When I was younger, so much younger than today and yesterday and the day before and the day before that I spent evenings at the local youth club. We were affiliated to the National Association of Youth Clubs and I was our youth clubs representative on the Yorkshire branch of the Association. We organised sports and quiz tournaments for the area clubs and give the youth clubs a good time.
The highlight of the year was a weekend in Ilkley at the Youth hostel on the moors. Some serious discussions and fun stuff. Would now be called bonding. The best bit of the weekend was the midnight hike, walking over the moor, our way lit by moonlight....would we arrive back safe and sound. We always did. Then came 1967 and our midnight hike singing On Ilkley Moor Baht'at (without hat).
I was walking with Chris, the Association secretary. She was in a funny mood. Kept giggling, about nothing, or nothing that made sense to me. And, she was walking so, so slowly. The blokes were leading the way with their torches and we were ambling on behind. Then Chris fell down onto the floor and started writhing about. It was all so sudden and so unexpected. Eventually, after what seemed like forever, she stopped writhing and just lay quietly. I looked up and began to call for help when I realised that I couldn't see anyone else. There were about 20 of us and they had all disappeared into the dark abyss leaving us alone at the top of the moor, not a building or anyone in sight.
When Chris awoke she told me she was epileptic and had fits. If the powers that be knew this, she would not be allowed on the midnight hike or anything else remotely risky, so she never told anyone. So there we were lost on the moor, no map or compass, or any idea how close we were to civilisation. In the cold and dark with nowhere to shelter and no idea in which direction our friends had walked. We decided to stay put and wait for the rescue party. How embarrassing was that!
They did not notice that we were missing, not until they got back to the hostel for bacon sarnies and a hot drink. There were two sandwiches left. Eventually they worked out that two people were missing and those two were us.
We were ages on the moor, or so it seemed. Eventually we say pea lights in the distance and knew that help was at hand. We yelled at the top of our voices until they reached us. Chris was assisted down from the top of the moor. We were all subdued and didn't sing our song in Yorkshire or English.
We were alright but Chris was not allowed to go on the midnight hike ever again.
Wheear 'as ta bin sin ah saw thee, Where have you been since I saw you,
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?! On Ilkley Moor without a hat?!
Wheear 'as ta bin sin ah saw thee? Where have you been since I saw you?
Wheear 'as ta bin sin ah saw thee? Where have you been since I saw you?
Chorus
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?! On Ilkley Moor without a hat?!
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?! On Ilkley Moor without a hat?!
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?! On Ilkley Moor without a hat?!
Tha's been a cooartin' Mary Jane(You've been courting Mary Jane)
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Tha's been a cooartin' Mary Jane
Tha's been a cooartin' Mary Jane
Chorus
Tha's bahn t'catch thi deeath o'cowd(Your bound to catch your death of cold)
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Tha's bahn t'catch thi deeath o'cowd
Tha's bahn t'catch thi deeath o'cowd
Chorus
Then we shall ha' to bury thee(Then we shall have to bury you)
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall ha' to bury thee
Then we shall ha' to bury thee
Chorus
Then t'worms 'll cum an' eat thee oop(Then worms will come and eat you up)
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then t'worms 'll cum an' eat thee oop
Then t'worms 'll cum an' eat thee oop
Chorus
Then ducks 'll cum an’ ate oop worms(Then ducks shall come and eat up worms)
On Ilkla Moor baht’at
Then ducks shall cum an’ ate oop worms
Then ducks shall cum an’ ate oop worms
Chorus
Then we shall go an' ate oop ducks(Then we shall go and eat up ducks) On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall go an' ate oop ducks
Then we shall go an' ate oop ducks
Chorus
Then we shall all 'ave etten thee(Then we shall all have eaten you)
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall all 'ave etten thee
Then we shall all 'ave etten thee
If you put the words Ilkley Moor on a search engine it will give you some pics of the moor. I will keep checking and see if I can find a better album, with singing, which reflects the nature of the song.
I hope this will not detract too much from your enjoyment and interest in the music and the story.
reply