Author Topic: Poor Scouser Tommy  (Read 36769 times)

Offline Alan_X

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #40 on: January 26, 2016, 01:26:03 pm »

Definitely the same tune different words but ive never heard any english club sing this at all so I suspect it's a rip off of ours that may get sung on a coach or by a few but not the general masse as a chant

And ours is a rip off of a Scottish song (fairly obvious - why would PST be put in a Highland Division?)

Correct, we certainly can't take credit for Every Other Saturday as it's been sung at a certain club in Scotland since the sixties.

And while we can take the credit for adapting PST for the terraces we can't take credit for the song.

Actually, as 92a mentioned earlier in the thread, it's two songs stuck together. The first part to the tune of the Red River valley was a song sung in the bars of Scotland for many years before it made it's way to Liverpool with amended lyrics as PST in 1976. The second part of course is an amendment of the Sash that was sung on the Kop many years before PST was introduced.

Here's the lyrics to one version ( I'm sure it had a few depending on who was singing) of PST as it was sung in Scotland many years before it made it's way into Liverpool folklore

Gather round and I'll tell you a story
Of a boy who was taken from home
Not to fight for his King or his country
But to fight for the old folks at home

Well they put him in the Highland Division
and they sent him to a far distant land
It was there that this brave Scottish Laddie
was killed by an old eytie gun

as he lay on the battlefield dieing
with the blood poring down on his head
as he lay on the battlefield dieing
These were the last words he said

won't you bury me out in the desert
won't you bury me out in this sun
won't you bury me out in the desert
my duty to Scotland is done

Now as you sit by your firesides in Scotland
and this war it is over and done
just remember that brave Scottish soldier
who was killed by that old eytie gun.

And the original lyrics to our version were always "Libyan Sun"

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #41 on: January 26, 2016, 02:07:32 pm »
And ours is a rip off of a Scottish song (fairly obvious - why would PST be put in a Highland Division?)

My mum's eldest brother died in North Africa in January 1941 - Yorkshire lad, never been outside Huddersfield, fought with the Highland Light Infantry.
"If you want the world to love you don't discuss Middle Eastern politics" Saul Bellow.

Offline The Gulleysucker

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #42 on: February 5, 2016, 12:44:10 am »
And ours is a rip off of a Scottish song (fairly obvious - why would PST be put in a Highland Division?)


The Army is never that straightforward Al.

For example, the 51st Highland Division was as its title suggests, predominantly Scottish, but it did have non-Scottish based battalions drawn from various regiments incorporated into the Division at times.

Between April 1915 to January 1916, the 154th (3rd Highland) brigade within the 51st Division was replaced by the 164th(North Lancashire) brigade from the 55th(West Lancashire) division.

This made the 1/8th (Liverpool Irish) Battalion of the King's Regiment(Liverpool) part of the 51st as well as well as several other Lancashire Battalions.

And the Liverpool Scottish Battalion of the Kings became the 2nd Territorial Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders in 1937 and continued that association throughout the 2nd WW.

Incidentally, they also formed many of the early contingents for the Independent Companies that subsequently went on to become the Army Commandos.

Scousers in Kilts...




« Last Edit: February 5, 2016, 12:55:39 am by The Gulleysucker »
I don't do polite so fuck yoursalf with your stupid accusations...

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Offline JayH93

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #43 on: February 11, 2016, 06:13:29 pm »
Any chance we can SLOW Poor Scouser Tommy down, sounds shite when it is rushed and it is getting more and more rushed.   

Here's hoping!

Offline gazzam1963

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #44 on: February 12, 2016, 10:10:53 pm »
And ours is a rip off of a Scottish song (fairly obvious - why would PST be put in a Highland Division?)


My brother in law and his father were both in the Liverpool Scottish , after the remembrance parade at st georges hall every year , they do an extra march around the back inn ST johns gardens and lay wreaths at there memorial and then back to the adelphi ,

Offline BSBW

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #45 on: March 5, 2016, 09:43:50 pm »
Near Bootle docks in a terraced street
where kids played football in bare feet
stands little Tommy, 8 years of age
most kids were poor in pre war days.

