1. THE DRAGON RALLY SONG. (Tune: Men of Harlech)
Hear the sound in valleys ringing
With the Motor's raucous singing
As again machine are winging
Onward into Wales.
Wide the throttle engine's growling
Mingles with the wild wind's howling
And echoes from the grey crags scowling
On the way to Wales.
Onward to the Meeting!
Warm will be the greeting!
Let it blow! Come sleet! Come snow!
Who gives a damn about the winter weather?
Swiftly, smoothly, wheels are turning.
To our fore the beacon's burning.
Down remembered roads returning
Dragons into Wales.
Let who dare not stay behind us
Crouched by firesides. They'll not find us.
Warmth and comfort do not bind us.
Call us then insane!
Hillsides whisper we can't dally
Hear the sound sweep down the valley!
Wheels to Wales! Wheels to the rally!
Hear the call again.
Through the winter snow, men!
Dragons all, we go then,
Let it blow! Come sleet! Come snow!
Who gives a damn about the winter weather?
Wild as wind the mountains seeking
From the towns where smoke hangs reeking
Cymru calls us! Hear her speaking
We will meet again.
Bill Hume
(Copyright: Conway DMC)
2. THE ELEPHANT RALLY SONG. (Tune: High Barbaree)
Now that the New Year's come, to the Nurburgring we run
Blow High! Blow Low! And so ride we!
Through the swirling snowflakes and the watery winter sun
A-riding and a-roving like the wandering wind we're free.
Blow High! Blow Low! And so ride we!
A-riding and a-roving like the wandering wind we're free.
The land is white with snow drift and the cold wind howls its song
But to the road — the open road — for that's where we belong.
To where the camp—fires crackle and the cosr tent's a home.
It's there we'll yarn; there's frienship born so we'll be meeting soon.
Bill Hume
3.THE WOMEN ARE WORSE THAN THE MEN.
They say that the women are worse than the men
Sing right-fol, right-fol titty fie day.
They say that the women are worse than the men
For they went down to Hell and were thrown out again
With a right-fol, right-fol, right-fol, right-fol titty fie day.
An old man was ploughing his field one day
Who had an old wife who plagued all his days.
The Devil he found the old man at his plough
Saying "I've come for your wife and I want her right now."
Yes now Old Man, I have come for your wife
For I've heard it oft said she's the bane of your life.
The Devil he hoists her up on his back
And off went to Hell with a clickety-clack.
Two little devis were rattling their chains
She picked up a shovel and bashed out their brains.
Two little devils looked over the wall
Take he back, Dad, or she'll butcher us all.
The Devil he hoisted her up on his back
Back to the old man he hurried his pack.
Now I've been a Devil for most of my life
But I ne'er was in Hell 'til I met with your wife.
So it's true that the women are worse than the men
For one went to down to Hell but was slung out again.
4. YOUR GRANNY.
Oh you cannot shove your Granny off a bus.
Oh you cannot shove your Granny off a bus.
Oh you cannot shove your Granny - 'cos she's your Fathers Mammy.
Oh you cannot shove your Granny off a bus.
You can shove your Uncle Willy off a bus
You can shove your Uncle Willy - for Willy's a bit silly
You can shove your Uncle Willy off a bus
You can shove your Aunty Hester off a bus.
For she's your Father's sister and is something of a twister
You can shove your Aunty Hester off a bus.
You can shove your other Granny off a bus.
You can shove your other Granny - that one's your Mammy's Mammy
You can shove your other Granny off a bus.
5. CALTON WEAVER.
I'm a weaver, a Calton weaver
I'm a rash and roving blade
I've got silver in my pocket
So I'll try now the roving trade
Whisky, Whisky, Nancy Whisky
Whisky, Whisky, Nancy O!
I went down through Glasgow City
Nancy Whisky I chanced to meet
So I went and sat beside her
Seven years long, 1 loved her well.
The more 1 kissed her, the more I loved her
The more I kissed her the more she smiled
'Tll Nancy Whisky, Nancy Whisky
Nancy Whisky had me beguiled.
Twas very early the next morning
I found myself lying in a bed
It was not mine, I tried to rise up
But Nancy Whisky she had my head.
I paid my lodging. 'Twas forty shillings
Now all I had was a silver crown
And gave to Nancy all but a sixpence
I had to go back to Calton Town.
So all you Weavers, you Calton Weavers
Come all you weavers where ere you be
Beware of whisky, Nancy Whisky
She'll ruin you as she ruined me.
6. DID YOU EVER SEE?
Now the Dragon's held in Wales where they drink thexr beer from pails!
If you want a pint on Sunday, man you'11 have to wait 'till Monday.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funny thing before?
Now my maiden Aunt Amantha has come down upon her Panther.
she looks so sweet inn'cent. You should see her on her Vincent!
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
I came on a Brough bright red. "Tis a museum piece!" they saJd.
The poor brute now is pantin' — but she's left the others stantin'.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
On a bike of Enfield make coming down by Bala Lake
My friend Freddie's sidecar lifted. From the saddle bricks we shifted!
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
On the Bwlch y Groes I got on a two—stroke — it was a Cotton.
As they said I'd have no bother — but oh Cripes I want my mother!
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
I've a little sister Dot, she came down upon her Scott.
But it seized! She should have orter filled that grid thing up with water!
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
Johnny went and came a cropper when he clobbered that big copper.
To his Triumph he wrote "Finis!" for his tax disc ts blazoned "Guinness".
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
Once he used to smoe cigars. Now a B.M. Stein he has.
'Bout his plot he shoots the big lines — but he now is smoking Woodbines.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
Now a Jawa I an certain's from behinf the iron curtain.
In the toolbox there's a lickle iron hammer and a sickle.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
Into Anglesey Sam rode. How he got there no-one knowed.
He had piston slap and big end knock. It died in
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
I came off an Atlas Norton not long after I had gort on.
But they laughed. It looked so farcical, for I sketed on my elbow.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
Lordy! How he cut a dash on his Beeza Golden Flash.
But he's quiet now - not rantin! He was towed in by a Bantam.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
To the rally on Raleigh. By the road he didn't dally
He has earned his Dragon medal for he came down using pedals.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
Now my friend a Velo fellow met a lush piece and said "Helo".
Now his four kids can say "Dadda" and his Viper — well he's adder.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
On a Honda my friend Ron, bet that he could reach the ton.
Now he looks so neat and tidy. See you at the church on Friday.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
Droopy bars and a rev dial. Oscar eats mile after mile.
Makes the motorists look sickly as he bombs past - in his Quickly.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
Now a Yank a Harley brought of the customerised sort.
But she's quite a job I'm thinkin'. The left pannier's got the sink in.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
Now a change is like a rest an though I like the Matchless best.
I will put cash by each pay day and I'll get myself and Ajay!
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
So into Wales we rode on, 'till at last we came to Snowdon.
But the road sign's writing Rhondda. That's a slag heap over yonder.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
As a map reader he's lousy - or he must be feeling drowsy.
For he says Montgomery we're in but that sign says - Sir Dryfaldwyn.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
Tommy boy's a Dragon Lad. Like the other raving mad.
And I'll swear he does the Dragin just to spend the whole year braggon.
Did you ever see? Did you ever saw? Did you ever see such a funnny thing before?
Bill Hume
7. FOGGY, FOGGY DEW.
I was a bachelor I lived by myself and worked at the weaving trade
And the only, only thing that I ever did wrong
Was to woo a fair young maid.
I wooed her in the summer time and in the winter too
And the only, only thing I did that was wrong
Was to save her from the foggy, foggy dew
One night she came to my bedside as I lay fast asleep
She laid her pretty head upon my bed and then began to weep
She cried, she sighed, she damn near died whatever could I do?
So I took her in my bed and I covered up her head,
Just to keep her from the foggy, foggy dew.
Now I am a bachelor, I live with my son and we work at the weavers trade
And every single time that I look into his eyes he reminds me of the fair young maid
He reminds me of the summer time and of the winter too
And of the many, many times that I held her in my arms
Just to keep her from the foggy, foggy dew
8. THE BALL AT KIRRIEMUIR.
There was a gathering of the clans and all the Scots were there
A-drinking with the lassies wee, as bold as they did dare
Singing dance with your partners round & round them all
If you havna danced on a Saturday night then you havna danced at all.
Jumping in the haystacks. Jumping in the ricks
Jumping to the music showing all the tricks.
The undertaker he was there dressed up in a shroud
Swinging on a chandeier and hissing at the crowd.
See them in the parlour. See them on the stairs
You could not see the dance floor for all the happy pairs.
