Gooseberry poetry
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The real gooseberry enthusisast will also appreciate some poems we came across during our literature surches:

Gooseberries

Come all ye jovial gardeners, and listen unto me,
Whilst I relate the different sorts of winning gooeseberries
This famous institution was founded long ago,
That men might meet, and drink, and have a gooseberry show.



The Goosberry Growers' Song

There's Dan's Mistake and Catherina, Magenta and Careless too,
Clayton, Drill, and Telegraph, Antagonist and Peru,
Mount Pleasant, Plunder, King of Trumps, Australia and Railway,
Ploughboy, High Sheriff, and Gretna Green, but the Bobby wins the day.

There's Speedwell, Leader, matchless, Freedom and Slaughterman.
Queen of Trumps and Trumpeter, Surprise and Nottingham,
Duke of Sutherland, Lord Ratcliffe, Garibaldi and Eskender Bey,
Fenny Lind and Dr. Hogg, but the Bobby wins the day.

 

The Gooseberry Growers' Song (1885 version)

Background information:
Source: This song was gently provided to me by Elizabeth Gentil from the Cheshire Region (UK)
Song: In 1885 a gooseberry variety called ‘Bobby’ won more prizes (116) across all the shows in the country than any other variety. The ‘London’ came third that year with 77 prizes. Gooseberries shows are local competitions to find the heaviest berry which are still weighed today in traditional pennyweights and grains. There used to be hundreds of shows all round the country in the 19th century. There are now only a handful left, all but one of these are held annually in Cheshire villages around the Congleton and Macclesfield area.

Come all ye jovial gardeners, and listen unto me
While I relate the different sorts of winning gooseberries -
This famous institution was founded long ago,
That men might meet and drink and have a gooseberry show.
CHORUS

So come all jovial gardeners, let's merry, merry be:
We'll sing and dance, we've all a chance; but the London is for me.
This London of renown was that famous Huntsman's son
Who was raised in a Cheshire village near the May-pole in Acton
While in bloom he was but small yet still so fast he grew
That everyone admired him, for his equals are but few.
Then hearing of his fame the Lion was grieved sore -
Saying " If the London should my rival prove, my reign will soon be o'er,
Although he bears a mighty name, to him I'll ne'er give up,
For it shall be said an age to come - "The Lion wins the cup."
The London overhearing him then made him this reply: -
"I value not your threatenings your courage I defy,
Come let us meet together, as we have done before,
And I'll beat you for the cup, he cried, and give you grains a score."
The challenge was accepted, appointed was a day
'Twas in the month of August, their valour to display;
The London first appeared decked with a pleasant smile,
Attended by Leveller, Stockwell and Hero of the Nile.
Lion from all directions came, from east, west, north and south,
To conquer he was fully bent and weigh the London out;
Soon he was disappointed, when old Jem Briggs did say -
"You're beaten Lion, all may see, for the London's won the day."
There's Dan's Mistake and Catherine, Magenta and Careless too,
Clayton, Drill and Telegraph, Antagonist and Peru;
Mount Pleasant, Plunder, King of Trumps, Australia, and Railway,
Ploughboy, High Sheriff, and Gretna Green; but the Bobby wins the day.
There's Speedwell, Leader, Matchless, Freedom and Slaughterman,
Queen of Trumps and Trumpeter, Surprise and Nottingham,
Duke of Sutherland, Lord Rancliffe, Garibaldi and Eskender Bey,
Jenny Lind and Dr Hogg, but the Bobby wins the day.
There's Queen Victoria and Lord Scarborough, Peto and Bollin Hall,
Magnet, Greenock, Tinker, Flixtonia and Snowball,
There's Mitre, Beauty, Postman, Lancashire Hero and George Brown,
But the Bobby is the favourite, both in village and in town.
There's Souter Johnny and Oldham, Tom Joiner and Veteran,
Great Eastern and Lord Liverpool, Lady Popham and Foreman,
Advance, Miss Nightingale, and Alderman, Lady Stanley and Lord Lee,
Lady Leicester and Lord Derby, but the Bobby wins the day.
There's Lady Haughton and Snowdrop, Macaroni and England,
Shiner, London and Sally, My Beauty and Napoleon le Grand,
Willow Green and Visit, Red jacket and Viceroy,
Duster, Lizard and Rover, Bravo and Pretty Boy.
There's Victory, Grateful, Leonard, Mr Clough and Queen of Greens,
Express, Long Bill and Brown's Delight, in company are seen;
Hit or miss, Mr Boocock, Jessie, Gem and Unity,
But there's Bobby, Ringer, Hospool and Antagonist for me.
The weighing being over, straight our wives do come,
To fetch the cups, caps and kettles our gooseberries have won,
Then we return unto our homes, and lovingly agree,
When the letting-outs are over, we will plant a Bobby tree.
But if we happen for to lose, and all our money spend,
The case will be much altered - on this you may depend,
For instead of words most loving, she'll tease you night and day,
And there will be no pleasure until you get a Bobby tree.
Here's health unto the Bobby, the conqueror of this land,
Soon we may raise another sort against him for to stand;
So toss about the bowl my boys, and merry let us sing,
All honour to his 34 -20, and God save the Queen.

Chorus: So come all, &c.


TUNE:

With Wellington we'll go, we'll go
Suggested to be the same as 'With Henry Hunt we'll go'

X: 1
T:With Henry Hunt We'll Go
M:C|
L:1/8
S:Traditional Tunes - Frank Kidson

K:G
"^Chorus:"D|GBBd cBA
w:With Hen-ry Hunt we'll go my boys
G|GBBd d2 z
w:With Hen-ry Hunt we'll go;
B|ccAc BBG
w:We'll mount the cap of li-ber-ty
B|cAGF G2 z||
w:In spite of Na-din Joe.
d|dgge f2 dd|dgge f2 z
d|dggf edcB|cBce (d2 c)|
B|GBBd cBAG|GBdd d2 z
B|ccAc BBGB|cAGF G2 z||





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