Runcorn Ferry-Stanley Holloway

[ti:Runcorn Ferry] [ar:Stanley Holloway] [al:Forever Gold - The Lion And Albert (Remastered)] [by:] [offset:0] [00:00.00]Runcorn Ferry - Stanley Holloway [00:09.12]On the banks of the Mersey over on Cheshire side [00:12.52]Lies Runcorn that's best known to fame [00:15.37] [00:16.10]By Transporter Bridge as takes folks over stream [00:20.29]Or else brings them back across same [00:22.22] [00:22.91]In days before transporter to [00:24.87]Bridge were put up [00:26.22]A ferryboat lay in the slip [00:28.70] [00:29.27]And old Ted the boatman would row folks across [00:33.19]At per tuppence per person per trip [00:35.94] [00:36.67]Now Runcorn lay over on one side of stream [00:40.29]And Widnes on other side stood [00:42.59] [00:43.10]And as nobody wanted to go either place [00:46.43]Well the trade wasn't any too good [00:49.44] [00:50.46]One evening to Ted's superlative surprise [00:54.23]Three customers came into view [00:57.51]A Mr and Mrs Rams bottom it were [01:00.45]And Albert their little son too [01:03.05] [01:04.15]How much for the three Mr Rams bottom asked [01:07.43]As his hand to his pocket did dip [01:10.54] [01:11.34]Ted said same for three as it would be for one [01:15.42]Per tuppence per person per trip [01:18.28] [01:19.54]You're not charging tuppence for that little lad [01:22.36]Said mother her eyes flashing wild [01:25.02] [01:25.94]Per tuppence per person per trip answered Ted [01:29.69]Per woman per man or per child [01:32.88] [01:34.19]Five pence for three that's the most that I'll pay [01:37.53]Said father don't waste time in talk [01:40.77] [01:41.77]Per tuppence per person per trip answered Ted [01:45.45]And them as can't pay as to walk [01:48.15] [01:49.26]We can walk an all said father [01:51.89]Come mother it's none so deep weather's quite mild [01:56.24]So into the water the three of them stepped [01:59.53]The father the mother the child [02:02.69] [02:03.89]The further they paddled the deeper it got [02:06.90]But they wouldn't give in once begun [02:09.97] [02:10.78]In the spirit that's made Lancashire what she is [02:14.49]They'd sooner be drownded than done [02:17.87] [02:19.18]Very soon the old people were up to their necks [02:22.59]And the little lad clean out of sight [02:25.60] [02:26.74]Said father where's Albert [02:28.52] [02:29.25]And mother replied I've got hold of his hand he's all right [02:34.63] [02:35.96]Well just at that moment Pa got an idea [02:39.00]And floundering back to old Ted [02:41.89] [02:42.75]He said we've walked half way [02:45.02]Come take us the rest [02:46.45]For half price that's a penny a head [02:49.17] [02:49.90]But Ted wasn't standing for none of that there [02:53.29]And making an obstinate lip [02:55.89] [02:56.75]Per tuppence per person per trip Ted replied [03:00.73]Per trip or per part of per trip [03:04.12] [03:05.30]All right then said father let me take the boat [03:08.77] [03:09.34]And I'll pick up the others half way [03:11.37] [03:12.12]I'll row them across and I'll bring the boat back [03:15.28]And thruppence in bargain I'll pay [03:17.84] [03:19.01]They were money for nothing [03:20.87]Ted answered right ho [03:22.84]And father got hold of the sculls [03:25.64] [03:26.33]With the sharp end of boat towards middle of stream [03:29.72]He were there in a couple of pulls [03:32.00] [03:32.76]He got mother out it were rather a job [03:36.38]With the water she weighed half a ton [03:38.90] [03:39.82]Then pushing the oar down the side of the boat [03:43.01]Started fishing around for his son [03:45.43] [03:46.40]When poor little Albert came up to the top [03:49.91]His collars were soggy and limp [03:52.49] [03:53.44]And with holding his breath at the bottom so long [03:56.46]His face were as red as a shrimp [03:59.16] [04:00.31]Pa took them across and he brought the boat back [04:03.50]And he said to old Ted on the slip [04:06.01] [04:07.19]Will it row me across by me [04:09.64]Ted said [04:10.49]Aye at per tuppence per person per trip [04:13.96] [04:15.01]When they got to other side [04:17.45]Father laughed fit to bust [04:19.58] [04:20.27]He'd got best of bargain you see [04:22.94]He'd worked it all out and he'd got his own way [04:26.68]And he'd paid nob but five pence for three