Offa 1.King Offa he built a dyke From the Mersey down to the Wye 80 mile long and 12 foot across With a bank that was 20 foot high it was high A bank that was 20 foot high From the Mersey down to the Thames From the borders across to the Fens Wessex and Sussex were under his rule And a bit later on he took Kent, yes he did And a bit later on ‘e took Kent. Oh, he were the King a wonderful King, And ‘is bloody great dyke was a wonderful thing! 2.At Tamworth he built a great hall Though he didn’t stay there much at all He hunted in Gumley in Croft and Great Glen Put a bloody great lodge in em all, yes ‘e did A bloody great lodge in em all At foreign affairs he were great, And Charlemagne he was his mate With weapons and firs and all manner of wares They both did a shitload of trade, yes they did, Both did a shitload of trade Oh, he were the King a wonderful King, And ‘is bloody great dyke was a wonderful thing! 3.For 39 years he did reign As mighty as old Charlemagne History books say even up to this day He was greater than Alfred the Great. yes ‘e was Greater than Alfred the Great He were buried in holy ground In a chapel in Bed-i-ford town But the river it washed the chapel away To this day it has never been found. no it ain’t To this day it has never been found. Oh, he were the King a wonderful King, And ‘is bloody great dyke was a wonderful thing 4.Historians follow the lead Trying to find where the chapel had been Cos swimmers in summer say deep in the water A sepulchre sometimes is seen, it is seen, A sepulchre sometimes is seen So bye bye King Offa bye bye From the England that you tried to unite Thanks for the coin and the lands you purloined But most of all thanks for the dyke, for the dyke Most of all thanks for the dyke. He was the King, the Mercian King Oh what a man, Oh what a King For 39 years he was KING OF THE REALM Invaded the south, he battered the Welsh He ruled the Hwicce, the Maginsosete Developed a mint and minted the penny Remember it all, this wonderful stuff, But Oh goodness me if that weren’t enough He build Offa’s dyke so long and so broad And that’s the main thing we remember him for.

I’ll be Leaving Shortly 1.My name is Ivo de Grandmesnil Ivo the Ropedancer is the name that I bear With a shrug of the shoulders in true Gallic style I’ll slide down that rope and bid you adieu 2.My father e came over with William the Bastard And in lands and possessions got is recompense Together with all those other Norman Bastards To coin a phrase if you’ll excuse my French. In these fortifications I ‘ave every confidence And we’ve all been blessed by his Highness the Pope But I’ve just remembered an important engagement So I’ve got to go shortly and slide down that rope La, la ,la... 3.I kept my nose clean under William the Red But when e met hees end I backed the wrong ‘orse You could just say it was an error of judgement With Robert the Shortarse I plotted a course. 4.Now Robert e said “I’ll be right there behind you”, We’re in this together I’m a man of my word but Bought off by King Henry he sailed back to Normandy, Left me up tyo ze neck in a big heap of merde In these fortifications I ‘ave every confidence And we’ve all been blessed by his Highness the Pope But I’ve just remembered an important engagement So I’ve got to go shortly and slide down that rope La, la, ,la... 5. And so to avoid the wrath of King Henry, I went off the the Holy Land armed with great zeal, But at the siege of Antioch I blew it big time, Alas for Ivo de Granmesnil 6. And so adieu to my lands and companions, To Sir Roger de Courcy who likes his nooky bear, Although he didn’t live till a hundred years later, He’s funny so decided to stick ‘im in here. In these fortifications I ‘ave every confidence And we’ve all been blessed by his Highness the Pope But I’ve just remembered an important engagement So I’ve got to go shortly and slide down that rope J’ai tout confiance en ces fortifications, Nos avons tous ete bene par le Pape , mais alors Je viens de me rappeler que j’ai un rendezvous important Ainsi j’ai besoin d’;aller glisser dur cette corde. La, la, la...(x2)