Four and twenty maidens came down from Aviemore
Only two got back again - they'd been here before.
In the morning early the local farmer spat
For twenty acres of his hay was fairly flipping flat.
Jock the blacksmith he was there he didn't play the game
He danced a lassie seven times and wadna see her name.
When the ball was over the lassies all confessed
That though they liked the music well they liked the dancing best.
9. YELLOW GARTER.
Around her leg she wears a yellow garter
She wears it in the springtime and the merry month of May
And when they ask her why she wears that garter
She says it is for a ton-up who is far, far away.
Far away" Far away!
She says it is for a ton-up who is far, far away.
Now in a pram she shove three bonny triplets
She shoves them in the springtime and the merry month of May
And when they ask her why on earth she had them
She had them for a ton-up who is far, far away.
Behind a door her father keeps a shot gun
He keeps it in the springtime and the merry month of May
And when they ask him why the hell he keeps it
He mutters all about a ton-up far, far away.
10. ABDUL ABULBUL EMIR.
The sons of the prophet are brqave men and bold
And quite unaccustomed to fear
But the bravest by far in the ranks of the Shah
Was Abdul Abulbul Emir.
If you wanted a man to encourage the van
Or harass the foe from the rear
Storm fort or reboubt you had only to shout
For Abdul Abulbul Emir.
Now heroes were plenty and well known to fame
In the ranks that were led by the Tsar
But the greatest of these was a man by the name
Of Ivan Skavinsky Skivar.
He could sing like Caruso, play poke and pool
And strum on the Spanish guitar
In fact quite the cream of the Muscovite team
Was Ivan Skavinsky Skivar.
One day this bold Russion had shouldered his gun
And donned his most truculent snear
Down town he did go where he trod in the toe
Of Abdul Abulbul Emir.
"Yound man" quoth Abdul, "has life groewn so dull
That you wish to end your career?
Vile infidel know that you've flattened the toe
Of Abdul Abulbul Emir!"
"So take your last look at the sunshine and brook.
Now send your regrets to the Tsar.
But this I imply you are goiing to die
Count Ivan Skavinsky Skivar!"
Said Ivan "My friend, your remarks in the end
Will avail you but little I fear.
You ne'er will survive to repeat them alive
Mr Abdul Abulbul Emir."
Then the bold Mameluke drew his trusty chibouque
Crying, "Allah il Allah Akbar!"
And with murderous intent he ferociously went
For Ivan Skavinsky Skivar.
They fought all that night neathe the pale yellow moon
The din it was heard wide and far
Vast multitudes came there, so wide was the fame
Of Abdul and Ivan Skivar.
As Abdul's long knife was extracting the life,
(in fact he was shouting "Huzza!")
He felt himself struck by that wilely Kalmuch
Count Ivan Skavinsky Skivar.
The Sultan approached in his Rolls Silver Ghost
Expecting the victor to cheer
He arrived just in time to exchange a last line
With Abdul Abulbul Emir.
Tsar Petrovitch too in his spectacles blue
Rode past on his Beeza Gold Star
He only drew nigh to hear the last sigh
Of Ivan Skavinsky Skivar.
A splash in the Black Sea one darkk moonless night
Caused ripples to spread wide and far
Twas made by a sack fitting close to the back
Of Ivan Skavinsky Skivar.
A Muscovire maiden a lone vigil keeps
Neath the light of the pale Polar Star
And the name that she murmers so oft as she weeps
Is Ivan Skavinsky Skivar.
A tomb rises up where the blue Danube rolls
Engraved on't in characters clear
Is "Stranger, when passing, remeber the soul
Of Abdul Abulbul Emir!"
11. EDDYSTONE LIGHT.
My father was the keeper of the Eddystone Light
He married a mermaid one fine night
From this union there were three
Two of them were fishes and the other was me
Yo-ho-ho, the wind blows free,
Oh, for a life on the rolling sea.
One night while I was trimming of the glim
A-singing a verse of the evening hymn
A voice from the starboard shouted, "Ahoy!"
And there was me mother a-sitting on a buoy.
"Oh what has become of my children three?"
My mother then did ask of me
One was exhibited as a talking fish
And the other was served in a chafing dish
The phosphorus flashed in her sea-weed hair
I looked again, me mother wasn't there
A voice came echoing out of the night
"To hell with the keeper of the Eddystone Light!"
