P.T.Millington Collection (1972, B.L.Hodgkinson)
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Transcription
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UNDERWOOD - GUYSERS PIAY
Written down by B.L. Hodgkinson, of 197 Alfreton Road, Underwood, Notts.,
c. 16/1/1972, for Peter T. Millington.
OPENER IN I open the door and enter in,
And beg your pardon to begin,
But whether we stand, sit or fall,
We'll do out duty to please you all.
Room, room brave gallants<
Come give us room,
For in this room we wish to resort,
And repeat to you our merry rhryme,
For remeber good sir's I is Christmas time
The time to cut up goose pie and pork turkey now both appear,
And we have come to act our merry Christmas here.
At the sound of the trumpet, at the beat of the drum,
Brave Gallants let our merry actors come.
We are the merry actors who travel the street.
We are the merry actors who fight for our meet.
We are the merry actors, who show pleasant play.
Step in Saint George our champion and clear the way.
SAINT GEORGE I am Saint George from 0lde England sprung,
My famous name throughout the world has rung.
Many brave deeds and wonders I have made known.
I have made tyrants tremble on their throne.
Twas I who followed a fair maid to a Giants gate,
Confined in dungeon deep to meet her fate,
When I resolved in true knight errantry,
To burst the door and set the prisoner free,
When a giant almost stuck me dead,
But by my valour I cut of his head.
I searched this world all round and round,
A man my equal I've never found..
(Enter Slasher)
SLASHER I am a gallant socdier and Slasher is my name,
With sword and buckler by my side,
I hope to win the game,
And for to fight with thee,
I see thou art not able,
For with my sword, will soon thee disable.
SAINT GEORGE Stand hack Slasher, and let no nore be said,
For if I use my sword, will soon cut off thy head.
SLASHER How can'st thou cut off ny head?
My head is npde of iron,
My body of steel,
My hand and feet of knuckle bone.
I'll chalange thee to feel.
(They fight and Saint George mortally wounds Slasher.)
(Enter Slashers' Father.)
SLASHERS FATHER Oh George, what hast thou done?
Thou's killed and slain my only son.
Here he lies in the presence of you all,
And willingly a doctor call.
A Doctor, Ten pound for a doctor.
(Enter Doctor)
SLASHERS FATHER Are you a Doctor?
DOCTOR That you may plainly see,
By my true heart and activity.
SLASHERS FATHER How far have you travelled in doctorshlp?
DOCTOR England, Ireland, France and Spain,
Over the Alps and back again.
SLASHERS FATHER What diseases can you cure?
DOCTOR The hitch, the stitch, the palsy and the gout,
If a mans got 19 devils in his skull,
I can cast 20 out and leave one to breed.
But Jack take a sup out of this bottle,
And let it run down thy throttle,
And if thy not quite slain,
Arise Jack and fight again.
SLASHIR Oh my back!
DOCTOR Whats a matter with thy back?
SLASHER My back is wounded,
My heart is confounded.
Farewell Saint George, I can no longer stay,
Down yonder lies my way.
(Ehter Belzebub)
BELZEBUB In comes our old Belzebub,
Over my shoulder I carry a club,
In my hand a dripping pan,
Don't you think I am a Jolly old man?
If you don't, I do.
A rink chink, chink, and sup more drink,
We'll the old kettle sound dry,
If you think I am a fool has got no sense,
Put your hand in your pocket and give us a few pence.
LITTLE DFVIL DOUBT In come Litte Devil Doubt,
With my breeches turned inside out.
If you think I am a fool and got no sense,
Put your hand in your pocket and give a fev pence.
(Entire company sings, "We wish you a merry Christnas and a happy new year.)
NOTES WITH THE TEXT:- Before the text:- The Guysers as performed in the Underwood
district 36 years ago, in 1935 and 1936. I took part in them.
The consisted of 6 plaYers.
1 Opener In
2 Saint George
3 Slasher
4 Slashers Father
5 Doctor
6 Belzebub or LittLe Devil Doubt.
After the text:- I have not seem the Guysers performed for years. It seems
to be one of the traditions that are dying out. P.S. The Guysers required
very little in the way of costumes etc. It required training about one night
a week in somebodys shed or kitchen for about a month before Xmas.
NOTES ON THE TRANSCRIPTION:- The words were more or less in rhyne layout, but in
transcription, this has been improved upon. Punctuation has been added or
corrected where appropriate, but spellingi remains as is. Mr. Hodgkinson had
a tendancy to omit the odd verb or pronoun. these have not been inserted. |
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