Go Away!
Lyrics
I walked up through Elvet Bridge
And on to Souter Peth
But a chill was in the air
And an ice upon each breath
I went up to the cobblers
Smiling ear to ear
But the cobblers all turned round and said
We need no cobblers here
It’s John Duck this
And John Duck that
And stranger go away
And don’t come back tomorrow
Or any other day
We’d take you on at once
If there was any other way
But all our doors are closed to you
So John Duck go away!
Further on to Silver Street
Wet diamonds in my hair
But as the rain came lashing down
I brushed away each care
I went up to the jewellers
Hoping to endear
But the jewellers all turned round and said
We need no jewellers here
It’s John Duck this
And John Duck that
And stranger go away
And don’t come back tomorrow
Or any other day
We’d take you on at once
If there was any other way
But all our doors are closed to you
So John Duck go away!
Down then on to Smith-Gate
Into the smoky air
The sky had turned to metal
There was thunder everywhere
I went up to the blacksmiths
With their hammers ringing clear
But the blacksmiths all turned round and said
We need no blacksmiths here
It’s John Duck this
And John Duck that
And stranger go away
And don’t come back tomorrow
Or any other day
We’d take you on at once
If there was any other way
But all our doors are closed to you
So John Duck go away!
I trotted up to Saddler Street
Like a wounded horse
Hoping that my ill luck
Might at last have run its course
I went up to the saddlers
But as soon as I drew near
The saddlers all turned round and said
We need no saddlers here
It’s John Duck this
And John Duck that
And stranger go away
And don’t come back tomorrow
Or any other day
We’d take you on at once
If there was any other way
But all our doors are closed to you
So John Duck go away!
I walked back to the Shambles
Along through Flesh-ewer Raw
Thinking if they turn their back on me
Then I can take no more
I went up to the butchers
And though their response proved drear
There was one kind soul amongst them
Who said come along in here
After all this
And after all that
Now John Duck’s on his way
After sheer perseverance
He’s going to have his day
He’s going to rise up in his trade
And blow them all away
A door has finally opened
And John Duck’s here to stay
(Gary Miller)
© 2019 Whippet Records
Copyright Control MCPS/PRS
Helen's initial illustration for the project 'The Butcher Baronet' © 2018
Notes
Written as a spoken-word piece to an accompanying tune. Both the lyrics and tune were inspired by 'John's Jacoubus (A Tale of Durham's Dick Wittington)', an illustration by Helen Temperley, as part of the upcoming project 'The Butcher Baronet', in collaboration with Lone Pine Pictures, about the 17th Century Durham City historical figure John Duck.
Other songs and tunes from this project include : -
'Elementary (Turn Turn Again)'
'Golden Journey: Through Air / Over Water / To Earth / On Fire'
'John's Jacobus (Inscription)'
'Merrily Danced The Butcher's Wife'
'Rolling on (A Hymn for John and Ann)'