In August 1891, Leicester folk were entertained by a visit from “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show”. This extravaganza arrived by train from Nottingham as part of a European tour, and was organised by a Major Burke. A large arena was set up at Belgrave Road Cricket Ground to hold 15,000 people with ticket prices ranging from 1/- to 4/- . An Indian village was built to accompany the show, which included actual members of the Sioux nation with names such as “Kicking Bear” and “Short Bull” alongside the female sharpshooter, Annie Oakley as well as numerous horses, mules and buffalos and the “Deadwood Coach”. There were exhibitions of shooting, mock battles between cowboys and Indian, rodeo , buffalo hunt and pony express riders.
Much of the nature of the entertainment would, quite rightly, be disapproved of these days, but nonetheless it happened and is part of Leicester’s history.
lyrics
Buffalo Bill
Hey well, there once was a man in the U S of A,
Buffalo Bill was the name that they give ‘im.
He fought with them Indians, fought out in the west,
He could tame wild horses, he could outshoot the best.
He wore a high felt Stetson, tall leather boots,
Kid leather gauntlets and a soft French buckskin suit,
He was tall, handsome, wore his yellow hair long,
He was born in the saddle, he was brave, he was strong
He brung buffalo and donkey, horses and deer,
Stage coaches, wigwams, wagon loads of shootin’ gear
He brung bad men and sheriffs, shootin’ wach other down,
Brought the wild, wild west into old Leicester town.
It was the year of 87, Queen Victoria’s Junilee,
When that state of Nebraska, she set out across the sea,
She brung Buffalo Bill and that whole supporting cast,
She brung em out to England to shoe ‘em how they did it in the west
But as the state of Nebraska tossed on the open waves,
Twelve hundred men back in Vicky Park built up the stage,
Built an Indian village, and an amphitheatre too,
So all those lucky Leicester folks could all enjoy the show.
He brung buffalo and donkey, horses and deer,
Stage coaches, wigwams, wagon loads of shootin’ gear
He brung bad men and sheriffs, shootin’ wach other down,
Brought the wild, wild west into old Leicester town.
Well now they raced into the stadium, they was a whippin’up their steeds,
A whoopin’ and a hollerin’ riding in at breakneck speed,
They raced to the middle, and they raced back around
Twas a heartstopping moment, as they charged in at the crowd,
Those cowboys and Indians, fightin’ on the plains,
And Young Annie Oakley, shootin’ out from that Deadwood stage,
Wild bucking broncos, and a buffalo kill,
Askirmish with the Cheyenne, and Buffalo Bill.
He brung buffalo and donkey, horses and deer,
Stage coaches, wigwams, wagon loads of shootin’ gear
He brung bad men and sheriffs, shootin’ wach other down,
Brought the wild, wild west into old Leicester town.
I write both serious and comedy songs. 6 solo CDs to date and collaborations with Steve Cartwright -"Legends of
Leicester/Leicestershire". "All at Sea" shantyish album. Folk based for the most part - when people ask where the ideas come from I can say with honesty -"not drugs!!".. Currently working on a new album "Aspects of Lurve" hopefully out later in 2024....more