They’d have to borrow, beg or steal
and rarely ate a decent meal
but no one held their heads in shame
for kids back then were all the same.

Together with his little mates
he’d peer through the dockyard gates
at merchant ships from far and wide
who’s cargo’s had them hypnotized.

They never stole for gain or greed
they stole for basic human need
a sense of ’conscience’ did not exist
thats just a word used by the rich.

As Tommy grew into his teens
he’d make a shilling by any means
he’d steal from Peter to pay back Paul
to watch his hometown play football.

To Anfield every other week
he’d amble through the cobbled streets
climbing gas lamps with dirty hands
stealing apples, and skipping trams.

He’d stand upon a wooden crate
to watch Kays team of 38
Mcdougal and Busby played at half back
while Balmer and Kinghorn led the attack.

Like all young lads he had no cares
life is such bliss, when your unaware
one big adventure from day to day
just eat and sleep, and steal and play.

For boys like Tommy, knew not their fate
a world wide conflict soon lay in wait
their youth was halted in its tracks
as war torn Europe, faced Hitlers wrath.

Now aged 16, Tom soon filled out
and learned to put himself about
he’d watch his team at anfield play
he’d sing and shout, but got carried away.

He developed a taste for the local brew
and before each match, had quite a few
he’d run on the pitch to the penalty spot
but was unfortunately thrown out quite alot.

He wasn’t malicious, cruel or mean
his heart was big, but his pockets were lean
but like all folk from pre-war days
he had respect for his elders ways.

The sound of cheering and waving rattles
would soon be swapped for guns and battles
aged just 19, who would have guessed
he’d soon do battle, with Rommels best

Together with his older brother
he kissed the cheek of his tear-filled mother
in his uniform, with his packet of fags
and his lucky red hat, in his old kit bag.

Then off he went on a southbound train
en route to the battle of El Alamein
to the royal artillery, he was commissioned
with the 51st Gordon Highland Division.

He arrived in October of 42
as Monty’s 8th army were turning the screw
but nothing prepared him for what was to come
in the blistering, searing north African sun

They were given their orders, to relieve the front-line
but the path to Tripoli, was ladened with mines
so they’d all split up into 12 man platoons
then tip toe with death through the minefields and dunes.

There was just no escaping the sweltering sun
or the deafening noise of the bresa guns
there were flys in their thousands and nothing but sand
in this god forsaken war torn land.

They came to a clearing by a salt marsh trail
where abattle enraged, on a frightening scale
the shell fire was deafening, as smoke filled the sky
Tommy muttered a prayer 'Lord dont let me die.'

He reached in his pocket for his lucky red hat
things were looking real bad, for these desert rats
the German panzers had attacked from both flanks
leaving smouldering corpses, of burnt out tanks.

Then orders were given by Tommys command
to gain high ground and make a stand
he kissed his hat , as he put it away
then advanced with his troop, on his final day.

In the mayhem which followed, on that hot afternoon
there was all but 2, of his 12 man platoon
they were trapped in a crater, left by a shell
all around lay the bodies of those who had fell.

The soldier with Tommy, was hit and in pain
his trembling hand, held his cross and chain
he said 'Get me home' with a tear in his eye
'Just leave it to scouse' came Tommy’s reply.

So amidst the screeching of mortars and shells
he decided to dash, through this living hell
he took a deep breath, closed his eyes
touched his hat once again, then climbed over the rise.

But Tommys dash would be ill fated
as deaths dark angel calmly waited
for as he stood to make his run
he was sprayed with bullets, from an old nazi gun.

He danced in a death like a marionette
falling back in the crater, from which he’d just left
his injured friend crawled across where he lay
but the bright burning sun was now fading to grey.

