This was the first album of new material produced by The Wurzels on the CD format. It was a private release in 2002 (alongside a video) by APR Media Centre reference number 07000 10 20 30. Song Lyrics
Band line-up for this release was Tommy Banner (accordion, piano, vocals), Pete Budd (banjo, guitar, lead vocals), John Morgan (drums) and Dave Wintour (bass). Dave Wintour left the band shortly after this CD was recorded.
The Wurzels Live is as the name suggests taken from a live gig by The Wurzels. It took place at the Conygre Hall, Timsbury on the 2nd June 2002 at 8.30 p.m. The CD is slightly edited down from the video but both contain the same tracks. It is the only full Wurzels show that has been released for commercial sale. The case insert is a single piece of glossy-paper with the track listing and images of the band taken from the video. No further information is given.
The video that accompanied this CD release, the only officially-released full-length video to date, was produced on the VHS format by APR Media Centre of Taunton, and is much sought after by collectors. The track order was the same as that on the CD but included all the additional inter-song chat that was edited out for the CD.
A signed case insert is always a good addition to a collection. Two examples here have a dedication from Pete Budd and Tommy Banner on the insert artwork; the second is autographed by Tommy Banner, Pete Budd, John Morgan and Jai Howe. Jai had joined the band around the time of the release of this CD.
Another signed insert - this time from the VHS video version of this 'live' album - autographed by Tommy Banner and Pete Budd,
Track 1 Introduction Track 2 The Blackbird Where be the blackbird to, I knows where he be He be up yon Wurzel tree and I be after 'ee Now I sees 'ee, and 'ee sees I Buggered if I don't get him With a gurt big stick I'll knock him down Blackbird I'll 'ave 'ee La la la la la la, la la la la la la How's your Father? All right All me life I'm on the farm, working for me keep Tending pigs and chickens, and they cows and sheep But everywhere I'm working, there's one who always mocks me He's hiding somewhere up thit tree, blackbird I'll 'ave 'ee Where be the blackbird to, I knows where he be He be up yon Wurzel tree and I be after 'ee Now I sees 'ee, and 'ee sees I Buggered if I don't get him With a gurt big stick I'll knock him down Blackbird I'll 'ave 'ee La la la la la la, la la la la la la [Spoken] Can't hear you How's your Father? All right Underneath the open sky in Spring we loves to dine I likes to hear the flapping of the missis washing line I listens to a tuneful song, a blackbird or a tit But on me vest and underpants er's scored a direct hit Where be the blackbird to, I knows where he be He be up yon Wurzel tree and I be after 'ee Now I sees 'ee, and 'ee sees I Buggered if I don't get him With a gurt big stick I'll knock him down Blackbird I'll 'ave 'ee La la la la la la, la la la la la la [Spoken] Up the back How's your Father? All right No longer can I sleep at night, get peace of any kind Thit bird'll be the death of I, he's preying on me mind And though I chase him long enough, I'll catch him by and by And celebrate me victory with a gurt big blackbird pie Where be the blackbird to, I knows where he be He be up yon Wurzel tree and I be after 'ee Now I sees 'ee, and 'ee sees I Buggered if I don't get him With a gurt big stick I'll knock him down Blackbird I'll 'ave 'ee With a gurt big stick I'll knock him down Blackbird I'll 'ave 'ee La la la la la la, la la la la la la How's your Father? All right Yeah there and all my darlings, oh ar [Spoken] How's your Father? All rightTrack 3 The Champion Dungspreader Now some folks like to boast, about their Father's occupation Dustmen and the likes, in other situations Not so, our old man, working was his pride In his hobnail boots and gaiters, and his dungfork at his side (Chorus) Hi ho fiddle iddle o, Chesterfield and Cheddar Hi ho the folks all know he's the champion dung spreader [Spoken] Come on let's see your hands all going now Everybody clap your hands Now many years ago, when Dad was in his power With a mighty two hand swipe, he hit the old church tower Lord help us cried the vicar, t'is the judgement come Not so said the verger, t'is a hundred weight of dung [Spoken] Altogether (Repeat Chorus) [Spoken] Come on Doris, ho hey Now his aim was straight and true, when his arms start flailing We'd all duck out the way, when them big brown lumps go sailin’ Just leave our old man where the dung lies piled up thick And he'll make it fly for miles, with his gurt big blackthorn