Get all 11 Jon Wilks releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Before I Knew What Had Begun I Had Already Lost, The Cruel Mother, Up The Cut, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Mary Ashford's Tragedy, Tell Old Bill, The Jovial Hunter of Bromsgrove [Roud 29], Toryanse - 通りゃんせ, and 3 more.
1. |
||||
|
Let poets sing about the fair
And praise their wit, their grace and air
The country has its damsels rare
That many hearts have undone
But for rosy cheeks and forms divine
For sparkling eyes and teeth so fine
No other maidens can outshine
The pretty girls of Brum
The dandy takes such mighty care
To spruce his person, curl his hair
Wears whiskers too, a killing pair,
He thinks he’s not by one done
Then up New Street he struts so gay
Smokes his Havannah on the way
He swaggers in his fine array
To charm the girls of Brum
The shopman saves up all his cash
About the streets to cut a dash
In beauty’s heart to make a smash
With pride enough to stun one
On Saturday his clothes get out
On Sunday proudly struts about
By Monday he’s all up the spout
Through charming girls of Brum
The chimney sweeper cries, “Oh wow
I hate this vulgar calling now
I means to be a slap-up beau
And go where there is fun done
I’ll wash my skin so lilly white
And sport my Benjamin all right
Then shan’t I flare up, blow me tight
I’ll game the girls of Brum
Old gentlemen of sixty-four
By gout and asthma plagued so sore
Inspired by love he feels pain no more
He's anxious as a young man
Cry talk of age – poh poh all stuff
I’m quite the lad, I’m hale and buff
I’m sixty four, that’s young enough
To charm the girls of Brum
So in every rank, in every stage
The Brummagem girls are all the rage
Their beauty charms both youth and age
They really are by none done
Their bliss, their lovely faces dear
Wherever or when they may appear
And may good fortune always cheer
The charming girls of Brum
|
||||
2. |
The Stowaway
05:26
|
|||
|
From Liverpool across the Atlantic
A big ship was sailing the deep
The stars shining brightly above us
And the water beneath us asleep
Not a bad-tempered mariner amongst us
And a jollier crew never sailed
Though the first mate's a bit of a savage
A fine seaman as ever man hailed
One day he comes up from below deck
And he's grasping a lad by the arm
A poor little ragged young urchin
That ought to have been with his ma
And the mate asks the boy pretty roughly
How he dared for to be stowed away
He's cheating the owners and captain
It's passage and board without pay
"My step-father brought me on board sir
When nobody else was on board
And he hid me away down the stairs there
For to keep me he could not afford
And he told me the big ship would take me
To Halifax town oh so far
He said, "Remember the Lord is your father
Who lives where the good angels are""
That's a lie, that's a lie, not your father
But one of the big skulkers here
Some milk-hearted, soft-headed sailor
Tell the truth now or die, do you hear?
Then that pair of blue eyes bright and winning
Clear and shining with innocent youth
Looks up at the mate's bushy eyebrows
And says, "Sir, I've been telling the truth"
Then the mate pulled a watch from his pocket
As though he was drawing a knife
"If in five minutes' time you don't speak, lad
Here's a rope and goodbye to your life
Three minutes had gone by in silence
Says the mate then, "Speak lad, say your say"
And the boy's eyes are filling with teardrops
And he faltering says, "May I pray?"
