John Howarth vocal & banjo; Larry Kearns voca & mandolin, whistle; Gerry Kearns vocal & guitar.
Chorus: We’ll skip the Maypole, the Maypole, the Maypole,
We’ll skip the Maypole, tra la la la la la.
Who made the flowers grow, the flowers grow, the flowers grow?
Who made the flowers grow? Tra la la la la la.
God made the flowers grow, the flowers grow, the flowers grow.
God made the flowers grow, tra la la la la la.
Chorus
Who made the fishes swim, the fishes swim, the fishes swim?
Who made the fishes swim? Tra la la la la la.
God made the fishes swim, the fishes swim, the fishes swim.
God made the fishes swim, tra la la la la la.
Chorus
Who made the birdies sing, the birdies sing, the birdies sing?
Who made the birdies sing? Tra la la la la.
God made the birdies sing, the birdies sing, the birdies sing.
God made the birdies sing, tra la la la la.
Chorus
Molly dancers kicking up a row, kicking up a row, kicking up a row.
Molly dancers kicking up a row, my fair lady.
Cheese and bread, the owd cows dead, bake it in a lantern.
A bit for thee and a bit for me and a bit for the Molly dancers.
Chorus
Traditional
Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers
Chorus: We’ll skip the Maypole, the Maypole, the Maypole,
We’ll skip the Maypole, tra la la la la la.
Who made the flowers grow, the flowers grow, the flowers grow?
Who made the flowers grow? Tra la la la la la.
God made the flowers grow, the flowers grow, the flowers grow.
God made the flowers grow, tra la la la la la.
Chorus
Who made the fishes swim, the fishes swim, the fishes swim?
Who made the fishes swim? Tra la la la la la.
God made the fishes swim, the fishes swim, the fishes swim.
God made the fishes swim, tra la la la la la.
Chorus
Who made the birdies sing, the birdies sing, the birdies sing?
Who made the birdies sing? Tra la la la la.
God made the birdies sing, the birdies sing, the birdies sing.
God made the birdies sing, tra la la la la.
Chorus
Molly dancers kicking up a row, kicking up a row, kicking up a row.
Molly dancers kicking up a row, my fair lady.
Cheese and bread, the owd cows dead, bake it in a lantern.
A bit for thee and a bit for me and a bit for the Molly dancers.
Chorus
Traditional
Arrangement © Oldham Tinkers
When the Oldham Tinkers were kids the last three days of April were hectic. People’s back yards were hives of activity as the little girls prepared their Maypole outfits and practiced their routines, which varied little anyway. They were allowed to wear make-up and abused the privilege enormously by powdering their faces excessively and smearing lipstick from one ear to another. They dressed in what to them was great finery but which, in fact, was often mother’s discarded underskirt and high heeled shoes several sizes too big. It was great fun for the girls. In fact the preparation was enjoyed better than what was to come. One girl had to be May Queen. She was dressed even brighter than the rest and sat on a buffet holding the maypole, which was in fact a brush stale wrapped with paper ribbon and with several long paper ribbons attached to the top and hanging as far as the ground. The other girls took hold of the hanging ribbons and dutifully danced round their queen in front of adult audiences who watched from their doorsteps whilst male friends and brothers would collect coppers in boxes or jam jars. This is one of the songs they sang as they danced, unaware that they were perpetuating an ancient fertility rite. The actual performances took place on the first three days of May.
First recorded and published by Topic Records 1975.
Album - FOR OLD TIME’S SAKE TOPIC 12TS276stereo
OLDHAM TINKERS
First published by Topic 1975
Recorded by Tony Engle
Recorded by Tony Engle, London, July 1975
Side 2 track 6, rcorded by Pete Johnson at Piccadilly Radio Studios July 1975
Notes by The Oldham Tinkers and A. L. Lloyd
Sleeve design by Tony Engle
Sleeve picture ‘Children’s Games’ by Tom Dodson, courtesy of Bell Galleries Publications
Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 2006 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The C.D. The Oldham Tinkers, ‘For Old Time’s Sake’ PIERCD 507
A classic Lancashire folk album, available for the first time on CD, with four bonus tracks and full song notes by the band and A. L. Lloyd.
Album - FOR OLD TIME’S SAKE TOPIC 12TS276stereo
OLDHAM TINKERS
First published by Topic 1975
Recorded by Tony Engle
Recorded by Tony Engle, London, July 1975
Side 2 track 6, rcorded by Pete Johnson at Piccadilly Radio Studios July 1975
Notes by The Oldham Tinkers and A. L. Lloyd
Sleeve design by Tony Engle
Sleeve picture ‘Children’s Games’ by Tom Dodson, courtesy of Bell Galleries Publications
Re-released on C.D. by Pier Records in 2006 under licence from Topic Records Ltd, England.
The C.D. The Oldham Tinkers, ‘For Old Time’s Sake’ PIERCD 507
A classic Lancashire folk album, available for the first time on CD, with four bonus tracks and full song notes by the band and A. L. Lloyd.