stick (Repeat Chorus) [Spoken] Hey Now as you all can see, Father’s quite contented He had the finest job, since working was invented And when our old man laid him down to die In a forty-acre field, with the dung piled six foot high [Spoken] Let me hear ya (Repeat Chorus) Hi ho, fiddle idle o, Chesterfield and Cheddar Hi ho, woh woh woh woh ho oh woh woh woh woh woh [Spoken] How about that then, eh eh oh-ho [Spoken] Right you ladies out there, hang on to something really solid, this is when the old knicker elastic will go, I'm telling ya He's the champion dung spreader Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah Track 4 I Wish I Was Back On The Farm(Chorus) I wish I were back on the farm I wish I were back on the farm Where the bulls don't give it over And the cows roll in the clover I wish I were back on the farm When I were just a hayseed, with a straw stuck in me mouth I packed my bags and I caught a train and I headed for the South I wandered down those city streets, cos everything was new But all they coppers moved I on, the girls they moved I too (Repeat Chorus) I went into a nightclub, where a lady did a dance She had nothing on but pigeons and the rest she'd left to chance She didn't seem to find the cold and the birds knew where to stay I clapped my hands and I hollered out but they would not fly away (Repeat Chorus) I went into a nightclub, where a lady did a dance She had nothing on but pigeons and the rest she'd left to chance She didn't seem to find the cold and the birds knew where to stay I clapped my hands and I hollered out but they would not fly away (Repeat chorus x 2) I wish I were back on the farm I wish I were back on the farm Track 5 Twice DailyWhen I were a lad, I were so glad to go out in the daytime With me fork and a bottle and a cork, help out in the haytime Tossing hay upon the mound, I met young Lucy Bailey I said “my dear are you often here”, she said “yes sir twice daily” La la la la la la la, la la la la la la la [Spoken] Four times on a Sunday afternoon, ha ha We had such fun in the summer sun, Lucy was so thrilling Sweet and pure, and I wasn't sure, if that young maid were willing Till one day among the hay, we was working gaily When her upped and slipped, and summat ripped And I went there twice daily La la la la la la la, la la la la la la la [Spoken] Ver’ nigh done my back on that one I did She said “my dear, I do feel queer, I think I oughta tell 'ee It aint new bread” her sadly said, “the swelling of me belly” I ordered her to go to Dr Joe, she went off quite gaily He gave her a dollop, a gurt thick jollop And said “take that twice daily” La la la la la la la, la la la la la la la [Spoken] That weren't no Ambrosia creamed rice either Lucy's Dad, he was very mad, he chased I round the hay mound Said “my son, you've had your fun, the time has come to pay now My girl you'll wed”, the old man said, as he waved his shotgun gaily “If you don't” he said, “I'll put some lead Where you won't go there twice daily” La la la la la la la, la la la la la la la [Spoken] That put a bit of colour in me cheeks too, that did Lucy's joy, she had a little boy, he was a lickle darling He were round and fat like a Cheshire cat, perky as a starling Skin were smooth like a cider jar, they called 'im Buster Bailey They fed him on swedes and charlock weeds And a pint of scrump twice daily La la la la la la la, la la la la la la la [Spoken] Little bugger never liked that Cow and Gate, no Very next day in the month of May, they held the ceremony Paid off the vicar, with a gallon of liquor, and went to church on a pony Village folks from miles around, waved and shouted gaily Now there's no doubt, you'll get caught out If you go there twice daily La la la la la la la, la la la la la la la [Spoken] I only got to look around this room to see that now, ha Very next day in the month of May, they held the ceremony Paid off the vicar, with a gallon of liquor, and rode to church on a pony Village folks from miles around, waved and shouted gaily Now there's no doubt, you'll get caught out If you go there twice daily La la la la la la la, la la la la la la la [Spoken] Take heed of what I tell you folks, ha ha Now we're old, and the story's been told, forty years together And we often stray in the summer hay, in the good old summertime weather Kids weem got full ten or more, and I goes on quite gaily Though I'm old and I'm grey-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-yay I can still get me hey hey hey ha ha Cor bugger I can still go there twice daily Track 6 The Combine HarvesterI drove my tractor through your