BILLY OLIVERS RAMBLE BETWEEN BENWELL AND NEWCASTLE - W.T. Duggan

Infamous throughout industrial-revolution Newcastle as a pitman way-too-up-himself for his own good, Billy Oliver's typical night "oot on the toon" was immortalised in this pop song of the era; first published in Marshall's Chap-Books in 1823.

"No author is given, and although the song has been very popular and often printed, none have given an authors name," wrote the eminent Tyneside musicologist, Thomas Allan, in "Tyneside Songs", published in 1862. "Possibly the author, owing to his song holding the pitman so much up to ridicule, may have judged it best to 'lie low'."

Specially recorded in the electicGeordieland studios in Byker and drawing on influences as diverse as Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk and Norman Wisdom, 'Billie Oliver's Ramble' is reworked for the techno-DevCorp age by W.T Duggan and his amazing technicolor dreamcoat.

The video was shot on location in the North-East of England using a Sony DCR-HC14E Handycam without a wide angle lens and with the image stabiliser switched on (Doh!)

For those not fluent in the Geordie mother-tongue, an English translation is included below:

My name is Billy Oliver,
In Benwell town I dwell;
And I'm a clever chap, I'm sure,
Though I do say it myself.

Such a clever chap am I, am I,
Such a clever chap am I.

There's not a young man in our locality,
Can compare with me;
Nor not a young man in Benwell town,
Who is so popular with the young ladies.

Such a clever chap etc.

And when I go to Newcastle town,
I dress myself so well,
Our neighbours stand and stare at me,
And say, "My goodness! What a superstar."

Such a clever chap etc.

I walk with such an attitude,
That, if people aren't blind,
They always think it's some great man,
Coming in disguise.

Such a clever chap etc.

And when I go down Westgate Street,
And along by Denton Chare,
I whistle all along the way,
To make the people stare.

Such a clever chap etc.

And then I go into the local bistro,
And order a pint of beer;
And when the waitress serves it,
I always say, "My Dear."

Such a clever chap etc.

And when I have a pint of beer,
I always sing a song;
I've a nice one I can sing,
Thirty six verses long.

Such a clever chap etc.

And if the other customers,
Say I'm bahaving inappropriately,
I always pick a fight with them,
'Cos I'm as strong as a bull.

Such a clever chap etc.

And when I've had a fight or three,
And a fairly useless groan;
I go back as drunk as I can be,
To likeable Benwell town.

Such a clever chap etc.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Billie
• Oliver
• Thomas
• Allan
• Tyneside
• Songs
• Geordie
• Duggan
• Folk
• Tradition
• Ethnic
• Culture
• Local
• History
• Newcastle
• Tyne
• Industrial
• Revolution
• Miner
• Pit
• Coal
• drink
• drunkenness
• beer
• alcohol
• violence
• pub
• brawl

[serafinoblacky]

you are such a clever chap but what about subtitles

[electricgeordieland]

@serafinoblacky

Had away and shite!

(BBC Radio 4 translation: Thank you for your kind comments. An independent inquiry has been appointed to look into this matter. Until the conclusions of that inquiry are published it would be inappropriate for us to comment further).

P.S. For non Geordie speakers, a translation in the South-East English dialect can be found by clicking the down arrow in the description box below the video.

[mylucent]

love the mix of gentleness and menace. Enjoyed reading words.

[Himazzzza]

Love it! Great dance moves! Nice jacket too - winner kick at the end. Featuring the inevitable dog out for a walk with ya... Great boom boom musica!