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'Ware Out Mother

from Dominion by Melrose Quartet

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about

(trad)

Learned from the singing of Charlie Yarwood.

lyrics

Nightmares, Mother had, of navvies in the cellar
And dark eyes looking through the window outside
How we used to vex her, how we used to taunt her
How we would laugh and chant to her dismay
 
'Ware out Mother there's a navvy in the cellar 
and two more looking through the window outside
 
Mother heard there was to be a river builded 
Just a stone's throw away from the window outside
How we hugged each other, as we told our mother
"It's a canal, there'll be navigators too."
 
We told Mother we’d see barges full of jewels
And wondrous things past the window outside
“But where's this river from?” We said it flows from China
"Woah" thought Mom, "there'll be alligators too."d
 
One night Jimmy led the navies into town 
and they looked like beggars through the window outside
There were navvies in the ale house, arguments and street fights,
Mother was delicate, she stayed in bed all week
 
One night Jimmy had a gentle way with words 
and more pairs of hands than was decent, alright
"Will you come along, me saucy little Susie,
Just let me put a few arms around your waist."
 
Soon our mother saw the navvy with her daughter 
and she locked her up in the cellar downstairs
"Do you get along, me naughty filthy hussy,
Else I'll put this stick about your back."
 
Jim gave a wink, or it might have been a blink,
and he organised a tunnel 'neath the window outside
Not a body saw them, then they struck foundations
"Right" thought Jim, "I shall blow a little hole."
 
Muffled bang! and there was dust and rubble everywhere
And Jim was in the cellar of his Susie once more
How they hugged each other, yet no-one told our mother
She still has her dreams, yet she's never learnt the truth.

credits

from Dominion, released December 1, 2023

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Melrose Quartet Sheffield, UK

Simply one of the best acappella groups on the UK folk scene, Melrose Quartet are made up of two well-loved folk duos, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan and Jess & Rich Arrowsmith. Based in Sheffield, they have a decade of gigs behind them, and vast collective experience as workshop leaders as well as performers. They are also a ceilidh band and the Patrons of Whiby Folk Week. Www.melrosequartet.co.uk ... more

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