haystack last night (oh ar oh ar) I threw my pitchfork at your dog to keep quiet (oh ar oh ar) Now something telling me, that youm avoiding me (oh ar oh ar) Come on now darling you got, something I need (Chorus) Oh, I got a brand-new combine harvester and I'll give you the key Come on now let's get together in perfect harmony I got twenty acres, and you've got forty-three Cos, I've got a brand-new combine harvester and I'll give you the key [Spoken] She made I laugh! Ha ha I'll stick by you I'll give you all that you need (oh ar oh ar) We'll have twins and triplets, I'm a man built for speed (oh ar oh ar) And you know I love you darling, so give me your hand (oh ar oh ar) The thing I want the most is all they acres of land (Repeat Chorus) [Spoken] Who loves ya baby oh ar now Wont we a grand couple at that last Wurzel dance I wore brand new gaiters and me corduroy pants In your new Sunday dress, with the perfume smelling grand We had our photos took of us holding hands Cos, I got a brand-new combine harvester and I'll give you the key Now that weem both past our fifties I think that you and me Should stop this gallivanting, and will you marry me Cos, I got a brand-new combine harvester and I'll give you the key [Spoken] Ah you're a fine-looking woman and I can't wait to get me hands on your land now Track 7 Somerset Jigolo [Instrumental] Lyrics Kindly transcribed by M.Pelling & E.Bryant, Verified by Professor Wurzel
Track 8 The Wurzel RockHeyWhen it's Wurzel digging time in Somerset We goes out in the morning dew Rubbing around in the Wurzel fields Like Wurzel diggers do Life could be so boring Bending over in the fields all day So, we has to think of something To pass the time away (Chorus) We do the Wurzel rock, ooh arr showaddywaddy Wurzel roll with our boots wet and muddy We boogie on up and we boogie on down We do the Wurzel rock until the sun goes down Hey When it's Wurzel digging time in Somerset We'll hide from the midday sun In the bar of The Dog and Crumpet That's where we'll have our fun But when we starts back a-digging Our faces wreathed with smiles And they say you can hear us singing For miles and miles and miles (Repeat Chorus) Hey, hey We don't need no disco To dance into the night We don't need no music When the sun is shining bright So, we has to keep on digging Cos, we know just where we stands Cos, if we stops for a second It gives the horseflies time to land (Repeat Chorus) We boogie on up and we boogie on down We do the Wurzel rock until the sun goes down Track 9 All Over Mendip(Chorus) Hitch up the wagon, get out the grey mare We aint been drunk since Bridgwater Fair Get George and Jacko, and Crawly and Joe Get everyone you know Bring out your brother, your sister and Dad Get everyone in sight And we'll dance and shout, and roll about All over Mendip tonight Sail in from Harptree, and Charterhouse too Blagdon and Ubley, right over the Chew They say it'll be the do of the year Oh, how we'll all be there So, drink up your cider, and drink up your beer Let go with all your might And we'll dance and shout, and roll about All over Mendip tonight [Shout] Everybody (Repeat Chorus) Sail in from Harptree, and Priddy and Frome Weston and Wookey, and Burrington Combe Barrels and hampers, and their Sunday best From north south east and west One thing I'm certain, we won't hurry home Until t'is broad daylight So, let it rain or snow, as long as weem a-go All over Mendip tonight [Shout] Let me hear you now Hitch up your wagon, get out the grey mare We aint been drunk since Bridgwater Fair Get George and Jacko, and Chloe and Joe Get everyone you know Bring out your brother, your sister and Dad Get everyone in sight And we'll dance and shout, and roll about All over Mendip tonight [Shout] Come on now (Repeat Chorus) All over Mendip tonight See thee up on Harptree Hill, whay Track 10 Morning GloryI like a little drink at the end of the day, to raise up me voice and sing Spend an hour or two with a fine brown brew and I'm ready for anything At The Cross Keys Inn there were sisters four, the landlord daughters fair And when all was quiet on a Winter's night, I tiptoed up the stairs (Chorus) One for the morning glory, two for the early dew Three for the man who stands his round And four for the love of you, my girl Four for the love of you I got the call from foreign shores, to sail and fight the foe And I thought no more of the sisters four, though I'm sad to go So, I sailed away in a ship, ‘The Morning Glory’ was her name And we'd all fall down when the rum went round, but we'd get up and fight again Let me hear you sing now (Repeat