12. LADY GODIVA. (Tune: John Brown of course)
Godiva was a Lady who to Coventry did ride
To show to all the people there the colour of her hide
The most observant man there was an engineer of course
He was the only one who noticed that Godiva rode a horse.
We are, we are, we are we're motor engineers
We can, we can, we can demolish forty beers
Ba-boom, ba-boom, ba-boom, ba-boom and come along with us
For we don't gove a damn for any damn man that don't give a damn for us.
15. JOHNNY I HARDLY KNEW YOU.
While going the road to sweet Athy,
Hurroo! hurroo!
While going the road to sweet Athy,
Hurroo! hurroo!
While going the road to sweet Athy,
A stick in my hand and a drop in my eye,
A Doleful damsel I heard cry:
“Johnny, I hardly knew you!"
Hurroo! hurroo!
With guns and drums, and drums and guns,
Hurroo! hurroo!
With drums and guns, and guns and drums,
The enemy nearly slew ye;
My darling dear, you look so queer,
Johnny, I hardly knew ye!
Where are your eyes that looked so mild,
When my poor heart you first beguiled?
Why did you skeddadle from me and the child?
Where are the legs with which you run
When first you went to folow the gun?
Indeed, your dancing days are done!
It grieved my heart to see you sail
Though from my heart you took leg bail
Like a cod you’re doubled up head and tail,
You haven’t an arm and you haven’t a leg,
You’re an eyeless, noseless, chickenless egg;
You’ll have to be put with a bowl out to beg:
I’m happy for to see you home,
All from the Island of Ceylon;
So low in flesh, so high in bone;
How sad it is to see you so,
And to think of you now as an object of woe,
Your Peggy’ll still keep you on as her beau;
16. THE RISING OF THE MOON.
"And come tell me Sean O'Farrell, tell me why you hurry so"
"Hush, my bouchal, hush and listen," and his eyes were all aglow
"I bear orders from the captain. Get you ready quick and soon
For the pikes must be together at the rising of the moon"
By the rising of the Moon.
By the rising of the Moon.
For the pikes must be together at the rising of the moon
"Now then tell me Sean O'Farrell, where the meeting is to be"
"In the old spot by the river right well known to you and me.
One more word for signal token, whistle up the marching tune
With your pike upon your shoulder by the rising of the moon"
Out from many a mud wall cabin eyes were watching through the night,
Many a manly heart was throbbing for the morning light
Whispers ran along the valley like a banshee's lonely croon
And a thousand pikes were gleaming by the rising of the moon.
There beside the singing river that dark mass of men were seen
High above their shining spears hung their own beloved green
"Death to every foe and traitor! Forward! Strike a marching tune
'Tis hurrah my boys for freedom! 'Tis the rising of the moon.
Well they fought for dear old Ireland but full bitter was their fate
(Oh what glorious pride and sorrow fills the name of Ninety eight)
Yet, thank God, yet still are beating hearts of manhood's burning noon
Who will follow in their footsteps at the rising of the moon.
17. GOD SAVE IRELAND.
High upon the gallows tree swung the noble hearted three
By the vengeful tyrants stricken in their bloom
But they met fate face to face with the courage of their race
And with souls undaunted went to face their doom
God save Ireland, said the heroes
God save Ireland, said they all
Whether on the scaffold high
Or on the battlefield we die
Oh, what matter when for Erin dear we fall
Girt around with cruel foes still their courage proudly shows
For they thought of hearts that loved them far and near
Of the millions true and brave o'er the ocean's swelling wave
And their friends in holy Ireland ever dear.
Climbed they up the rugged stair with their hands outstretched in prayer
Then with England's fatal cord around them cast
There beneath the gallows tree kissed like brothers lovingly
Turn to faith and home and freedom to the last.
Never till the latest day shall their memory pass away
Of those gallant lives thus given for our land
But it's on the cause must go be it joy and weal or woe
Till we make this Isle a nation free and grand.
18. RECRUITING SONG OF THE I.R.A.
Oh, I am a merry ploughboy that follows the plough by day
Till it flashed one day across my mind that I should get away
I have always hated slavery since the day that I was born
So I'm off to join the I.R.A. and I leave tomorrow morn.
I'm off to Dublin in the green, in the green
Where the helmets glisten in the sun
Where the bayonets flash and the rifles crash
To the rattle of a Thompson gun
I leave behind my old grey mare, I leave behind my plough
I leave behind my old grey coat for no more I'll need tham now
But I'll take my short revolver and my bandolier of lead
And live or die I can but try to avenge my country's dead.
