Call to save traditional song 'Ilkla Moor Baht 'at'
The song relates to a man not wearing a hat while on Ilkley Moor
A campaign has begun to have a song referred to as the "Yorkshire anthem" to be preserved.
It comes amid fears that the popularity of the traditional tune, Ilkla Moor Baht 'at, and its lyrics, are dying out.
Gordon Eddison, conductor of Otley Brass Band, said one child he taught had asked him: "Did (rock band) Muse record it?"
An MP has tabled a Commons motion calling for colleagues to preserve it.
The song tells the story of a man "courting Mary Jane" on the moor who is exposed to the elements without wearing a hat ("bhat 'at").
It warns of the consequences of being unsuitably dressed in Yorkshire weather and that if he dies, the worms would eat his body, and the ducks would eat the worms.
Nearby residents would eat the ducks, and they would, therefore have eaten him ("then us'll all ha etten thee").
The words are traditionally credited to singers from the Halifax area in the mid-19th Century.
Mr Eddison said: "We owe it to our Yorkshire heritage to preserve this song in the minds of our young people, and not let it be relegated to words on a novelty tea-towel.
"Singing is vital to our children's musical and social education. Parents and grandparents should immediately put this right; teach them to sing On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at now."
Leeds North West Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons calling on other MPs to back the campaign.
The motion says the song is "an important part of Yorkshire heritage that was in danger of dying out because many young people don't know it".
Wheear 'as ta bin sin ah saw thee,
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
Wheear 'as ta bin sin ah saw thee?
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
Tha's been a cooartin' Mary Jane
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Tha's been a cooartin' Mary Jane|
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Tha's bahn t'catch thi deeath o'cowd
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Tha's bahn t'catch thi deeath o'cowd
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall ha' to bury thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall ha' to bury thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then t'worms 'll cum and eat thee oop
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then t'worms 'll cum and eat thee oop
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then ducks 'll cum and eat oop t'worms
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then ducks 'll cum and eat oop t'worms
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall go an' ate oop ducks
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall go an' ate oop ducks
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall all 'ave etten thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall all 'ave etten thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
That's wheer we get us oahn back
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
That's wheer we get us oahn back
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Some singers add the responses "without thy trousers on" after the fourth line of each verse, and "where the ducks play football" after the seventh. Other variations include "where the nuns play rugby", "where the sheep fly backwards", "where the ducks fly backwards", "where the ducks wear trousers", and "an' they've all got spots".
Also in some recitals, after the first two lines of "On Ilkla Mooar baht 'at" it is followed by a "Where's that?". Another variant adds "Howzat?" after the first line and "Not out!" after the second. In Leeds the line immediately before the chorus is often ended with "And we all got wet".
There are also alternative endings, where verse nine states: "There is a moral to this tale", and is followed by a chorus of "Don't go without your hat / Don't go without your hat / On Ilkey moor baht 'at" (which is sung commonly within South Yorkshire), or "Don't go a courtin' Mary Jane" (another variation known in the Scouting movement). Alternatively, verse nine is sung as "There is a moral to this tale", and verse ten as "When courtin' always wear a hat".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-15834485
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Ilkla_Moor_Baht_%27at
