Whether it's a true likeness is not known. I do know that Cushie and her family were not impressed on how the song portrayed her and threatened to seek retribution from Ridley - of the physical rather than the financial kind. Then when the song became so popular all was made up - then again a few shillings may well have gone Cushie’s way.
This is all fascinating. I learned the song Cushie Butterfield (and, indeed, the full version of Blaydon Races) from a singer and melodeon player called Steve Fry in Cullercoats in 1981, but I’ve never heard any of the ‘backstory’ before.
My parents taught me many local songs when I was a boy so I could join in the evening sing songs that were popular then; Wor Nannys a Mazer, Keep ya feet still Geordie hinney, When the boat comes in (which was changed radically for the fish finger advert), Waters of Tyne etc. I guess you know the back story and meaning of Blaydon Races, if not I posted a Meander on it on June 9 2024.
The back stories of songs is one of my many favourite niches of history. Newcastle and the Northeast have probably the richest tradition (as it has now become) of old songs in the UK, with so many written for the Music Halls and songbooks back in the day. I learned lots of them during my Cullercoats days, at the Bay Hotel: Byker Hill, Felton Lonnen, Bonny at Morn, the Keel Row, Little Chance, Bonny Gateshead Lass… many more; and lots of the local tunes too. Again, the tunes are very distinct due to their (usual) origin as Northumbrian pipe tunes.
Wonderful songs and your mention of them brought back happy memories of family and friends get togethers of the late 1960s and evenings of song. Away from local songs my father (who had a wonderful voice) and the next door neighbour would do their Flanagan and Allen 'act' - seems like only yesterday and I think I probably still remember many of the F&A songs they sang.
Another excellent one, Harry. I didn’t know about the characters in the Blaydon Races painting. Great to see Cushie Butterfield!
Whether it's a true likeness is not known. I do know that Cushie and her family were not impressed on how the song portrayed her and threatened to seek retribution from Ridley - of the physical rather than the financial kind. Then when the song became so popular all was made up - then again a few shillings may well have gone Cushie’s way.
This is all fascinating. I learned the song Cushie Butterfield (and, indeed, the full version of Blaydon Races) from a singer and melodeon player called Steve Fry in Cullercoats in 1981, but I’ve never heard any of the ‘backstory’ before.
My parents taught me many local songs when I was a boy so I could join in the evening sing songs that were popular then; Wor Nannys a Mazer, Keep ya feet still Geordie hinney, When the boat comes in (which was changed radically for the fish finger advert), Waters of Tyne etc. I guess you know the back story and meaning of Blaydon Races, if not I posted a Meander on it on June 9 2024.
I’ll revisit your Blaydon meander, Harry, thanks for the reminder.
The back stories of songs is one of my many favourite niches of history. Newcastle and the Northeast have probably the richest tradition (as it has now become) of old songs in the UK, with so many written for the Music Halls and songbooks back in the day. I learned lots of them during my Cullercoats days, at the Bay Hotel: Byker Hill, Felton Lonnen, Bonny at Morn, the Keel Row, Little Chance, Bonny Gateshead Lass… many more; and lots of the local tunes too. Again, the tunes are very distinct due to their (usual) origin as Northumbrian pipe tunes.
Wonderful songs and your mention of them brought back happy memories of family and friends get togethers of the late 1960s and evenings of song. Away from local songs my father (who had a wonderful voice) and the next door neighbour would do their Flanagan and Allen 'act' - seems like only yesterday and I think I probably still remember many of the F&A songs they sang.
Oh I love the Shipley!