The Grey Sisters First there was Lady Jane For nine days she were queen They took her life away And her Ubby Duddle-ee Then there was Enery Head of the family He tried to run away Now he’s in the cemetery Chorus:- Don’t mess with monarchy You’ll end up in A and E They’ll rearrange you bodily Bang you in a nunnery Fol der iddle iddle di do Fol der iddle iddle di do Fol der iddle iddle di do Fol der iddle iddle day Then there was Catherine, Great grandchild to the King She marries Eddaward She cannot be with him So they put her away Down in the tower to stay Bu Ed got is his end away She’s in the family way Chorus Poor little Mary Grey She was a dwarf they say She married Thomas Keyes Though he was six foot three He was of low degree So this could never be There was no wedded bliss Liz was not avin this Chorus Oh that poor family Ruled by the monarchy Treated so bad-el –y Oh what a tragedy Banged up in custody, (Or lost their ‘eds orribly All for the sake of Tudor geneolgy. Chorus x 2

John Cook Chorus Ogg ‘all, Ogg’all I lived at at old Ogg ‘all At Burbage town in Leicestershire That’s where I were born Ogg ‘all, Ogg’all I lived at at old Ogg ‘all At Burbage town in Leicestershire That’s where I were born Ogg all Ogg’all I lived at Old Ogg ‘all I saw the plight of the common man And the rich who ruled it all Chorus My father was a poor man John Cook it was mi name Somehow I got to Oxford town To live and learn my trade I studied hard I studied well And I rose to high renown And I prosecuted Charles the First Helped take away his crown Chorus As I read the charges out At Whitehall in the court Charles poked me with his walking stick To every charge I brought To tyrant, traitor, murderer He poked me with his stick The pommel fell and he were forced To crawl and pick it up. Chorus I told him if he didn’t plead Guilty would be brought And if he pleaded that would mean He recognised the court. Twixt the devil and the deep He still withheld his breath So the court then found him guilty And sentenced him to death Chorus To the scaffold Charles was led away There to face the axe And a glorious thing it was for me To see him so dispatched But Charles the Second was returned Twenty years gone buy And all of us who signed that deed Accused of regicide Chorus All the years that we had fought To oust the monarchy To bring to this our nation A fair democracy All the poor and suffering who fought that civil war All gone down the pan As Charles the Second is restored Chorus And now the bastards come for me To eke out their revenge Put me on the scaffold Hang me by the neck And let me down and chop me up Slit me through the gut To show the world what happens If you rail against your lot. Chorus x 2

1741 In 17 hundred and 41, Handel went to Shackerstone He took the coach to Birmingham Another one on to Leamington Then Bosworth, Billesdon and Botcheston In 17 hundred and 41 Chorus He brought his mates He brought his kin An orchestra to play with him Cellos Flutes and Violins And his peddly weddly org-eon Peddly weddly..... In 17 hundred and 41 Handel stayed at Shackerstone He stayed with Charlie Jennessen A very formidable gentleman He put him up at the Rising Sun In 17 hundred and 41 Chorus In 17 hundred and 41 Jennesen said to George “come on I’ve got a temple in the glade Where you could play our heart away It could really turn you on In 17 hundred and 41 Chorus In 17 hundred and 41 For 3 weeks he stayed all alone He took his paper and his pen And his peddly weddly or –ge-on To write his masterpieces on. In 17 hundred and 41 Chorus In 17 hundred and 41 He come back to Shackerstone It had really turned him on His masterpiece was nearly done It became a number one In 17 hundred and 41 Chorus In 17 hundred and 59 In the year that Handel died The Messiah it was played At Langton church upon the stage They all had a lovely time In 17 hundred and fifty nine He brought his mates He brought his kin An orchestra to play with him Cellos Flutes and Violins And his peddly weddly org-eon Peddly weddly.weddly weddlypeddly weddy or-ge-on... His peddly weddly.weddly weddly peddly weddy or-ge-on...

