Batley Billygoat Fusiliers

Words given to performers at the Raggers Folk Club in 1969, handwritten by Mick

Batley Billygoat Fusiliers

Tommy wrote this song to be performed as the opening number of the evening of Batley Raggers Folk Club Christmas Party at the Victoria Hotel, Hick Lane, Batley on Sunday 21 st December 1969.

He often reminisced about the Comic Carnival Processional Bands, with wonderful names, that often only played hand made instruments, and entertained the masses raising money for charity, at carnivals and galas during the pre Second World War period.

So we decided to form a band, and called it The Batley Billygoat Fusiliers, as many of the bands had military names. The anthem was specifically written for the occasion, and was only ever performed once, on that evening.

Batley Billygoat Fusiliers

Chorus and 1st verse

Batley Billygoat Fusiliers,
The pride of all the town.
A merry group of Yorkshire lads
We love to play the clown.
We’ve won near a hundred prizes,
A band of great reknown
Batley Billygoat Fusiliers
The pride of all the town!

1. We’re jesters and comedians, fools and comical clowns,
Who travel round in motley, entertaining towns
We hope to bring you pleasure and joy, drive dull care away,
So when they hear this merry tune, everyone shouts “hurray.”

2. Our instruments are loud and clear, and of peculiar make
When we get going full blast, we can the devil awake.
We hope to bring you happiness, and to your hearts beguile
So give us your coppers for charity, and don’t forget to smile

Tommy Daniel

Group of men in comic costume, some with insturments, early 19th century.

Morley Parrock Nook Anthem Band, photo from the early 1900s.
Image credit: ibewbrass.wordpress.com/

Comic processional bands

These marching bands were prominent in the West Riding of Yorkshire during the 1920’s, 30’s, and 40’s, and went under several names, Waffen Fuffen Bands, Bladderheads Bands, Comic Carnival and Tommy Talker Bands.

The main instrument of all the bands was the ‘Tommy Talker’, more commonly known as the ‘kazoo’. The West Riding nickname is thought to probably date back to the First World War when it was used in the trenches to make communication signals. It was the base for many homemade trumpet instruments, old large gramophone horns funnels, scrubbing boards, and an assortment of pots, pans and kettles were often utilised. Drums, were used and frequently concertinas and real brass instruments were used in processional bands, but these were not allowed in the competitions that began when carnivals restarted after the Second World War.

Dress usually consisted of comic uniforms, or fancy dress, Zulu Warriors, Red Indian, pierrots, clowns and Charlie Chaplin costumes were popular.

About Mick

Mick Haywood is a traditional folk singer & folk song collector who has run and organised folk clubs and festivals for many years. He now lives in Whitby, North Yorkshire.

Poverty, Poverty Knocks

The life and songs of Tommy Daniel of Batley