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Gifford and Spey

from Sheffield Made by Steel Songbirds

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about

We had the joyous opportunity to help work these old working canal boats together. A real experience of working history, in the 21st century.

lyrics

8. Gifford and Spey
© Emily Eastwood and Marilla Homes
(Steel Songbirds), 2017

Chorus:
Bopping along on old Gifford and Spey,
two old dames of the waterway.
Built at Braunston and Uxbridge yards,
for Thomas Clayton they worked real hard.

Spey’s an old lady turned eighty this year.
Her Bollinder beat’s a delight to the ear.
If you get her warmed up and you treat her with care,
she'll carry you safely wherever you dare.

Old Gifford the butty was drawn by a horse,
and now spends her days down at Ellesmere Port.
With one cabin up front and another behind,
for families to sleep and to cook and unwind.

Both oil tankers all sealed up with tar,
these two wooden beauties have travelled so far.
Their hard wooden decks once the place of hard work,
now bring pleasure and joy to all those who don’t shirk.

Bow-hauling, winding and locking all day.
Winching through scours the old fashioned way.
These working class dames leave you dirty and sore,
but you’ll polish their brasses and come back for more.

credits

from Sheffield Made, released February 15, 2019
Emily Eastwood and Marilla Homes (Steel Songbirds)

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Steel Songbirds Sheffield, UK

Steel Songbirds are Marilla Homes and Emily Eastwood. A comic and poignant musical duo based in Sheffield UK. Blending acapella voices, with occasional fiddle or bouzouki, these girls know how to laugh!

Steel Songbirds were dug from the soil of Australia & England, forged in Sheffield UK, tempered in the swimming pool of life & sharpened on the wit of singledom in the folk/pub/archaeology worlds. ... more

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