Susanna’s Footsteps 1.From the clock tower cast an eye As for a moment time stands still, Behold McDonalds and Sports Direct R ound that place they called Coal Hill. 2.Down Belgrave Gate I passed Betfred, Past the Poundland made my way, To where the barges brought their loads Iron and coal and stone and slate When I think of all those changes, Passing through those tunnels of time, Focus on the span of history That the mirror shows behind, Walking in Susanna’s footsteps Seeing through Susanna’s eyes, 3. All along the sacred way, Where the parade at Whitsuntide, Bears the marks of desolation. Stain the pages of our guide 4. In Parchment Lane stands Burger King To High Street where once towered the Lord’s Place, Opposite the cafe Nero, Vanished now without a trace. When I think of all those changes, Passing through those tunnels of time, Focus on the span of history That the mirror shows behind, Walking in Susanna’s footsteps Seeing through Susanna’s eyes, 5.I gaze at the wondrous Travelodge. Where once was sat the Blue Boar Inn Whose walls took with them many a tale, That it closely held within 6.All Saint’s now lies dwarfed and hidden In huge monstrosity lies drowned, Applegate leads to the Holiday Inn Upon the heart of the Roman town. When I think of all those changes, Passing through those tunnels of time, Focus on the span of history That the mirror shows behind, Walking in Susanna’s footsteps Seeing through Susanna’s eyes, 7.Susanna took the guise of man And by her pen she earned her weage, But forthright said she that henceforth No human being should be a slave 8.Sounded out the blast of freedom. An example to all men, Said there should be no hesitation As she unsheathed her mighty pen When I think of all those changes, Passing through those tunnels of time, Focus on the span of history That the mirror shows behind, Walking in Susanna’s footsteps Seeing through Susanna’s eyes,

I’ve drawn all these buildings proud as they stood, Knowing full well they’ll soon be vanished for good, How I love to wander through these Leicester streets, Feel the touch of the cobblestones under my feet, Although from time to time it really gets me down I’ll be leaving my heart here in this old town. 1. With an all seeing eye and pencils so fine, I’ll capture every shadow and each single line, Though it stinks to high heaven throughout both sun and rain, There’s a beauty to be found as you walk through these lanes. I’ve drawn all these buildings proud as they stood, 2. Things that we take for granted can be gone in a breath As the onset of progress brings a dark kiss of death, And the black tide of ugliness slither and creeps, To the soul of the town as it silently sleeps. I’ve drawn all these buildings proud as they stood, 3. But now I grow old and it fills my heart with pain. So much can be lost for so little truly gained This glorious rambling shambles in the picture I’ll portray For fond recollections before they’re swept away. I’ve drawn all these buildings proud as they stood,

1. Now James Cook did murder most foul we know, To avoid paying the money he owed, Though he claimed it was done in self defence He had to get rid of the evidence. 2. Sliced up the body into bits, In a vain attempt to get rid of it, Worked through the night and did conspire To burn the body in the fire, Take the thing away, take the thing away, We don’t want it here in Saffron Lane Don’t care how many years it’s stood, It’s lowering the tone of the neighbourhood Dripping all that flesh and blood, I’m sure there’s somewhere they can find, Out of sight and out of mind Don’t want it here spoiling the view, After all this is 1832. 3. For 3 nights he worked at his grisly deed, But underestimated the time he’d need, Acting all like butter won’t melt, But soon the neighbours a rat they smelt 4, Horseflesh he said is making the smell, Went to see a bloke with a dog to sell, To feed the dog I bought the meat But in the end I got cold feet. Take the thing away, take the thing away, We don’t want it here in Saffron Lane 5.We all know he so nearly got away Took a coach, for a ship to Americay But Officer Cummins was quick off the mark Caught up with him as he was about to embark 6. Now we all loved the hanging without a doubt, 6. Now we all loved the hanging, of that there’s not a doubt, We took all the kids, they had a great day out, But as for the gibbeting, we’re really not so sure Don’t do it here, do it elsewhere.

