Keith Marsden 1989
Marsden founded the West Yorkshire folk singing group Cockersdale. The "Rec." is the Recreation Ground and a "corky" is cricket ball which is hard cork covered in leather. Finest Kind: "Keith and his songs are remembered in a delightful tribute song book called Picking Sooty Blackberries (Fellsongs Music Publishing, Workington, Cumbria CA14 3EW), in which the whole story of Jack Ashton and his tall tales can be found."
Finest Kind: https://ianrobb1.bandcamp.com/track/jack-ashton
Oh the times were hard and mean and our childhood days were lean
In the land they said was fit for Flanders heroes
It was all a seaside show where poor folk couldn’t go
We just stood outside while others watched the pierrots
And we only had to spend what our friend Sam Clegg would lend
There was little of Lloyd George’s promised glories
But each evening down the street by the gaslamp we would meet
And we’d listen while Jack Ashton told his stories
Chorus:
Aye we sat there and listened with our mouths open wide
Though we knew in our hearts that the old devil lied
But we needed to believe in the magic he would weave
And we took a glass for old times’ sake the day Jack died
Now our all-wise parents said that he’d a screw loose in the head
And that we were daft to listen to his lies
But we saw their daily grind and heard the magic in his mind
And we knew who was daft and who was wise
Though he nearly broke our necks playing soccer on the Rec
And his bowling with a corky could be gory
As the evening sun went down by the lamp we’d gather round
And we’d listen while Jack Ashton told a story
Now that Jack’s been laid to rest if there’s any justice left
He’ll be telling yarns now to the Holy Ghost
And gathered round his knee open-mouthed as we would be
Sit saints and angels, all the heavenly host
And he’ll tell them how he saved old Moses from the waves
And slew Goliath with one mighty blow
While an all-forgiving Lord listens smiling at his words
As we did by the gas lamp long ago