On Ilkla Moor Baht 'At .

[Gob]

Actor Brian Blessed has performed a rap on a new version of On Ilkla Moor Baht 'At.




He joined opera singer Lesley Garrett in recording an updated version of the traditional folk song to mark Yorkshire Day.

The song, which translates as "On Ilkley Moor without a hat", is regarded as the county's unofficial anthem.

Producer Eliot Kennedy said the "gorgeous" song had been given a "modern twist".

On Ilkla Moor Baht 'At was first published in 1916 and probably originated in West Yorkshire during the latter half of the 19th Century.

Mr Kennedy, artistic producer on ITV's The X-Factor, said: "When you get down to it, it's actually a beautiful song - a gorgeous folk song that you can't help but sing along to.

"It's been in my head all the time since we started this project. I hope this version with a modern twist will take it to a new, younger audience."

Yorkshire Day was created in 1975 by the Yorkshire Ridings Society after the abolition of the three traditional "ridings" in the local government reorganisation of 1974.

Roger Sewell, chairman of the Yorkshire Ridings Society, said pride in being from Yorkshire was an "instinctive thing" to those born in the area.

Each year members of the society read a declaration at four of the Bars, or gates, into York.

Towns and cities across Yorkshire hold their own celebrations and a regional one is being held over four days in Skipton in North Yorkshire.

The Yorkshire Flag, a white rose on a blue background, will be flown across the region.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Gob, are you old enough to remember the Round the Horne episode where the "groan-story" was about a man named Wilkie Moore who took a 'bus trip and placed his new Sunday hat on the seat beside him? Someone took the seat without noticing his hat and of course the punchline was "Yes, he sat ..... on Wilkie Moore's Best Hat".

I loved Round the Horne.

Meade

[The Hen]

I loved Round the Horne.

Meade

Me too!

I'll sing you one oh,
Green grow my nadgers oh!
Audience: What is your one oh?
One's the grunge upon my splod, masking my cordwangle.
 
I'll sing you two oh,
Green grow my nadgers oh!
Audience: What is your two oh?
Two are me loominthrumbs, see how they jangle,
One's the grunge upon my splod, masking my cordwangle.
 
I'll sing you three oh,
Green grow my nadgers oh!
Audience: What is your three oh?
Three are the times I've lunged my groats,
Two are me loominthrumbs, see how they jangle,
One's the grunge upon my splod, masking my cordwangle.
 
I'll sing you four oh,
Green grow my nadgers oh!
Audience: What is your four oh?
Four's my wurdler's bent oh,
Three are the times I've lunged my groats,
Two are me loominthrumbs, see how they jangle,
One's the grunge upon my splod, masking my cordwangle.
 
I'll sing you five oh,
Green grow my nadgers oh!
Audience: What is your five oh?
Five are the woglers up my spong,
Four for my wurdler's bent oh,
Three are the times I've lunged my groats,
Two are me loominthrumbs, see how they jangle,
Syd Rumpo: One's the grunge upon my splod, it's ruined my cordwangle:
Wa-a-angle

And to put the words in context, here is Rambling Syd Rumpo singing them