The Talking Dog
Vocal and Banjo John Howarth; Vocal and Guitar Gerry Kearns; Vocal and Mandolin Larry Kearns.
The Talking Dog
Bob Balloons was the landlord in the owd Ring o’ Bells
With his wife and their son gormless John.
In the day time his wife tended cattle round th’back
An’ in th’evenings wi’ John waited on.
An’ in th’evenings wi’ John waited on.
In a sing song at neet John played ‘piana’ a bit,
He wer’ lazy but by he wer fause.
Wi’ “Will tha follow me”, or :Shall aw follow thee?”
An anyway each took his course.
An anyway each took his course.
John wer sent off to th’ market by Bob fer a cow,
An on his way into the town,
Met a rum’n called Annie or Blondie to some,
An he took her to sup at the Crown.
An he took her to sup at the Crown.
Well he wined her and dined her an he took her to th’fair
Where they copped on to all of the rides.
Then they ate sugar bunnies, black peas and the like
An’ they saw the ‘fat lady’ besides.
An’ they saw the ‘fat lady’ besides.
They had cocoanut shys, won a rag doll fer her,
Then John said, “Lets walk down to th’ wood.”
“Aw will if tha only behaves,” says Ann.
“Tha’ll be upset mi lass if aw should.”
“Tha’ll be upset mi lass if aw should.”
Later on John jumped up on recalling his chore.
“He’ll kill me, I’ve spent o’ his brass.”
“He’s no angel his self whispered Ann in his ear,
Wi that barmaid he’s flattened some grass.”
Wi that barmaid he’s flattened some grass.”
“Where’s the cow?” Bob did ask. “Nowt in th’cow line.” Said John
“Where’s mi brass then?” asked father to son.
“Aw bowt this ‘ere dog, it’s a dog ‘at can talk.”
“Now come on lad let’s have less o’th’ fun.”
“Now come on lad let’s have less o’th’ fun.”
“It’s true as I’m ere, it’d be good fer th’trade.”
“Thet weak in thi bonce” says his dad.
“If thas bowt it where is it this miracle pup?”
“I wer comin to that,” says the lad.
“I wer comin to that,” says the lad.
“Comin’ home by th’canal, aw wer chattin' to th’dog.
An it asked mi where it would abide,”
Aw said, “Ring o’ Bells.” He said, “Bob Balloon’s pub?
Does he still have that redhead on th’ side?”
Does he still have that redhead on th’ side?”
You could hear a pin drop an’ Bob’s face it just fell.
An he said, “lad then what did tha do?”
“Aw drop-kicked the bugger straight into th’ canal,
To save it embarrassin you
To save it embarrassin you
“Tha did reet lad” said Bobby Balloons.
The Talking Dog
Bob Balloons was the landlord in the owd Ring o’ Bells
With his wife and their son gormless John.
In the day time his wife tended cattle round th’back
An’ in th’evenings wi’ John waited on.
An’ in th’evenings wi’ John waited on.
In a sing song at neet John played ‘piana’ a bit,
He wer’ lazy but by he wer fause.
Wi’ “Will tha follow me”, or :Shall aw follow thee?”
An anyway each took his course.
An anyway each took his course.
John wer sent off to th’ market by Bob fer a cow,
An on his way into the town,
Met a rum’n called Annie or Blondie to some,
An he took her to sup at the Crown.
An he took her to sup at the Crown.
Well he wined her and dined her an he took her to th’fair
Where they copped on to all of the rides.
Then they ate sugar bunnies, black peas and the like
An’ they saw the ‘fat lady’ besides.
An’ they saw the ‘fat lady’ besides.
They had cocoanut shys, won a rag doll fer her,
Then John said, “Lets walk down to th’ wood.”
“Aw will if tha only behaves,” says Ann.
“Tha’ll be upset mi lass if aw should.”
“Tha’ll be upset mi lass if aw should.”
Later on John jumped up on recalling his chore.
“He’ll kill me, I’ve spent o’ his brass.”
“He’s no angel his self whispered Ann in his ear,
Wi that barmaid he’s flattened some grass.”
Wi that barmaid he’s flattened some grass.”
“Where’s the cow?” Bob did ask. “Nowt in th’cow line.” Said John
“Where’s mi brass then?” asked father to son.
“Aw bowt this ‘ere dog, it’s a dog ‘at can talk.”
“Now come on lad let’s have less o’th’ fun.”
“Now come on lad let’s have less o’th’ fun.”
“It’s true as I’m ere, it’d be good fer th’trade.”
“Thet weak in thi bonce” says his dad.
“If thas bowt it where is it this miracle pup?”
“I wer comin to that,” says the lad.
“I wer comin to that,” says the lad.
“Comin’ home by th’canal, aw wer chattin' to th’dog.
An it asked mi where it would abide,”
Aw said, “Ring o’ Bells.” He said, “Bob Balloon’s pub?
Does he still have that redhead on th’ side?”
Does he still have that redhead on th’ side?”
You could hear a pin drop an’ Bob’s face it just fell.
An he said, “lad then what did tha do?”
“Aw drop-kicked the bugger straight into th’ canal,
To save it embarrassin you
To save it embarrassin you
“Tha did reet lad” said Bobby Balloons.
The Talking Dog
Vocal and Banjo John Howarth; Vocal and Guitar Gerry Kearns; Vocal and Mandolin Larry Kearns.
From Newhey near Oldham, Gary Heywood, a friend of the Oldham Tinkers stumbled across several volumes of ‘Lancashire Lore’ in a library in Lancaster. It was in one of these volumes that he found The Talking Dog. Gary transposed the prose story into song, and forwarded it to Gerry Kearns. Gerry received the song only a few days before this recording was to take place, but was so impressed that: he was determined to record it.
Vocal and Banjo John Howarth; Vocal and Guitar Gerry Kearns; Vocal and Mandolin Larry Kearns.
From Newhey near Oldham, Gary Heywood, a friend of the Oldham Tinkers stumbled across several volumes of ‘Lancashire Lore’ in a library in Lancaster. It was in one of these volumes that he found The Talking Dog. Gary transposed the prose story into song, and forwarded it to Gerry Kearns. Gerry received the song only a few days before this recording was to take place, but was so impressed that: he was determined to record it.
The Talking Dog
Vocal and Banjo John Howarth; Vocal and Guitar Gerry Kearns; Vocal and Mandolin
Larry Kearns.
Sit Thee Down LP Notes
Sit Thee Down The Oldham Tinkers L.P. 12TS323 STEREO
First published by Topic 1977
Recorded and produced by Tony Engle in London, January 1977
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 notes.
Vocal and Banjo John Howarth; Vocal and Guitar Gerry Kearns; Vocal and Mandolin
Larry Kearns.
Sit Thee Down LP Notes
Sit Thee Down The Oldham Tinkers L.P. 12TS323 STEREO
First published by Topic 1977
Recorded and produced by Tony Engle in London, January 1977
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 notes.