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The Dram Busters

HUGH MORRIS

Sunday, September 23rd, 2007

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Hugh Morris and Hugh McGrumble
were a duo known as ‘Hugh 2’,
who sang about their football team
to entertain the Raithful few..
‘Til one day McGrumble groaned
“‘Tis time t’ leave th’ stage,
’cause I have a feelin’
o’ succumbin’ t’ aul’ age…”
So Morris mused “I’ll go solo
an’ do th’ best I can..
even give m’self a showbiz name,
which shall be ‘Manfred Dram’…”

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 He would play the pubs and clubs
in Raith Rovers shirt of blue,
kicking off each evening with
“Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy Hugh”..
Thereupon would follow
before the night was done,
Manfred manifestations like
“Fife Forth Three Two One”,
“Semi-detached Suburban Alex James”
and “Och Aye said the Clown”,
“Pretty Dramingo”, “Mighty McGlynn”,
then finally to bring the house down…

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 “My name is Jock an’ I live on th’ block
at th’ Gretna Garbo Home,
Raith Rovers I’ll remember
wherever I may roam..
‘Tis lots o’ fun an’ I love t’ run
up an’ doon th’ stairs,
playin’ bagpipes when I like
an’ no-one ever cares..
Och my name is Jock
an’ I live on th’ block
at th’ Gretna Garbo Home
for Raithward boys an’ girls…

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 There goes Fred with his tam on his head
an’ he’s havin’ a wee dram,
Fred supports Raith Rovers
as best an’ aul’ chap can..
Tho’ tendin’ t’ wilt, when wearin’ a kilt
still makes his sporran swing,
’cause ev’ry time th’ Rovers score
he does th’ Highland Fling..
Och my name is Jock
an’ I live on th’ block
at th’ Gretna Garbo Home
for Raithward boys an’ girls…

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Here comes Alice chewin’ on haggis
left over from her tea,
twen’y four years a foo’ball fan
an’ livin’ nex’ door t’ me..
Sippin’ a dram she’s makin’ a plan
that one fine Saturday,
gang awa’ t’ aul’ Kirkca’dy toon
t’ watch th’ Rovers play..
Och my name is Jock
an’ I live on th’ block
at th’ Gretna Garbo Home
for Raithward boys an’ girls..
Aye we all ken Jock
an’ we live on th’ block
at th’ Gretna Garbo Home
for Raithward boys an’ girls…”

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 (end with whistling….)

© Llew Beaton 23 September 2007

Notes

With acknowledgement to Manfred Mann, to Bob Dylan, to Smokie and especially to John Simon, composer of ‘My Name is Jack’.

For readers not familiar with Raith Rovers’ famous names, Alex James (mentioned above in ‘Semi-detached Suburban…’) played for the Rovers between 1922 and 1925 before moving to Preston North End and then on to an illustrious career with Arsenal. He was also one of Scotland’s ‘Wembley Wizards’ of 1928. Together with Jim Baxter he holds pride of place among players produced by the Kirkcaldy club.

“Come on without, come on within…” ‘Mighty McGlynn’ refers to Raith Rovers’ Manager John McGlynn, who at the time of writing has the Rovers challenging for top spot in Division 2.

For other ‘Swinging 60s’ football poems see ‘Twist and Gout’ and ‘My Degeneration (by The Hugh)’.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/the-dram-busters/