Lyr Req: London River (Rod Shearman)

Subject: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 06:01 PM

Anyone got the words to Rod's song 'London River' please?

I know I have a recording of it somewhere, but it's one of Manitas' and he has at least 75 cassettes that don't have sleeve notes that are legible, least of all relevant to the cassette it contains.....

Thanks.

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 06:29 PM

Hi Liz. Sorry I can't help with the lyrics, but I did make a note of Dave and Anni's site from their notice on the barn wall at Towersey as they intend to publish Rod's songs. You could try their site (still under construction) at Old And New Tradition

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 06:33 PM

The site is still half worked, so no lyrics available yet. Neither can I see it recorded on any of their discs they plug.... looks like I may have to start playing cassettes all day tomorrow.....

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Ralphie
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 06:52 PM

Hey Liz...
Can't help with the words....but...I can think of a lot worse ways of spending your day
Hugs Ralphie

Subject: Lyr Add: LONDON RIVER (Rod Shearman)
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 01:53 PM

LONDON RIVER

(Rod Shearman)

Chorus
London river Oh the London river,
All the love I have I'll give her,
London river Oh the London river,
That's the river for me.

The first time that I set my eyes upon her,
I tell no lie upon my honour,
The sight it fairly made my heart a quiver,
Then I took her on the London river.

ch.

I first went to sea in the 1930s,
The pay was low and the work was dirty,
I went to the Indies where the rum is brewed,
I had me a glass and got me kidneys stewed.

Chorus

I shipped on board of the old Passover,
Some of those stewards would blow you over,
Lipstick and makeup and all that muck,
They walk like a woman and they call you duck.

Chorus

Repeat verse one.

KA


This is from memory. I expect some corrections and additions will be posted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 09:40 PM

Hooray!! Thanks!!

This is needed because I want to enclose a copy of it with a message in a bottle. The bottle will also contain the remainder of the remains as it were...

Last Saturday at Towersey we scattered Rod's ashes along the road to the pub. There was quite a bit left over, which I have agreed to take to one of the London bridges (maybe Tower, maybe the Woolwich Ferry) and drop off into the river. I want to put a little into 7 jars (seven seas, gettit?) with the words to the song and a request that whoever finds it (probably all at Southend) to please scatter them in the nearest ocean. The rest goes to the London River he wrote about. I'm putting my Email into it as well, so people can hopefully tell me where his journey finished.

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 09:46 PM

Anyone know who recorded it? I know we have it on tape somewhere in this house, or maybe it did belong to the brother in law, in which case, it's gone for ever.....

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Mudcatter
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 02:07 AM

Fairport Convention recorded in on 1988's Red And Gold. It was previously recorded by Jim Mageean and Johnny Colins on their album "Make the Rafters Roar"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 02:15 AM

Ah, the one Johnny Collins I don't have, typical!

However, I suspect we have the Fairport thing on vinyl somewhere, thanks!

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Alio
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 11:25 AM

I was given all the words at one of Jim's maritime sessions in Whitby, but they are all at home, and I'm at work!!! There's actually about 7 verses, so I'll bring them in and post them next week if that's any use?

Subject: Lyr Add: LONDON RVER (Rod Shearman)
From: GUEST,George Stephens
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 12:13 AM

One of the songs I most love to sing. I got the words from Michael O'Leary-Johns after he sang it at a house concert in Washington DC. - one of very few songs I didn't learn from a record! I'm sure we've both put our individual "interpretations" on it. I deeply regret never having had a chance to meet Rod Shearman.

London River - Rod Shearman

The first time I laid eyes upon her
I'll tell you the truth upon my honour:
Sights and sounds to set your heart a-quiver,
I found them there on the London River.

cho.:

London River, oh the London River,
All the love I've got I give her.
London River, oh the London River,
Well, that's the river for me!

First I sailed on a flat bottomed collier;
The crew was fine and they couldn't 'a' been jollier.
Headed north, we were doin' fine,
Bringin' back coal from the River Tyne.

(cho.)

Next on the mail run to Australia,
Learnin' to walk and talk like a sailor,
Made a pass at every Sheila,
Got a poke in the chops and a twisted feeler.

(cho.)

Next I sailed on the Regent's Leopard,
Tugs alongside to shunt and shepherd,
South to the Indies where the rum is brewed -
Got meself a tot and got me kidneys stewed.

(cho.)

Then I signed on a cold store freighter;
Sailed back to London six months later,
Loaded down with goods in store:
Lamb and butter from New Zealand's shore.

(cho.)

Next I sailed on a British tanker,
She was a fine ship, she was a spanker!
South to the Gulf where your brains might boil,
Then back to England with a load of oil.

(cho.)

Then I sailed on the old Horse Over (?)
Some of them stewards would bowl you over!
Lipstick and powder and all that muck,
Hands on their hips as they call you "Duck".

(cho.)

Well, I've seen many's the beautiful waterway;
Sights and sounds to take your breath away,
But all of them just fade and wither
When I think of the London River.

(cho.)

Enjoy!
George Stephens

---

Line breaks -
- added. --JoeClone

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: GUEST,George Stephens
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 12:19 AM

Obviously, I and whatever "system" got hold of my submission, disagree on the function of linefeeds!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 02:06 AM

Thanks everyone, esp. George; If you want to meet him, there's still quite a lot of him in my dining room..... (sorry, poor taste there for those who are squeamish.... but it's true....)

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Baron
Date: 21 May 03 - 12:45 PM

Great Song - I'll go looking for "Old London City" too
There's a group in Adelaide, SA, that takes it's name from "Here's to Friends" - great song of Rod's & fine group.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Micca
Date: 21 May 03 - 01:22 PM

George, I think the ship you mean is the P&O ship "Orsova" not the "Horse over" LOL:o)!!!!! more info here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: London River by Rod Shearman.
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 22 May 03 - 04:28 AM

Liz, I transcribed quite a lot of Rod's songs for both "Folk London" and an earlier song book project that never got completed. If you want a PDF of the song complete with dots, PM your e-mail address (I don't seem to have it).