Chorus x 3) Track 11 Malt 'n' Barley BluesHey Hey way Hey jump down then you gotta get around turn around oh Don't delay, leave today, get out now, while you can Some are loud, some are proud, you don't heed to what they say Cos it's the booze talking, just the booze talking Bring on the malt an’ barley blues Hey We're gonna sing for you now the greatest cider song in the whole world, drink up your cider drink up your cider, for tonight we'll merry be, we'll knock the milk churns over, and roll ‘em in the clover The corn's half cut, God so are we…. Track 12 Drink up Thy ZiderDrink up your cider George, pass us round the mug Drink up your cider George, the garden's ver’ nigh dug Your cheeks been getting redder, from Charterhouse to Cheddar And there's still more cider in the jug Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight we'll merry be We'll knock the milk churns over and roll ‘em in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we Drink up your cider George, thee bissen’t going far Drink up your cider George, youm looking quite a star There's dung all over your taters, and halfway round your gaiters And there's still more cider in the jar Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight we'll merry be We'll knock the milk churns over and roll ‘em in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we Drink up your cider George, and get up off the mat Drink up your cider George, put on your Sunday hat For we're off to Barrow Gurney, for to see my brother Ernie And there's still more cider in the vat [Spoken] C'mon now Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight we'll merry be We'll knock the milk churns over and roll ‘em in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we [Spoken] Everybody Drink up thee (cider) Drink up thee (cider) For tonight (for tonight we'll merry be) All right all right We'll knock the milk churns over, and roll them in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we [Shout] Here we go Drink up thee cider, drink up thee cider For tonight we'll merry be We'll knock the milk churns over and roll ‘em in the clover The corn's half cut and so be we [Spoken] I wanna see everybody out there now put your hands above your head like that come on I want you all swaying from side to side like this come on, (everybody), all swaying! You've all seen the Mexican Wave haven't you, this is the Bristol Avon one, it's a much bigger one altogether I want everybody to sing at the top of their voices as loud as you can brothers - And so be we And so be we…. Track 13 I Am A Cider Drinker[Spoken] Come on you cider drinking people, let me see you go now When the moon shine, on the cowshed And we're rolling in the hay All the cows are up there grazing And the milk is on its way I am a cider drinker, (come on) I drinks it all of the day (bit louder) I am a cider drinker It soothes all me troubles away Ooh arr ooh arr ay, ooh arr ooh arr ay [Spoken] Come on my darlings It's so cosy, in the kitchen With the smell of rabbit stew When the breeze blows, 'cross the farmyard You can smell the cowshed too (Aw I never smelt nothing like you lot in all me life) When those combine wheels stops turning And the hard day's work is done There's a pub around the corner It's the place we'll have our fun [Spoken] Are you ready I am a cider drinker I drinks it all of the day (come on) I am a cider drinker It soothes all me troubles away Ooh arr ooh arr ay, ooh arr ooh arr ay [Spoken] Come on Mabel, look at old Mabel Dear old Mabel, when she's able We take a stroll down Lover's Lane And we sink a pint of scrumpy And we plays old nature's game (ooh arr) But we ends up, in the duckpond When the pub decides to close With me britches full of tadpoles And the newts between me toes [Spoken] Come on people I am a cider drinker I drinks it all of the day (come on) I am a cider drinker It soothes all me troubles away Ooh arr ooh arr ay, ooh arr ooh arr ay Everybody hands above your head, let me see you now I am a cider drinker I drinks it all of the day (come on) I am a cider drinker It soothes all me troubles away Ooh arr ooh arr ay, ooh arr ooh arr ay Ooh arr ooh arr ay, ooh arr ooh arr ay Ooh arr ooh arr ay, ooh arr ooh arr ay Ooh arr ooh arr ay, ooh arr ooh arr ay [Spoken]Well sincerely Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to thank you all so much for being such a lovely crowd here tonight. I'd like to take the opportunity and wishing you all a long and happy life and most of all a prosperous life, so until we all meet again down some country lane, goodnight and God bless you one and all, thank you.