more from
Whippet Records
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Halcyon Days [EP]

by The Whisky Priests

supported by
/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £2.99 GBP  or more

     

1.
Halcyon Days 03:24
HALCYON DAYS I remember Charlie Douglas when we were still at school He was my very best friend But I passed him as a stranger in the street the other day He didn't even know my bonnie face And little Cathy Thompson with her hair and heart of gold I vowed I would love until the end of time But we were young and I failed to realise That she would never be mine I remember the times when we used to laugh and play But this cruel world always seems to take those times away Now it all seems like a dream that just happened yesterday Those times will never come again We rang bells and ran through gardens But caused no harm to anyone And the rows and fields were our own And we would mucky all our best clothes Jumping becks and climbing trees And stayed out late didn't want to go back home And the gypsy-camp battlefield where we used to play at wars Was innocent fun and games back then But now we are acting out our battle plans for real Though we say we are fully grown men In our ignorance and bliss we were happy in our lives And our innocence could never let us down On grassy moors we chased and in greeny lanes we roamed Creating our own world in our town But it could never last forever fate caught up on us in time And turned our whole world upside down For our minds then knew of guilt and all the pain of love and hate While our dreams were left shattered on the ground Oh what happened to you whatever happened to me What became of the people we used to be (Gary Miller)
2.
BILL HARTNELL [Instrumental] (Gary Miller)
3.
Adam Buckham 01:28
ADAM BUCKHAM It's down the long stairs And it's straight along the close All in Baker's entry Adam Buckham knows And it's oh Adam Buckham oh Oh Adam Buckham oh Oh Adam Buckham oh With his bow legs Now nanny carries water And Tommy cobbles shoes And Adam Buckham goes around Gathering all the news Now Adam kissed a servant maid And that would never do And if the lads get hold of him They'll make him sorely rue (Trad. arr. The Whisky Priests)
4.
GRANDFATHA’S FATHA When I was a young lad and had never known a job I would visit my grandfather once a week And I’d listen to his tales whilst sitting on his knee But of his days at work he’d never speak I found out that his father had died long ago When granda was a young lad like mysel’ It was down the pit he died whilst working on the gang There was a big explosion so they tell They were cut off from the world When the big cage doors were closed They sang and talked to keep their spirits high Then his father told the tale Of when he’d met Old Nick Himself And then he joked he’d see them all in Hell They’d both left home together They were both on the same long shift And with the other men they piled into the cage But the clanging of machinery as they descended down Was warning them “you’re going to your graves” When the cage reached the bottom All the men clambered out And like tiny ants they laboured in the gloom Then an almighty bang rent the air As the men began to shout And the roof caved in to seal them in their tomb No one knew what had happened Until the dust began to settle It looked like there’d been a battle With the Devil down in Hell My grandfather had been knocked unconscious By a beam that had grazed his skull While his father just lay lifeless where he fell They’d brought him to the surface By the time that he’d come round Someone said “Son forget what happened To you down there in the dark” But his mind could never escape the horror Of seeing his poor father die In that dark hole that was called his place of work (Gary Miller)
5.
GEORDIE BLACK Oh my name is Geordie Black and I'm getting very old And I've hewed tons of coal in my time When I was a lad I could either put or hew Out of the other ones I would always take the shine Now I'm going down the bank and I cannot use my pick And the master has no pity on old bones Are you new or on the bank in amongst the bits of lads Up upon the heath a-picking stones Oh my name is Geordie Black in my time I've been a crack And I've worked both the Gus and the Betty And for coals upon the Tyne out of the others I would take the shine And lick them all for iron down at Hawks's Now when I was just a lad carried on my father's back He would take me away to the pit And getting in the cage and then going down below Was enough to make a youngster take a fit To sit and keep the door in the darkness and the gloom And many a weary hour by myself And to hear the awful shots as they rumbled around the pit And the lumps of roondy coal come down pell mell Oh my name is Geordie Black in my time I've been a crack And I've worked both the Gus and the Betty And for coals upon the Tyne out of the others I would take the shine And lick them all for iron down at Hawks's Now I'll bid you all goodnight for it's nearly time to lowse And I hope I've tried to please you everyone Mind you pray tonight and do all the things that's right For in this world that's the way to get along Now here's success to trade for on the Wear and Tyne I don't like to see the faces slack For if the pits lie idle then no wages come today It grieves the heart of poor Geordie Black Oh my name is Geordie Black in my time I've been a crack And I've worked both the Gus and the Betty And for coals upon the Tyne out of the others I would take the shine And lick them all for iron down at Hawks's (lyrics: Trad. arr. The Whisky Priests / music: Johnny Handle)
6.
THE CLOG DANCER Now then marras what fettle I hope I find you well If you gather all around me now My story I will tell When I was young I used to be A miner like yourselves But now because my hair’s turned grey They’ve put me on the shelf For fifty years I’ve worked in the pit And many’s the change I’ve seen When I was young when a man was done They’d set him on the screen But now today when your hair turns grey Like a squaddie with an old peg leg They’ll tell you you’re no use anymore Get out in the road and beg My age it is just sixty-four For work I’ve got no chance They’ve barred me from the championships My clogs for the belt to dance They said that I was getting on For work I was no use They’ve paid me off and thrown me out Get into the old workhouse So listen all my young lads Take heed of what I say Get out of the pit if you’re young enough To make good your own way Because if you don’t and you stay below You’ll wake to find one day You’re all washed up and you get the push Because your hair’s turned grey (Trad. arr. The Whisky Priests)

about

Originally released as a Cassette EP (WPTC3).

Reviews:

“The Whisky Priests 6-track cassette EP sees the band in magnificent form, the production is A1 with the mix giving equal importance to each instrument, big Mick on bass creates a rock solid back rhythm that the layers of accordion, guitar, fiddle and spoons fit onto with such ease, to create a riotously enjoyable sound that never diminishes or loses one drop of its appeal throughout this tape! The ingenuity of the band is demonstrated on their reworking of ‘Grandfatha’s Fatha’, where they utilise the Northumbrian pipes as lead instrument and the result is startlingly effective. Pete on fiddle gives an indication of why he’s such an asset to the band with his unquestionable power and skill on the instrument, most notable on ‘The Clog Dancer’. Stirring, stylish rock with its roots firmly in the north-East tradition. Can’t recommend it enough.” (‘Halcyon Days’ Cassette EP), Sean McGhee, ‘Rock ‘N’ Reel’, UK, Spring 1990.

credits

released November 23, 1989

The Whisky Priests line-up on this recording:

Gary Miller – Vocals, Acoustic 6&12 string Guitars, Bouzouki, Mandolin
Glenn Miller – Accordion, Backing Vocals
Bill Bulmer – Mandolin, Harmonicas, Bouzouki, Backing Vocals
Mick Tyas – Bass Guitar, Vocals
Pete French – Fiddle, Northumbrian Pipes, Spoons, Backing Vocals
Steve Green – Drums, Percussion

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Gary Miller Durham, UK

Gary Miller first rose to international prominence with folk-punk/rock pioneers The Whisky Priests (1985-2002), founded with his twin brother Glenn - “the Joe Strummer and Mick Jones of Folk Music". He now performs as a solo artist and with his new band 'Gary Miller's Big Picture' whose debut album is coming soon. ... more

contact / help

Contact Gary Miller

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Gary Miller recommends:

If you like Halcyon Days [EP], you may also like: