The train to Glasgow

[Jon Freeman]

I'm not sure where to make this request as it is a poem rather than a song
but can anybody remind me of the words? I used to love this one as a child
but although I can remember other bits of it, I can only get this far in
full verses:

This is the train to Glasgow.

This is the driver Mr McIver
Who drove the train to Glasgow.

This is the guard from Donnybristle (?)
Who waved his flag and blew his whistle
To tell the driver, Mr McIver
To start the train to Glasgow

This is a boy called Donald McBrain (?)
Who went to the station to catch the train
But saw the guard from DonnyBristle
Wave his flag and blow his whistle
To tell the driver, Mr McIver
To start the train to Glasgow.

Thanks

Jon

[McBad]

Jon, if you get a response to your enquiry I would also be interested in
this poem. It rings a feint bell.

M.

Jon Freeman wrote in message <1v0z3.6508$fl2.1...@nnrp4.clara.net>...

[Faith Myers]

I KNOW we're not supposed to post "me too" messages, but it rings bells down
here too.
I can hear Brian Cant's voice in my head.
Playaway, perhaps?

I think I might ask Auntie!

Good luck,
Faith
--
Julius Caesar: Act 4; Scene 2; Line 22 (or 24)
(snip)

[ALP]

Jon Freeman wrote in message <1v0z3.6508$fl2.1...@nnrp4.clara.net>...
>I'm not sure where to make this request as it is a poem rather than a song
>but can anybody remind me of the words? I used to love this one as a child
>but although I can remember other bits of it, I can only get this far in
>full verses:
>
>This is the train to Glasgow.
>
>This is the driver Mr McIver
>Who drove the train to Glasgow.
>
>This is the guard from Donnybristle (?)
>Who waved his flag and blew his whistle
>To tell the driver, Mr McIver
>To start the train to Glasgow
>
>This is a boy called Donald McBrain (?)
>Who went to the station to catch the train
>But saw the guard from DonnyBristle
>Wave his flag and blow his whistle
>To tell the driver, Mr McIver
>To start the train to Glasgow.
>

You are obviously a late developer Jon as I think the song comes from the
repetoire of the childrens show "The Singing Kettle" their web site is
http://www.singingkettle.com

[Jon Freeman]

ALP <Ebmv...@btinternet.com> wrote
> >
> >This is the train to Glasgow...

> You are obviously a late developer Jon as I think the song comes from the
> repetoire of the childrens show "The Singing Kettle" their web site is
> http://www.singingkettle.com

I had never even head of the Singing Kettle! I have seen 2 references to
children's programs now. It is quite possible that it has cropped up in
both but I got it from a book and would have read it in the 1960s. I will
try asking my mother again and see if she has remembered what the book was.

Jon

[Peter Pan]

Jon Freeman <jonb...@freeuk.com> wrote in message
news:S2cA3.10421$Ze2.2...@nnrp3.clara.net...
> ALP <Ebmv...@btinternet.com> wrote

> > >
> I had never even head of the Singing Kettle

Man, you haven't lived ...

[Faith Myers]

MUCH earlier than The Singing Kettle, though that doesn't mean they don't do
it.
My local "folkish" club is sure it was performed by Charles (somebody) who
also did The Laughing Policeman, and their (the folkish club's) expert is
supposed to be getting in touch with me to let me know exactly who, and on
which record!!! I find that frightening - that someone would be able to
quote an actual record number for something so abstruse!!!
Hang in there guys, we may yet get a definitive answer!!

[Alfred W. Barnett]

In article <936832870.10620.0...@news.demon.co.uk>, Faith
Myers <fmy...@xenopus.demon.co.uk> writes

Charles Penrose, Now who knows the words to "Gorgonzola" Out in the
Thirties, I think during the Italian war with Abyssinia. Part of the
chorus was "Put it on the table and it eats up all the crumbs"
--
Alfred W. Barnett

[Jon Freeman]

Jon Freeman <jonb...@freeuk.com> wrote

> ...but I got it from a book and would have read it in the 1960s. I will

> try asking my mother again and see if she has remembered what the book
was.

I did and this time, it proved even better than I imagined, as she replied:

>The book containing Mr McIver is called "The Faber Bok of Nursey Rhymes"
editted by Barbara Ireson,it is actually a book given to you by "Granny and
Grandpa" on September 7th 1963---would you like it?<

As a couple of others had expressed an interest in the poem (written by
Wilma Horsbrugh), here it is.

Here is the train to Glasgow.

Here is the driver, Mr MacIver, Who drove the train to Glasgow.

Here is the guard from Donibristle,

Who waved his flag and blew his whistle

To tell the driver, Mr MacIver to start the train to Glasgow.

Here is a boy called Donald Macbrain
Who came to the station to catch the train
But saw the guard from Donibristle,

Wave his flag and blow his whistle

To tell the driver, Mr MacIver to start the train to Glasgow.

Here is the guard, a kindly man
Who at the last moment, hauled into the van
That fortunate boy called Donald Macbrain
Who came to the station to catch the train
But saw the guard from Donibristle,

Wave his flag and blow his whistle

To tell the driver, Mr MacIver to start the train to Glasgow

Here are the hens and here are the cocks
Clucking and crowing inside a box
In charge of the guard, that kindly man
Who at the last moment, hauled into the van
That fortunate boy called Donald Macbrain
Who came to the station to catch the train
But saw the guard from Donibristle,

Wave his flag and blow his whistle

To tell the driver, Mr MacIver to start the train to Glasgow

Here is the train. It gave a jolt
Which loosened a catch and loosened a bolt
And let out the hens and let out the cocks
Clucking and crowing out of their box
In charge of the guard, that kindly man
Who at the last moment, hauled into the van
That fortunate boy called Donald Macbrain
Who came to the station to catch the train
But saw the guard from Donibristle,

Wave his flag and blow his whistle

To tell the driver, Mr MacIver to start the train to Glasgow

The guard chased a hen, and missing it fell
The hens were all squawking, the cocks were as well
And unless you were there, you haven't a notion
The flurry the fuss, the noise and commotion
Caused by the train which gave a jolt
And loosened a catch and loosened a bolt
And let out the hens and let out the cocks
Clucking and crowing out of their box
In charge of the guard, that kindly man
Who at the last moment, hauled into the van
That fortunate boy called Donald Macbrain
Who came to the station to catch the train
But saw the guard from Donibristle,

Wave his flag and blow his whistle

To tell the driver, Mr MacIver to start the train to Glasgow

Now Donald was quick and Donald was neat
And Donald was nimble on his feet
He caught the hens and he caught the cocks
And he put them back in their great big box
The guard was pleased as pleased could be
And invited Donald to come to tea
On Saturday at Donibristle
An he let him blow his lovely whistle
And he said in all his life he'd never
Seen a boy so quick and clever
And so did the driver, Mr MacIver who drove the train to Glasgow.

Jon

[Faith Myers]

Thank you, Jon, on behalf of all the rest who've joined in this thread.
The only problem is.......we none of us (except you) know where we learnt it
from!!
BTW Auntie was no help, they don't have that sort of archive!! Sob!!

Faith

--
Julius Caesar: Act 4; Scene 2; Line 22 (or 24)

(rest snipped, but I've made a note of the book!!)

[mikesm...@gmail.com]

Hi folks,

I've just noticed how old thus thread is, but just in case any of you spot this, or for anyone who picks it up in the future, as I did, here is a Singing Kettle video including this sing.

It is from about 6:30.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWhhm7LGRzY&feature=youtube_gdata_player