Lyr ADD: Tar Barrel in Dale (George Unthank)

20 Dec 08 - 05:53 PM (#2520921)
Subject: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: GUEST,Jiggers

Hi,

I went to see Rachel Unthank and the Winterset recently. They sang a song about a new years tradition in Allendale. The audience joined in with the chorus.

It went something like this "tar barrel in 'Dale, fire in snow, rejoice the new year, let the old one go ". I'm pretty sure the first two bits are right but I'm hazy about the last two bits. Anyone got the correct lyrics ?

Jiggers

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21 Dec 08 - 05:43 PM (#2521723)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tar Barrel in Dale
From: peregrina

refresh.

There is another great new year song which Mike Tickell has sung at Whitby ff, and that he said was inspired by George Unthank's song 'Tar Barrel in Dale'. MIke Tickell's song has the New Year dancing down the quay, and a chorus with the line 'and savour every day. -- Does any one know it??

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22 Dec 08 - 12:57 PM (#2522241)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: Dave (Bridge)

An email to the Keelers, FAO George Unthank will probably get you the Tar Barrel lyrics

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22 Dec 08 - 02:49 PM (#2522350)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: MoorleyMan

Interestingly enough the Winterset sang Tar Barrel only last Saturday on the otherwise rather disappointing Thompson Family Christmas Concert. The entire 60 minutes, plus some bonus material, is still available - for another four days at any rate - on BBC Radio 2 Listen Again. But I agree, the words aren't all that easy to transcribe. (You'll also find the Unthanks performing the magnificent Farewell Regality on that programme (see separate thread)...)

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23 Dec 08 - 02:48 PM (#2523186)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: GUEST, topsie

See the current thread on 'Yorkshire carols on BBC news', which includes Rachel Unthank. Also the related thread 'Traditional Carols and Media Alert.

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23 Dec 08 - 04:01 PM (#2523232)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: GUEST

It was the radio tonight http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/cgiemail/radio2/flex_tmpl/common_form.txt

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23 Dec 08 - 04:13 PM (#2523235)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: GUEST

If that doesn't work, try this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00g3y9n

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23 Dec 08 - 04:50 PM (#2523257)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: GUEST, topsie

They say it (Rachel Unthank & Co. on the 'Radcliffe & Maconie Show') will be available for another week on the BBC Radio 2 listen again player - but I don't think I could bring myself to listen to these two presenters wittering on again.

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25 Dec 08 - 06:13 PM (#2524629)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: GUEST,Jiggers

Hi,

thanks for the links to the listen again programme.

Tar barrel in Dale
Fire in snow
Toast the new year
Bid farewell to the old

The above is all I was after.

Thanks

Jiggers

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26 Dec 08 - 03:05 AM (#2524804)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: nutty

Tar-barreling Dale makes much more sense

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30 Dec 08 - 12:03 AM (#2527137)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: open mike

so here is the "other thread"

please explain this tradition--
it looks like people are walking
around with buckets of fire on their head

probalby they do not walk very far--that would be too hot@

Tar Barrell in Dale looks like a flamin'good time.

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30 Dec 08 - 01:03 AM (#2527162)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: open mike

yep--it is barrels of tar (or barls or barrells)
marching on the way to a big bonfire

http://www.go-britain.com/html/allendale.htm
http://www.north-country.co.uk/tar-barrels.htm
http://gouk.about.com/od/firefestivalsintheuk/qt/TarBarl_Fest.htm
http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/northumberland/festivals/december/allendale-tar-barrel-burning.html
http://www.halikeld.f9.co.uk/traditions/allen/allen2.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSdzje_PL40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkRmTLrhNys&feature=related

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30 Dec 08 - 10:12 AM (#2527393)
Subject: Lyr Add: TAR BARREL IN DALE (George Unthank)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)

Here are the lyrics from the youtube post of the song. I've been to Allendale a few times on New Year's Eve (at least once in the company of George Unthank - an old friend from my Middlesbrough days) and it's worth enduring the crush in the pubs for the grand finale when they arrive with the tar barrels on the guisers heads before the huge bonfire goes up.

Mick

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TAR BARREL IN DALE
(George Unthank)

  Chorus:
  Tar barrel in Dale
  Fire in snow
  Toast the New Year
  Bid farewell to the old

The old year out,
The New Year in,
Please won't you let
The lucky bird in.
With bottle in hand
And a piece of black coal,
A stranger's a friend
When first-footing you go.

  Chorus

At midnight's approach
The band you can hear,
The fiery procession
Of guisers draws near.
With friends and good company,
With voices so clear,
Singing in harmony,
Bringing in the New Year.

  Chorus

Off the heads of the guisers
The blazing barrels are hurled
On to the bonfire;
Smoke, sparks and flames swell.
Amidst cheers and rejoicing,
The rites of Old Father Time,
We'll link arms together
Sing Auld Lang Syne

  Chorus

Throughout the year
When we sing this song
Old friends and new friends
Sing along.
May good fortune be with you,
From all sorrows refrain
Till that happy time
When we all meet again.

  Chorus


Source: Rachel Unthank and the Winterset

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30 Dec 08 - 04:12 PM (#2527740)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: Dave (Bridge)

Nutty, what are you on about? After all the Dale is not tar barreling.

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30 Dec 08 - 06:19 PM (#2527832)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: tar barrel in dale
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)

It does sound like three words barrel in Dale rather than barrelin' Dale when they sing it; but that could be an artifact of singing. I'd assumed that Dale was really 'Dale, an abbreviation for Allendale, the village. But short of confirmation from an authoritative source I wouldn't like to say for certain!

Mick

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11 Nov 14 - 04:05 PM (#3676507)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tar Barrel in Dale (George Unthank)
From: GUEST,RR992

Hi everyone,

I've been asked to arrange a reduced score version of this song for a wind band. I have experience with this sort of task but I usually source a good (or at least) workable score to work from. Aside from a very sketchy 3 part harmony pdf score that is available on line, I haven't found anything. Does anyone know where I could get a score? Chords would also be a good start. Preferably in the same key as the Unthanks perform it in. Hope someone could help. I'd be very grateful. Regards. R

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27 Dec 17 - 07:51 PM (#3896061)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tar Barrel in Dale (George Unthank)
From: FreddyHeadey

This might be the pdf mentioned above ("arr - LP")

http://www.sheringtonprimary.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Tar-Barrel-in-Dale.pdf

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28 Dec 17 - 07:12 PM (#3896197)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tar Barrel in Dale (George Unthank)
From: Tattie Bogle

The tar barrel tradition happens in a number of places throughout the UK: indeed there may have been a previous thread re this.
In Ottery St Mary in Devon, a similar thing happens on Guy Fawkes' Night, Nov 5th: it is slightly scary if you're in the path of a flaming tar barrel man charging down the street, and looking like he's about to run into you! Never scaled a grassy bank so fast as that night! (I didn't choose the video backing music!)
Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels

And in Stonehaven in NE Scotland, they have the Hogmanay Fireballs celebration, when people parade down the street carrying and twirling flaming fireballs! FF to 1min 50 secs if you must!
Stonehaven Fireballs

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