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  1. I remember as a young teen in the UK (69 to 71), a series of books titled ‘Rugby Songs’ or something similar. Many of them I still remember, almost word for word.
    What brought me here today, was a search for the lyrics, of one I believe was called ‘Messing about on the river’. The only line that comes to mind some 50 years later was
    “Some runt in a punt
    Stuck his pole in her. . . etc.
    Just messing about on the river”
    Is this one you’ve come across at all.

    1. The rugby song you’re trying to remember is possibly ‘Pissing About On The River’ a parody of a 1962-ish song by Tony Hatch (of Crossroads fame) called ‘Messing About on the River’ recorded by Josh Macrae (and Max Bygraves). There were other parodies like Messing Around With My Liver.

      1. I think you are right. I’m still no closer to finding all the verses I don’t remember though.
        Thanks, Hugh

  2. i can´t remember the lyrics of nell the cripple, i know it started

    Nelly the cripple had only one nipple to feed the baby on

  3. I remember the town drunk singing bye bye black bird.
    One line I remember was:
    Put your ass on the wall
    For he I come balls and all.

    1. On old favourite, David. You’re doing better than me. I don’t think I could remember any verses off-the-cuff anymore.

  4. Very interesting and entertaining Paul. I still sign some of the old Rugby songs to myself in the shower.

  5. Certainly not filthier, but the blues riff that stuck with me as a youngster was:
    My baby’s got a stinger (just?) as long as his arm,
    And when my baby stings me it don’t do me no harm!

    Sting me baby sting me
    Just as long as you can.
    Sting me baby sting me
    Let me know you’re my man!

    1. Thanks for your feedback Scott. That’s a line from James Moore’s (aka Slim Harpo) 1957 Louisiana blues song, I’m A King Bee. The Stones famously recorded it in 1964 (as did Pink Floyd) but left out the offending line. However, the Doors kept it in when they recorded it.

  6. That was the edited version Hugh, I had an original but fell apart many, many years ago.. Most Welsh rugby club tunes took the piss out of the English public school “house” type songs.
    I claim the “shove yer Chariot up yer arse” ditty. It was football, Cardiff City v some northern team, we getting dicked so the northerners started singing Sweet Chariot, Leeds perhaps? So being half pissed, shove yer fuckin chariot up yer arse. Developed from there, a good friend added sideways. Shit song, a tad embarrassing.
    I came here looking for Zulu Warriors, THE top tune of egg chasers apart from Sloop John B.

  7. Hi Paul,
    Firstly absolutely loved reading your article about the connection between rugby and blues / ragtime songs.
    Personally I’ve had a fascination with the connection between music from a previous era, and how rugby songs evolved as a result.
    I was born into a family that absolutely loved music / poetry / rhymes, and most were ex military and also rugby players themselves. As a kid I learned so many of them, especially on any festive occasion that involved alcohol when the adults were sufficiently oiled. I myself went on to serve in the military for 18 years, and my favourite pastime was playing rugby all around the U.K. (basically because I was posted to various units during that time, from the north of England to the West Country). And regularly played rugby for local clubs on a Saturday.

    The one thing that always struck me, was no matter where you played in the U.K. every single team sung exactly the same songs in the bar after the match, bearing in mind that it was way before the internet and social media was around.

    I guess that the point I’m trying to make, is that maybe both of the 2 world wars added to the mix. Simply because people from different Commonwealth countries came together, hence why Australia rugby clubs sing the same old fashioned songs as Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 ones 👍🏻

    1. Many thanks for your interesting feedback, Pete. It was much appreciated. I, too, used to play in the UK where opposing sides, after the game, sang the same songs, perhaps with a word changed here and there. It’s interesting that many rugby songs originated in America where the game was once as popular as American football. Thanks again for your comment.

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