Tanky Smith 1.Well, our Tanky was a canny lad ‘e were full of wild surprises He’d ‘ave them villains from their lairs With his myriad disguises As a bishop or as a quaker, as a jockey or a cook, He’d get the local lowdown on them villains and them crooks. 2. If a villain was out upon the run or gone deep into hiding You could guarantee our Tanky Smith Would be the first to find him Deep in the depths of Derbyshire or way down in Devizes, He’d flush ‘em out and get ‘em to the next county assizes. Chorus:- Tanky, Tanky, he were lean and lanky, He were a copper what could spot A bit of hanky panky 3. And when he weren’t out catching crooks he’d sometimes have a mind To trip across the sea a missing person for to find To seek out James Winstanley, he got an urgent call, The ‘igh Sheriff of the County, What lived ain Braunstone Hall. 4. By using all them little grey cells, he set out on the trail, What led him into Deutschland where he ‘eard of a sad tale, The tragic truth he came upon and very quickly found, A body from the river pulled proved poor old James was drowned. Chorus 5. In a house on London Road was where our Tanky lived, His son wanted to leave something in memory of ‘im, So when he died he copied the disguises that he’d used, And stuck ‘em up as gargoyles on the front of Tanky’s mews. 6. And there on Top ‘At Terrace, you can see ‘em to this day, In 16 gargoyles carved in stone, Tanky is displayed, The ‘eds of bishops, cooks and quakers all in hats and wigs, A rather fitting tribute to old Francis Tanky Smith. Chorus x 2

Muggy Measures Muggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggy-mug 1.I stand on Cheapside every day, Sells me muffins ‘ot, The people gather round me, And see what I ‘ave got. I gets me bell out of me coat, And then I starts to ring, The children gather round me, And they begins to sing Ave you seen the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man ‘Ave you seen the muffin man that lives in Loseby Lane? Yes, I’ve seen the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man, Yes, I’ve seen the muffin man, Muggy Measures if his name. 2. People always ask me, Where I gets me wares I tell ‘em that I gets ‘em from a shop in Russell Square, I carries them up Wharf Street, Belgrave Gate as well, And when I gets to the old Clock Tower It’s there I rings me bell. Ave you seen the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man... Muggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggy-mug Hot mince pies, sausage surprise, Minted peas, muffins if you please. 3.And when the coppers see me, They always say ‘allo’ (allo, allo) They never try to chase me off, Or tell me for to go, It’s because they love their muffins, I always gives them one, They’re the best muffins in Leicester And in the whole kingdom. Ave you seen the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man... Muggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggymuggy-mug

The Ballad of Tom Barclay Down in the dark in Abbey Street That was where I first found my feet, Life was nought but a bag of bones Dodging all those sticks and stones Cap in hand and hand to mouth Waiting for the day when the money ran out Trying to learn the rules of the game Tom Barclay is my name 1.When first I came into this town From across the Irish Sea, A squalid hovel for a home Was my first memory From starvation put to flight No choice but emigration But we found no welcome here Among this English nation. Down in the dark in Abbey Street 2.Hounded by the Sassenach kids Many a battle we did fight Mother took comfort in devotion Dad came home drunk on a Friday night Early on I did decide That I would learn to read and write And soon me eyes were opened wide As I began to see the light.. Down in the dark in Abbey Street 3. I threw myself into finding out Improving things for the working class, Though down at the free and easy, It’s oh so easy to just down a glass Things they never will get better If you just give in to that call, Joined the Labour Party To fight for a better life for all

Heaven's Gate The journey of your life I read , Across the continents of mind, Around the footsteps where I tread, Oil, wood and canvas of your time, Through life dismembered, disarrayed, You held a light that cannot fade.. Hands in Prayer, Edelweiss, Desolation, Sacrifice, The child that in the cradle lies, Unshield the sword and pay the price, As crucified by church and state, We all line up at Heaven's gate. And all through many a darkest day, In wilderness dark shadows move, Uncertain enemies and friends, Fear with long knives and twisted truth, Though faith betrayed, honour abused, The devil's silver you refused. Hands in Prayer, Edelweiss, Desolation, Sacrifice, The child that in the cradle lies, Unshield the sword and pay the price, As crucified by church and state, We all line up at Heaven's gate And so at last your rest you found, In dappled light of twilight shade, AS tyrants come and Empires fall, Your story will fill many a page, Yet few of us could say for true, We've lived but half a life as you. Hands in Prayer, Edelweiss, Desolation, Sacrifice, The child that in the cradle lies, Unshield the sword and pay the price, As crucified by church and state, We all line up at Heaven's gate As crucified by church and state, We all line up at Heaven's gate