Then soft came the first words, "Our father"
Low and clear from the little lad's lips
But low, they were heard like a trumpet
By every man on that ship
Each word of that prayer that he went through
Through "forever and ever amen"
Not for all the bright gold in the Indies
I would not have heard them again
Off his feet was the lad sudden lifted
And clasped to the mate's rugged chest
And his husky voice muttered, "God bless you"
And his lips to his forehead he pressed
"You believe me now?" then says the youngster
"Believe you?" he kissed him once more
"You'd have laid down the life for the truth, lad
I believe you from now evermore"
|
||||
3. |
Edward
03:22
|
|||
|
What did you kill your dear little brother for
My boy come tell it unto me
For killing three little dicky birds
That flew from tree to tree
What will you do with your houses and land
My boy come tell it unto me
I will leave them there for the birds all in the air
There’ll be no more welcomes there for me
What will you leave your dear little brother now
My boy come tell it unto me
I'll leave him a rope to hang himself
On yonder high tree
What will do you when your father comes home
My boy come tell it unto me
I will place my foot on board a ship
And so to Amerikee
When shall I see your dear dear face again
My boy come tell it unto me
Never till the sun sets on yonder high tree
And that will never never be
|
||||
4. |
John Riley
04:01
|
|||
|
John Riley was her true love's name
An honest man was he
He loved a farmer's daughter dear
As faithful as can be
Her father, he had riches
But John Riley, he was poor
Because she loved this honest man
He would not her endure
"Oh mother dear, oh mother dear
Where shall I send my love?
His very heart lies in my breast
As constant as a dove"
"Oh, daughter dear, I'm not severe
And here's a thousand pound
Send Riley to Americay
To purchase there some ground"
Soon as she's got the money
To John Riley she did run
"This very night to have your life
My father's charged the gun
But here's a thousand pound in gold
My mother sent to you
Go quickly to Americay
And quickly I'll pursue"
Soon as they've got the money
Next day they sailed away
But very quickly came a storm
That lasted all the day
The ship went down, all hands were lost
Her father grieved so sore
They found her in John Riley's arms
Drowned upon the shore
Upon her breast a note was found
It's written all in blood
Saying, "Cruel was my father
Who went out to shoot my love
But let this be a warning
To all you maidens gay
Never to let the lad you love
Sail to Americay
|
||||
5. |
||||
|
Sir Robert Bolton had three sons
Wind well thy horn good hunter
And one of them Sir Rylas
Well he was a jovial hunter
He ranged all round the woodside
Wind well thy horn good hunter
Till in a tree top a lady he spied
For he was a jovial hunter
What dost thou mean fair lady
Wind well thy horn good hunter
The wildest boar has killed my lord
As thou art a jovial hunter
So he put his horn into his mouth
Wind well thy horn good hunter
And he blowed north, east, west and south
For he was a jovial hunter
And the wild board heard him in his den
Wind well thy horn good hunter
And he's made the best of speed to him
To Rylas the jovial hunter
They fought four hours in a long summer's day
Wind well thy horn good hunter
Till the wild boar fain would have gotten away
From Rylas the jovial hunter
So Rylas drew his sword with might
Wind well thy horn good hunter
And he fairly cut his head off, quite,
For he was a jovial hunter
Then from the wood a wild woman flew
Wind well thy horn good hunter
Saying my pretty spotted pig thou has slew
As thou art a jovial hunter
If there's one thing I demand of thee
Wind well thy horn good hunter
It's that my sword and thy neck can agree
I am a jovial hunter
Then Rylas drew his sword again
Wind well thy horn good hunter
And he fairly split her head in twain
For he was a jovial hunter
In Bromsgrove Church they both do lie
Wind well thy horn good hunter
With the wild boar's head on a spike nearby
To Rylas the jovial hunter
|
||||
6. |
The Tramp's Philosophy
02:53
|
|||
|
An old tramp was resting
One day down by the lane
When a gang of young sportsmen came by
They passed many jokes on his old tattr'd coat
And the tramp he look up and he sighed
You may laugh, you may chaff
Just because I am down in the world
When you find out to your sorrow
You're up today and down tomorrow
Well you can't put a stop to misfortune
For whatever will be will be
I might have been up in the world like you
And you might have been down like me
"He looks just like a scarecrow"
Said some young fellow there
"Like a bag of old rags left untied"
And the sportsmen they laughed
At the joke of their friend
And the tramp he looked up and replied
Misfortune it came down
Through the top of my hat
And lower and lower I feel
And from this day to that
When the sportsmen they met
They'd recount the old tramp's ordeal
Don't you laugh, don't you chaff
Just because I am down in the world
When you find out to your sorrow
You're up today and down tomorrow
You can't put a stop to misfortune
For whatever will be will be
And I might have been up in the world like you
And you might have been down like me
|
||||
7. |
||||
|
It's of a tradesman and his wife
I heard the other day
Who did kick up a glorious row
They live across the way
The husband proved himself a fool
His money was all spent
He called upon his wife, my life,
To know which way it went
CHORUS
So she reckoned up and show'd him
And she show'd him all complete
