The Devil in York
|
Home Back to OldTimeTim's Home Page |
|
|
Songs Back to Songs intro page |
|
|
*** NEW *** The Liar's Bench ...the times of our lives.... |
|
|
A Prayer for Leadership ...and so deliver Albion.... |
|
|
One Penny A Tune I'm scraping a living..... |
|
|
The Head Gardener In his little red weskit.... |
|
|
Five New Heads A Music Hall style song |
|
|
The Migrant The fate of Charlotte Kimpton in 1845 |
|
|
The Melancholy Wreck of the Gossamer The sad story, as described in a display at the Salcombe Maritime Museum. |
|
|
Down In The Dark The song of the badger |
|
|
Nothing that's left but the Squeal Celebrating the role of the pig in UK culture |
|
|
Dark Ember A country style song of unrequited love |
|
The Devil in York Traditional style chorus song based on a true story |
|
|
So Far From Home The Marching Song of the ghosts of the Ninth Legion |
|
|
Steam Again in Goathland Written at the time of the re-opening of the North Yorkshire Moors railway |
|
|
The Tale of the Christmas Tree fairy An epic seasonal monologue |
The North Wind blew across Wheeldale moor,
All on a winter's day.
And he met with the Devil who was there before,
So the folks all say.
There they met and there they talked,
All on a winter's day.
Said the Devil "Let's away to the city of York,
So the folks all say.
We'll travel the streets and houses through
All on a winter's day.
To frighten the people and clergymen too"
So the folks all say.
So the Wind and the Devil they set off at speed
All on a winter's day.
Never thought to the outcome of their wicked deed.
So the folks all say.
Over forest and field they travelled so far
All on a winter's day.
'Till they blew through the gates of Micklegate bar.
So the folks all say.
Then all of a sudden the Devil stopped short
All on a winter's day.
And he cried "What's this that the people have wrought"
So the folks all say.
"It's a church" said the Wind "with a great West door,
All on a winter's day.
And it's called York Minster, of that I'm sure."
So the folks all say.
"A curse on their churches." Devil he cried,
All on a winter's day.
"Are you coming with me for I'm going inside"
So the folks all say.
"Not I" said the Wind "for I carry no doubt
All on a winter's day.
That if I went in there I could never get out"
So the folks all say.
Well the Devil he laughed, the Devil he scorned
All on a winter's day.
Saying "You wait here - I'll be back before dawn"
So the folks all say.
So the Wind he stayed, round that door blew about
All on a winter's day.
For day after day the Devil never came out
So the folks all say.
Now if ever you stand by that great West Door,
All on a winter's day.
You'll not tarry long of that I'm sure.
So the folks all say.
For around that door a great Wind blows about
All on a winter's day.
As he waits for the Devil, who never came out.
So the folks all say.
Recorded by Johnny Collins on 'Free and Easy'
Tradition Sound Recordings TSR04
About this image
This is a painted carving of a "Printer's Devil" above a shop in Stonegate, York. Amongst the proposed origins of this term, one is linked to the fanciful belief among printers that a special devil haunted every print-shop, performing mischief such as inverting type, misspelling worms or removing entire lines of completed type. The apprentice became a substitute source of blame and came to be called a printer's devil by association.
Taken from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, January 9, 2007
Origin of the Song
My mother had a job in the bookshop of York Minster, and while working there she was told this story by a Nun. Where the Nun heard it I don't know, but I assume that it is quite an old traditional story - I haven't found any reference to the story in print.
Turning the story into a song was a relatively painless process.
The late Johnny Collins sang this song for many years and told me it was always well received - because it really is very very windy at the West Door of York Minster.
Media Files
Audio recording of The Devil in York