Never Got that Clean Break –capo 3 -key Gminor 1. I’ll (Em) tell you a story bout a man called Larry Gains Who made his way into the (B7)hall of (Em)fame; Started out washing dishes to try to get by Or down with the young bucks (B7)rolling the(Em) dice. 2. Running(Am) bootleg from Toronto to Chicago(Em) town, On the midnight trains where the(B7) deals go (Em)down, (Am)Met Jack Johnson of whom everybody’s(Em) heard, Proud to shake the hand that (B7)shook the world. (G)He was chasing the(D) impossible dream. The (Am)big chances passed him by or(Em) so it seems The (G)championship of the (D)world he’d never win It(C)all came down to the(B7) colour of his skin, (Em)Blame it all on preju(G)dice, fear and (B7)ate, He(C) never got to (B7)get that clean (Em)reak 3. Found out to survive you had to live on your wits Learned how to fight, how to box with his fists Down in the ring trading blow for blow, Heavyweight champion of Ontario. 4. On that slow boat to England he came across the sea, Fighting in Paris, fighting in Germany Til them good folks of Leicester welcomed him home Won himself the Empire Title down the Welford Road. He was chasing the impossible dream. 5, Drank a carafe of wine with Hemingway, Paul Robeson, Colman Hawkins, Cab Calloway; Played chemin de fer with princes and sheikhs But pride and politics meant he just didn’t get the breaks. 5. Now evening is the very best time of the day, For an old fighter to think of the ones that got away All through that Indian summer, you’d still hear it spoke,, Of the day he beat Carnera, the great whitehope

The Sharpest Knife G/D You (G)did it all the hard way, nothing (D)handed on a plate You(C) fought up every step of the ladder, (G)thankful for every (D) twist of fate. (G) Working for the daily bread, with(D) football as your weekend prize, Your (C)home town said you ‘d never make it, (G)no way for a lad of your (D) size. (C) Forged out of Sheffield (G)Steel, delta winged in (D) flight, We (G)thank our (Am)lucky Bm) stars for that(C) day (G)that you brought us the (C)sharpest (G)knife. For(G) Fleetwood Town you made your mark, as (D) fast the goals began to flow, (C)Helped they team to win promotion, (G) got you in the shop (D) window, Then (G) Leicester City took a gamble, (D)paid a million threw the dice (C)Many were the eyebrows raised, was(G) this a banger or (D) Rolls Royce? (C) Forged out of Sheffield (G)Steel, delta winged in (D) flight, We (G)thank our (Am)lucky Bm) stars for that(C) day (G)that you brought us the (C)sharpest (G)knife. But (G) soon that edge it seemed so blunted, (D) confidence was all you lacked, (C)Then you lit that blue touch paper, (G) then there was no(D) looking back That (G)knife it sliced through all defences, that (D) great escape, a mountain climbed The(C) keenest blade in the division, (G)hey everyone it’s (D) party time! (C) Forged out of Sheffield (G)Steel, delta winged in (D) flight, We (G)thank our (Am)lucky Bm) stars for that(C) day (G)that you brought us the (C)sharpest (G)knife. (G)Nothing in the world could stop that train that (D)built up a full head of steam (C)But no hint of prima donna, (G) all for loyalty (D) to the team So (G)you’d done it all the hard way, in your (D)stride you took it all And(C) proudly wore your country’s flag, the(G) day that England made the (D) call (C) Forged out of Sheffield (G)Steel, delta winged in (D) flight, We (G)thank our (Am)lucky Bm) stars for that(C) day (G)that you brought us the (C)sharpest (G)knife.