How five and twenty shillings was
Expended in a week
He said my wages are all gone
And it does me perplex
Indeed, said she, then list to me
My bonny cock of wax
Continually you make a noise
And fill the house with strife
I'll tell you where your money goes
I will upon my life
CHORUS
There's two and thrupence house rent
Now attend to me she said
There is four shillings goes for meat
And three and ninepence bread
To wash your nasty dirty shirt
There's sixpence hapenny soap
There's one and eightpence coals old boy
And tenpence wood and coke
CHORUS
There's fourpence there for milk and cream
And one and tuppence malt
Three half pence for vinegar
And tuppence happeny salt
A penny goes for mustard
Three halfpence goes for thread
You gave me thruppence t'other night
For a half an old sheep's head
CHORUS
A red herring each morning
Is fivepence farthing a week
Sometimes you send me out for fish
You say you can't eat meat
Last Monday night when you got drunk
There's ninepence went for capers
You'd a penny box of congreves
And hapenny baked potaters
CHORUS
There's a penny goes for pepper too
As you must understand
Tuppence hapenny starch and blue
And a farthings worth of sand
Fourpence hapenny candles
Three farthings go on matches
And a penny's worth of corduroy
You had to mend your breeches
CHORUS
A shilling taties, herbs and greens
Ten pence on butter, see?
Sixpence coffee, eightpence sugar
And one and fourpence tea
There's two pence goes for this thing
A penny that and t'other
Last night you broke the chamber pot
I had to buy another
CHORUS
There's eight pence for tobacco
And seven farthings swipes
There is three pence hapenny snuff
And two pence happeny tripes
A penny, well, you owed for strings
O'er at the cobbler's shop
And you know last Sunday morning
You bought a pint of pop
CHORUS
There's twopence goes for blacking
And eightpence halfpenny cheese
Three farthing rushlight every night
To watch the bugs and fleas
And while each night to a public house
You go to drink and sing
I hit the tavern across the way
To have a drop of gin
So reckon up again old boy
And you will find complete
How five and twenty shillings were
Expended in a week
|
||||
8. |
The Lover's Ghost
05:06
|
|||
|
I must be going, no longer staying
The burning Thames, well I have to cross
I must be guided without a stumble
Into the arms of my dear love
And when he's come to his true love's window
He's knelt down gently on a stone
And it's through the pane he's whispered slowly
My darling girl, are you alone
She lifts her head from her down-soft pillow
And snowy were her milk-white breasts
Saying, who's there, who's there at my bedroom window
Disturbing me from my long night's rest
Well, I'm your lover, don't discover
I pray you rise and let me in
For I am fatigued from my long night's journey
Besides, I am wet to the skin
And so she's gone to her bedroom window
And swiftly let her true love in
Well, they kissed, they held and loved each other
Until that long night was at an end
Then it's, Willie dear, my dearest Willie
Where is that colour you had some time ago
O Mary dear, the cold clay changed me
I am the ghost of your Willie O
Then it's cockerel, cockerel, handsome cockerel
I pray you not crow until it is day
For your wings I'll make of the very first beaten gold
Your comb I will make of the silver ray
But the cock he crew and he crew so fully
He crew three hours before it was day
And before't was day, well, my love had to go away
Not by the moon nor the light of day
Well, it's Willie dear, my dearest Willie
Whenever shall I see you again
When the fish they fly, love, and the seas run dry, love
And the rocks they melt in the heat of the sun
|
||||
9. |
Little Grey 'Oss
04:16
|
|||
|
Long time I’ve travelled the north country
Seeking to find good company
Good company I always could find
But none was pleasing to my mind
With my fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
I had in my pocket but one penny
I saddled my horse and away I did ride
‘Til I came to an alehouse beside the roadside
I called for a pint of good ale that was brown
And along with it I took myself and sat down
With my fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
I had in my pocket now no money
I saw three gentlemen playing at dice
I took them as being some noble knights
As they were a-playing and I looking on
They took me as being some nobleman
With my fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
I had in my pocket now no money
They asked me if I would play
I asked them what bets they would lay
They says a guinea, and I says five pound
The bets they were laid but no money put down
With my fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
I had in my pocket just no money
I handled the dice and I gave them a spin
It happened to be my good luck for the win
If they had’ve won, and I had’ve lost
I should have to have pawn-ed my little grey ‘oss
With my fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
I had in my pocket now five pound three
Was ever a mortal man more glad
Than me and myself with the money I had
Now I'm a good fella as you shall find
And I’ll make you all drunk with the drinking of wine
With my fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
The pound in my pocket I’ll share with thee
I stayed there all night and part of the next day
Then I thought to myself I would be on my way
I asked the landlady what I had to pay
She said, “Nothing, love, kiss me and be on your way”
With your fal de dal lee
Fal de dal lee
Was ever a rich man gladder than me?
