8. Lile Jacky Beresford (Norman)

Up Wharfedale in Yorkshire where t'folk are so grand,
You'll meet little Jacky, he's the best in the land,
But you must stay the night cos you're sure to get canned,
With Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....

He's grand company he's 'hail fellow well met,'
No doubt he can drink all the ale he can get,
Who's full of dry humour when his inside gets wet?
Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....

It's true that Lile Jacky is a jack-of-all-trades,
He follows the horses, will he make the grade?
He follows behind with a bucket and spade!
Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....

The dales folk are rejoicing from as far off as Reeth,
Once again all the sewers are flowing beneath,
Cos what came out smiling was a set of false teeth
From Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....

There weren't many kids in the dale as a rule,
Till he'd sown his wild oats and showed he's no fool,
Now who's got the job drivin' 't children to school?
Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....

He's four lovely children, he's a real family man
From squeezing his accordion down the years to a plan,
Now there's Peter anf Herbert, Rosemary and Ann
To Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....

He once wobbled home from out the Blue Bell,
They built a village round the place that he fell,
Cause he was well 'kettled' it's called Kettlewell!
Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....!


There's landmarks galore beyond Kettlewell way,
There's the Buck Inn at Buckden and the White Lion at Cray,
But the most famous landmark, you'll hear them all say,
Is Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....!

If you're camping at Buckden should it rain through your tent,
The cloakroom is spotless for any lady or gent.
Come spend a penny! It's money well spent!
With Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....!

While banding one night at the Dent Village Hall,
He'd too much to drink and was ready to fall,
And the house gave a cheer as he slid down the wall!
Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....!

His charming wife Margaret, when the weather was fine,
Went to fish in the Wharfe with a rod and some twine,
And what did she find on the end of her line?
Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....!

He drives a black hearse when you see him about,
In bow tie and tails, can be smart there's no doubt,
But there's a pint in his hand, and his shirts sticking out!
Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....!

In the village of Buckden, there'll you'll find the Buck Inn,
Oft you can hear the faint drop of a pin.
Then from out of the blue theres this terrible din!
Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....!

He's a real active man, he'll never retire,
He's the speed of an engine, you shall hear him backfire,
And you'd sometimes swear blind that his armhole's on fire!
Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....

You don't see the flood from the Pike when it rains,
He uses t'flood watter to flush out the drains,
So you don't have to swim up the countryside lanes,
to see Lile Jacky Beresford the Lad from the Dale.....!

BANJO WILL (aka UKELELE IKE)

This song about Jack, very much in the George Formby style was written by Banjo Willie, and has raised the level of merriment in many a Dales bar lounge!

Jim Jarratt. Mytholmroyd. 2006

Copyright Jim Jarratt. 2006