The Dalston Lamp (Carolyn Francis)
Co-write with Carolyn Francis of The Striding Edge band, based on a true story. Sue Pattinson is the singer.
I'm easily inspired either by personal experiences, things said in conversation, being given a challenge, or being moved or amused by something. Many genres.
Story behind the song
This co-write with Carolyn Francis of The Striding Edge band is based on a true story found in Parish Records and is in two parts.
Sue Pattinson is the singer, arranged and recorded by Ron Green.
The song is on a database of new material for schools in the UK.
If any schools, folk musicians or groups would like to perform or record it, I'd love to hear from you.
All round, great fun to do, and many thanks go to all involved.
Lyrics
The lighting men were called upon and given seven pounds,
For a bright new street lamp, and interest abounded.
Good King George V was going to be crowned,
Dalston would commemorate with a lamp to gather round.
Chorus 1
A lamp to gather round, a lamp to gather round
Dalston would commemorate with a lamp to gather round
The local builder Walter Wilson, brought his team to work,
With a young Bill Walton (never a lad to shirk)
They came with boards and gravel, cement, and brain and brawn.
The dark grey slurry would be hard by morn.
Chorus 2
Hard by morn, hard by morn
The dark grey slurry would be hard by morn.
The folk around had never seen a concrete fill afore,
They doubted what the builder said and told him so.
But young Bill calmed the crowd and put their minds at ease,
T’would set hard as caulda cobbles …well worth the fee.
Chorus 3
Well worth the fee, well worth the fee,
T’would set hard as caulda cobbles, well worth the fee.
(PART TWO)
The villagers were thirsty for a beer, or two, or eight,
The Swan was full to bursting till late at neet.
Then Mr Murray left the pub a little worse for wear,
But ran back in, and frightened sat, a shakin’ in his chair.
Chorus 4
Shakin’ in his chair, shakin’ in his chair
He ran back in, and frightened sat a shakin’ in his chair.
“The devil’s on The Green!” he screamed, “go and see”
“The devil’s on The Green, and he’s after me”
“The devil’s on The Green, the devil’s in the camp”
Little did he realize, they’d been to light the lamp.
Chorus 5
Oh, they’d been to light the lamp, they’d been to light the lamp,
Little did he realize, they’d been to light the lamp.
Words by Carol Douglas
Music by Carolyn Francis
Sung by Sue Pattinson
Arranged and recorded by Ron Green
