BSA Song Book

Mark

Well-known member
I was looking through some old journals and stuff and came across the BSA Song Book, A collection of various caving songs, below is a sample.

If anyone is interested I will scan it and post on here

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bograt

Active member
Good on yer Mark, it might jog my memory of some of them (y)

What I would like to get my hands on is a copy of 'Dwarf Cavers Lament', it was one of Keith's favourites but unfortunately happened after the days of BSA, I can remember most of it but dead braincells leave gaps :cry:
 

Mark Wright

Active member
Bograt,

I've just been looking through my books for a copy of 'They words, they words, they 'orible words'. I think it was the Cerberus who produced it. Anyway I can't find it but I think 'Dwarf Cavers Lament' is in it. I'm sure Keith gave them some of his collection for the book. One of mine is in it.

I bet Mark has a copy, probably mine?

Mark
 

bograt

Active member
I thought 'They Words' was mainly a Mendip production.
I didn't know Keith had a collection, if someone is willing to let me have a copy, I am willing to 'put it together' and publish it as a tribute, them that know me, and them that knew Keith will understand!.

P.S. Mark W, I cant stop thinking about you without the four letter word ending in 'g', your caving nickname back then, have you outgrown it now you are respected? :)
 

bograt

Active member
:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:, O.K., I'll back off then (y) (y) though it will be difficult for me, I always thought it a rather affectionate term :) :)

After all, I have never denied my spelio 'soubriquet'.
 

Mark Wright

Active member
It was good to hear the caving song tradition still going strong the last time I was in the back room of the Hunters a couple of years ago, at Fish's funeral sadly.

We should get them recorded while we can still remember the words and put them on the archive.

Mark
 

John B

New member
"The Caving songs of Mendip" was published by the Grampian S.G.!

I'm sure there is a copy somewhere in this house but it isn't in the index and I can't find it!

Maybe the Grampian still have it?
 

bograt

Active member
Slept on this poser and woke up with this in my head, is it right? ;


Dwarf Cavers Lament
( Tune; The Streets of Laredo)


As I was out walking the streets of old Castleton,
As I was out walking down Castleton way
I met a young caver all dressed in a wetsuit
All dressed in a wetsuit and covered in clay.

I see by your wetsuit that you are a caver
These words he did say as he watched me walk by,
Come sit down beside me I?ll tell my sad story,
Abandoned down Oxlow they left me to die.

?Twas once in this district I used to go caving,
?Twas once in this district I had my hey day,
Till press ganged by Eldon to dig the connection
Twixt Oxlow and Nettle through tons of wet clay.

They dressed me in wetsuit and gave me a shovel
And took me down Oxlow the very next day,
They set me to digging and then made their exit
Saying we?ll ladder Nettle you can come out that way.

Now when one is digging one loses direction
And in a great circle its easy to go,
And so that was how after eight hours digging
I?d done a great circle and was back in Oxlow.

?You cad sir, you cad sir, you?ve let us down bad sir,
Direction of Nettle an idiot should know,
For that you can stay here no booze and no water,
And what ever happens no DCRO.

 

Mark

Well-known member
Mark Wright said:
Im sure there's a line in it that goes;

'All wrapped in a polybag and cold as the day'.

Mark

Last line first verse

"All wrapped in a polybag and cold as the clay"
 

John B

New member
I remember this:

"I first met the Eldon while practising caving
While practising caving down Perryfoot Way
Standing just over four feet in wellies and helmet
And impressed by my thinness they dragged me away.

They dressed me in wetsuit and fed me bacardi
Direction of Oxlow we headed one day
They set me to dig at the top of East Chamber
Saying ?we?ll ladder Nettle you can come out that way?.

Does that jog your memory? There are probably other versions as the songs were passed on verbally.
 

bograt

Active member
Thanks guys (y), Memory duly jogged, it is a quarter of a century since I last sang it in vengeance!! :eek:

I will update my version and try to remember some other songs. (y) (y)
 
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