There's one I leave behind me, she's the colleen I adore
I wonder if she'll remember me when she hears the rifle's roar
But when the war is over and dear old Ireland's free
I'll take her to the church to wed and a rebel's wife she'll be.
No more fields of wheat I'll roam for at last has dawned the day
For the fight for my country and my home in the ranks of the I.R.A.
And all the harvest I will reap is a sheaf of Black and Tans
And my scythe will be my bayonet on the rifle in my hands.
22. THE WHISTLING GYPSY.
The Gypsy Rover come over the hills
Down through the valleys so shady
He whistled and he sang 'til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady
Ah dee doo ah dee doo da day
Ah dee doo ah dee day dee
He whistled and he sang 'til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady
She left her father's own castle gate
She left her own true lover
She left her servants and estate
To follow her gypsy lover
Her father saddles his fastest steed
Roamed the valley all over
Sought his daughter at great speed
And the whistling gypsy rover.
He came at last to a mansion fine
Down by the River of Claydet
And there was music and there was wine
For the gypsy and his lady
He is no gypsy, my father dear
But Lord of those lands all over
And I will stay to my dying day
With my whistling gypsy rover.
23. LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL.
Farewell to Princes Landing Stage
River Mersey fare thee well
I'm bound for San Francisco
It's a place that I know right well.
And fare the well my own true love,
when I return united we will be.
It’s not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me,
But my darling when I think of thee.
Fare thee well to you my own true love
I am going far away
I am bound for California
But I know I'll return some day.
I've shipped on a Yankee clipper ship
Davy Crockett is her name.
And Burgess is her master
And they say that she’s a floating shame.
The sun is on the harbour love
And I wish that I could remain,
I know it will be my love a long long time
Before I see you again.
24. COME HOME AGAIN TO WALES.
Far away a voice is calling, Bells of mem're chime
"Come home again, come home again," they call through the oceans of time.
Well keep a welcome in the hillsides; Well keep a welcome in the vales.
This land you knew will still be singing when you come home again to Wales.
This land of song will keep a welcome and with a love that never fails,
We'll kiss away each hour of Firaeth when you come home again to Wales.
25. THE WILD COLONIAL BOY.
There was a Wild Colonial boy, Jack Duggan was his name,
He was born and bred in Ireland near a place called Castlemain,
He was his father's only son, his mother's only joy
And dearly did his parents love, the Wild Colonial Boy.
At the early age of eighteen years, he left his native home,
And to Australia's sunny land he was inclined to roam,
He robbed the rich, to help the poor; he shot James McEvoy
A terror to Australia was the Wild Colonial Boy.
One morning on the prairie Wild Jack Duggan rode along
A listening to the mocking bird singing a cheerful song
Out jumped three troopers fierce and grim, Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy,
They had set out to take the bold and Wild Colonial Boy.
"Surrender now, Jack Duggan, come! You see we're three to one"
Surrender in the Queen's name, Sir! You are a plundering son!"
Jack drew two pistols from his side and glared upon Fitzroy,
"I'll fight but not surrender!" cried the Wild Colonial Boy.
He fired a shot at Kelly, which brought him to the ground
He fired point blank at Davis, too, who fell dead at the sound.
But a bullet pierced his brave young heart from the pistol of Fitzroy
And that was how they captured him, the Wild Colonial Boy.
26. MY FAMILY. (Tune: My Bonny lies over the ocean)
My father makes counterfeit money,
My mother brews synthatic gin,
My sister sells kisses to sailors,
By jove how the money rolls in.
Rolls in! Rolls In!
By jove how the money rolls in -rolls in!
Rolls in! Rolls In!
By jove how the money rolls in.
My brotherts a slum missionary,
Saving young ladies from sin.
He'll save you a blonde for a shilling,
By jove how the money rolls in.
My aunt keeps a girls' seminary
Teaching young girls to begin.
She doesn't say where they're to finish!
By jove how the money rolls in.
My cousin's a medical student,
With instruments long, sharp and thin.
He can only do one operation -
By Jove, how the money rolls in.
I've spent all my counterfeit money,
I've guzzled the synthetic gin,
I've parted with my only shilling.
Oh hell, what a state I am in!