|
||||
10. |
||||
|
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our saviour
Was born on Christmas Day
To save our souls from Satan's thrall
Which long have gone astray
This brings tidings of comfort and joy
From him that is our father
A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
That there was born in Bethlehem
The son of God by name
This brings tidings of comfort and joy
Fear nothing said God's angel
Let nothing you affright
This night was born our saviour
Of a virgin pure and bright
He's able to advise you
And throw down Satan quite
This brings tidings of comfort and joy
Then these certain shepherds
Rejoiced much in mind
And left their flocks a feeding
In tempest, storm and wind
And straight they went to Bethlehem
The son of God to find
This brings tidings of comfort and joy
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our sweet saviour lay
They found him in a manger
Where oxen fed on hay
The blessed lady kneeling down
Unto the lord did pray
This brings tidings of comfort and joy
Let me to you all invite
Who are within this place
To live in love and unity
The gospel to embrace
The merry time of Christmas
Is drawing on a-pace
This brings tidings of comfort and joy
credits
|
||||
Jon Wilks Whitchurch, UK
'The sort of performer folk circles mean when they talk of the living tradition' - Mike Davies,
Folking.com
“One of the best of the New Wave of Folk Blokes. As a guitar player and arranger of traditional songs, Jon Wilks already deserves speaking of in the same breath as your Simpsons and your Morays.” – Ian A. Anderson, fRoots Mag
... more
If you like Jon Wilks, you may also like:
Needle Pin, Needle Pin
by Jackie Oates and John Spiers
supported by 39 fans who also own “Up The Cut”
superb! a great pairing and some beautiful music. thank you!
go to album
Nick Hart Sings Nine English Folk Songs
by Nick Hart
supported by 38 fans who also own “Up The Cut”
Nick, grand tunes! What are you thinking of calling your next record? Best wishes, Jos PS. You should tell that John Dipper to reform ‘Os with you. He doesn’t seem to have anything else to do.
go to album
supported by 35 fans who also own “Up The Cut”
Darling Charms - Would've thought NK would have learned her lesson after the Port 'n' Brandy 😘 xx This whole EP is bangin' btw. Beautiful work xx
go to album
The latest from Shana Cleveland is a Californian fantasia that conjures worlds both real and surreal.
go to album
Lessons for Mutants
by Johanna Warren
This new album by the alt-rock artist delves into the theme of metamorphosis and was recorded on tape.
go to album
Night of the Worm Moon
by Shana Cleveland
Shana Cleveland's upcoming LP shimmers with the La Luz frontwoman's hallmark eerie melodies, dreamy vocals, and subtly epic guitar work.
go to album
supported by 34 fans who also own “Up The Cut”
Dear Sam Sweeney, thank you for your hauntingly beautiful music. Please make this collection an 'LP' soon, Kind regards, BSuhr
go to album
