MURDER IN THE CHIP SHOP

From: Nigel Gatherer
To: Andrew Fagan
Sent: 17 September 1998 14:57
Subject: Re: Song lyrics

On Thu 17 Sep 98 (13:20:06 +0100), andy.fagan@ccta.gov.uk wrote:
> Nigel, I hope you don't mind this speculative email.

Not at all.

> My mother at one time had a record (EP I think) of their's which I 
> believe had a song on it with the following verse.I have been trying 
> to find the rest of the song so that I can teach it to my young
> daughter:
> 
> Last night there was a murder in a fish shop...

I'd forgotten about that one! An old girlfriend used to sing it.

> I recall other bits about auntie mary, screwing off a widen leg, false
> teeth. etc

Auntie Mary had a canary
Up the leg of her drawers... That's probably a different one.

Yes, I knew these, but memory fails me. I've got one Robin Hall/Jimmy McGregor
record, but it's in the attic with hundreds of other lps. I've been up there
twice already today, and I've really got to get on some work, so leave it with
me and I'll investigate. What you've given me sounds like snatches of a few
children's street songs, possibly put together. I've got other examples of them
on cassettes, so I'll look them out. I've also got a couple of books (again in
the attic) which might help, so I'll enjoy having a good rummage. I've another
book called 'D'ye Min' Langsyne' which has lots of these rhymes, so again,
there's another lead. Another possibility is a book I haven't got, and I can't
even remember what it's called, but it's by someone calle Opie, and is full of
children's games and rhymes. You might try that.

Anyway, leave it with me for a couple of days and I'll get back to you (if I
don't give me a prompt).


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From: Nigel Gatherer
To: Andrew Fagan
Sent: 17 September 1998 14:57
Subject: Re: Song lyrics

Dear Andy - 

It took a bit of tracking down, but I finally remembered that it was my
ex-mother-in-law who used to sing it. Her version goes:

Last night there was a murder in a fish shop
A wee dug stole a haddie bone
A big dug tried tae take it aff her
So a hit it wi' a tattie scone

The wee dug ran tae tell its mammy,
It's mammy wisnae in,
It took a look through the window,
An' this it what it seen:

Her false teeth were lying on the table,
Her curly wig was lying on the bed
And she was sitting in the old armchair
Screwing aff her widden leg.

I haven't listened to the Jimmy Macgregor/Robin Hall album: when I do, and
find it's different, I'll let you know. Hope this is what you were after.

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From: Andrew Fagan
To: Nigel Gatherer
Subject: Re: Song lyrics
Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 07:20:00

Nigel the jist of it is very similar to my recollection. I'll try it on my 4
y.o. daughter who's rapdidly developing a Norfolk accent - it may help to
redress the balance. Thanks for your time and consideration. When you get
the chance to listen to the album I'd appreciate an update.

All best wishes

Andy Fagan


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