spinning Oldham Town was best in all the world
And so many nation’s flags towards its spinning mills unfurled
There were Irish, Scottish and the welsh, Ukrainian Pole and Jew
Czech, Lithuainian, Caribbean Italian and Asian too.
CHORUS
You cannot tell an Oldham by the colour of their skin
Their religion or their clothes - it’s more what lies within
What Oldhamers call proper folk, genuine and true
Who are helpful with a kindly word generous to you
CHORUS
So be your name Maria, Paddy, Safia or Mohammed
We extend a hand of friendship to you, lest you should be worried
We greet you in the spirit of our dialect poets free
With these words I’m always glad to see a mon like thee.
CHORUS twice
ASala malekum
We sing a song in Oldham town it’s called a mon like thee
About welcoming and friendship and hospitality
This follows a long tradition in the county of Lancashire
Of greeting strangers near and far with genuine words of cheer.
CHORUS:-
ASala malekum, ASala malekum, ASala malefum Wa alaikum assalaam
For cotton spinning Oldham Town was best in all the world
And so many nation’s flags towards its spinning mills unfurled
There were Irish, Scottish and the welsh, Ukrainian Pole and Jew
Czech, Lithuainian, Caribbean Italian and Asian too.
CHORUS
You cannot tell an Oldham by the colour of their skin
Their religion or their clothes - it’s more what lies within
What Oldhamers call proper folk, genuine and true
Who are helpful with a kindly word generous to you
CHORUS
So be your name Maria, Paddy, Safia or Mohammed
We extend a hand of friendship to you, lest you should be worried
We greet you in the spirit of our dialect poets free
With these words I’m always glad to see a mon like thee.
CHORUS twice
The alternative title for this song is As - salamu alykum which translates as ‘peace be upon you’ in Arabic and which of course is a greeting of the Muslim community.
As the song tries to portray, we are a nation of immigrants and this is reflected in the multiethnic background of the Oldham community. The Tinkers themselves are first generation Irish and as well as growing up within a Lancashire culture and embracing all the traditions and literature, are aware of their Irish heritage particularly the music and songs of Ireland.
The Oldham Tinkers had the privilege of singing this song at Oldham Carnival in Alexandra Park in 2015, the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Park in 1865 to mark the occasion of the marriage of Edward Prince of Wales to Alexandra of Denmark. Building the park apparently provided work for the people in the cotton industry who were badly affected by the cotton famine.
As the song tries to portray, we are a nation of immigrants and this is reflected in the multiethnic background of the Oldham community. The Tinkers themselves are first generation Irish and as well as growing up within a Lancashire culture and embracing all the traditions and literature, are aware of their Irish heritage particularly the music and songs of Ireland.
The Oldham Tinkers had the privilege of singing this song at Oldham Carnival in Alexandra Park in 2015, the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Park in 1865 to mark the occasion of the marriage of Edward Prince of Wales to Alexandra of Denmark. Building the park apparently provided work for the people in the cotton industry who were badly affected by the cotton famine.
PEACE BE UPON YOU. or As - salamu alykum
‘A LANCASHIRE GRACE’ LFCD031
THE OLDHAM TINKERS
LIMEFIELD
Recorded by Dave Howard at his studio in Bury, Lancashire
Mixed and mastered by John Ellis and Will Falkiner at Limefield Studio, Middleton, Manchester
Vocal: Gerry Kearns, chorus: John Howarth and Dave Howard.
Instruments: John Howarth banjo, Dave Howard mandolin and Gerry Kearns guitar.
‘A LANCASHIRE GRACE’ LFCD031
THE OLDHAM TINKERS
LIMEFIELD
Recorded by Dave Howard at his studio in Bury, Lancashire
Mixed and mastered by John Ellis and Will Falkiner at Limefield Studio, Middleton, Manchester
Vocal: Gerry Kearns, chorus: John Howarth and Dave Howard.
Instruments: John Howarth banjo, Dave Howard mandolin and Gerry Kearns guitar.