As the blood from his headwound flowed into the sand
his weakening grip, dropped the hat from his hand
the lucky red hat which he treasured so much
lay tattered and bloodstained, in the African dust.

Then visions flashed before his eyes
of his Liverpool home, and times gone by
his tearful mother, and his childhood mates
waved up to the sky, from the dockyard gates.

As the African sands of time ran dry
a tear appeared in Tommys eye
as he thought of Anfield so far away
where he’d no longer watch his idols play.

It was at this point just before he died
that he turned to the soldier by his side
he reached out a hand, and pulled him near
then whispered his last words into his ear.

The month was January of 43
about 20 miles east of Tripoli
in the blistering heat, there was something cold
it was the body of a boy, just 20 years old.

The last words he uttered, through his dying breath
are a lasting legacy to Tommys death
some 60 years after his heavenly call
his words are now folklore, sang by us all.

The sacrifices that those boys made
seem long forgotten by folk these days
they died so we could all be free
they died for the likes of you and me.

So every time we sing that song
we must remember right from wrongs
we’ll sing it loud, and recall with pride
poor scouser Tommy, and the millions who died.

G'Day Lid - Official Scouse rep of the OCB Down Under.

Offline storkfoot

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #46 on: February 5, 2019, 05:09:20 pm »

Offline Ratboy3G

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #47 on: March 9, 2019, 07:38:25 pm »
Still my favorite Liverpool song, still gives me goosebumps hearing it sung properly (slowly)
I am a man of few words.....any questions?

Offline Peter McGurk

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #48 on: December 16, 2021, 11:49:02 pm »
Never knew whether it was "radiant" or 'rabian sun.

I have a theory it started out as Radiant, which sounds a bit wrong for the song - got changed to Arabian but that doesn't really scan, so became 'rabian. Never knew where Libya was at the time.

The old nazi gun could be a Mauser - exported by Germany to lots of places including South Africa, where it was known as the Boer Mauser and used against the British at... Spion Kop amongst other places and where a "Highland Division" (the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) ?) were possibly one of those pinned down on top of hill in the blazing sun after a fog had lifted leaving them exposed and at the mercy of the Boers.

But then Spion Kop is in what was known then as Natal - plenty of flies perhaps but not really nothing to see but the sand.

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #49 on: December 17, 2021, 10:46:56 pm »
Never knew whether it was "radiant" or 'rabian sun.

I have a theory it started out as Radiant, which sounds a bit wrong for the song - got changed to Arabian but that doesn't really scan, so became 'rabian. Never knew where Libya was at the time.

The old nazi gun could be a Mauser - exported by Germany to lots of places including South Africa, where it was known as the Boer Mauser and used against the British at... Spion Kop amongst other places and where a "Highland Division" (the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) ?) were possibly one of those pinned down on top of hill in the blazing sun after a fog had lifted leaving them exposed and at the mercy of the Boers.

But then Spion Kop is in what was known then as Natal - plenty of flies perhaps but not really nothing to see but the sand.

I also thought it was connected to the Boer War because of the Spion Kop connection and Lancashire Regiments were involved.

Offline Roady

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #50 on: December 17, 2021, 11:44:11 pm »
Does it matter that much? Other than clarification of one is singing the right words.onr person singing the wrong words only helps towards any kind of atmosphere
Giant sponges. That is the answer for flooding.

Offline rob1966

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #51 on: December 23, 2021, 03:02:00 pm »
I also thought it was connected to the Boer War because of the Spion Kop connection and Lancashire Regiments were involved.

I've always seen it as WW2, as both my Grandads fought in the Desert.
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Offline mickl

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Re: Poor Scouser Tommy
« Reply #52 on: January 27, 2024, 09:48:24 am »
We should blast this song out, every time the opposition get into snide mode.

So yes, every week, in other words.

If you don’t know it, learn it.

If you can’t sing, it doesn’t matter, it’s the thought that counts.

If you want to rush and speed up the song :

Well stop that immediately if not sooner.