Hi Steve, great rendition of this tune, simply beautiful. On the off chance you pick up the comments on a 16year old video, id love to see the tab if you were able to send? Hope you are still playing!

My dad was in the army band when he joined Always reminds me of him Love you dad You’re son Andrew

Does it to me every time

Astonishingly beautiful. 💕

Lovely version ❤

My Dad used to listen to the Brighouse and Rastrick Band. I am all memories right now. Sometimes I need a lift to Victory. I love this song so much ❤️

.. beautiful

🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊✝️

Magical

This song means the world to me. The nobility of the working class, the beautiful compassion of people, and the miracle of triumph against unbeatable odds. To win a hand against the stacked deck, to land one punch in the unfair fight, and most importantly of all to not lose heart or hope no matter what. I wish every one of us their very own King of Rome when they need it most.

Stunning harmonies. Presumably an old/ancient folk song about the pied bird - Irish/ English?

Written by the wonderful Barrie Temple

Simply beautiful ❤

Here’s the thing, we all - each & every one of us - reside & wrestle in the “West End” drudgery of somewhere. My thanks to you, Unthanks & Band, for elevating us through the magical & majestic power of this inspired music.👏

simply gorgeous....they are from the same part of the country and thus the influence of Paddy McAloon (Prefab Sprout) must be significant.

Bloody hell that's beautiful! Why have I not seen it before? Bit teary!

My dad was a pigeon man, he passed away, he was a working man, goosebumps when I hear this song.

In the West End of Derby lives a working man He says "I can't fly but me pigeons can And when I set them free It's just like part of me Gets lifted up on shining wings" Charlie Hudson's pigeon loft was down the yard In a rented house in Brook Street where life was hard But Charlie had a dream And in 1913 Charlie bred a pigeon that made his dreams come true There was gonna be a champions' race from Italy We got out the maps, all that land and sea "Charlie, you'll lose that bird" But Charlie never heard He put it in a basket and sent it off to Rome On the day o' the big race the storm blew in A thousand birds were swept away and never seen again "Charlie we told you so Surely by now you know When you're living in the West End there ain't many dreams come true" "Yeah, I know, but I have to try A man can crawl around or he can learn to fly And if you live 'round here The ground seems awful near Sometimes I need a lift to victory" I was off with me mates for a pint or two When I saw a wing flash up in the blue "Charlie, it's the King of Rome Come back to his West End home Come outside quick, he's perched up on your roof" "Come on down, Your Majesty I knew you'd make it back to me Come on down, you lovely one You've made my dreams come true In the West End of Derby lives a working man He says " I can't fly, but me pigeons can And when I set them free, it's just like part of me Gets lifted up on shining wings" Source: Musixmatch

English culture in a land now forgotten. Just beautiful x

If you want an alternative to watching paint dry listen to the Unthanks! One of the worse versions I have ever heard - Listen to Dave Sudbury, the guy who wrote it

I am bawling my eyes out, dammit. Absolutely bloody superb!

OVER 7 years ago i heard this and this beautiful singing made me quietly cry , and everytime i hear it its the same , its 4,07 am on the 03/11/22 and i,m crying with joy again , its a magnificent song sung beautifully <3

A Plaque to Charles Hudson and The King of Rome Pigeon will be unveiled at the Maypole Inn, Derby on the 29th October 2022. There will also be a nod to this song and it's original writer, Dave Sudbury.

Such a beautiful song. If ever there was a British song about hope. Makes me cry e everytime I listen to it.

I'm in tears about a pigeon. If the Unthanks ever made a song about HP sauce I'll probably sob myself to death.

Love this band.

just perfect thats all i can say

Wow! this is brilliant

Magnificent ♥️

What an amazing piece of work.

Wonderful. I saw The Unthanks in Bath last week. There is no group better than the Unthanks. Well done.

I remember them playing this at the End of the Road a few years back now. I could feel myself wellling up. Lucky to catch them in Poole the other night and they played this again. So very special ❤️

lets praise the only and true hero of this story: the pidgeon. the rest are just a bunch of humans sending innocent animals to labour and peril for ego reasons

This is so beautiful... I heard at by chance on the car radio this evening. I had to stop the car & pull over to listen to this wonderful song & find it as soon as I got home... I have absolutely no knowledge of this genre of music, being a fan of techno & post-punk, but this hit something in me. I guess a great tune is a great tune regardless of whatever style.

The BIG ISSUE (Feb '22) brought me here! This song got an excellent mention in an article. This is a gem; a story that couldn't fail to touch anyone's heart. Awesome performance by singers and band alike.

Has me in tears very time i hear it.

Every time I listen to this 🤗 Such a tonic to recharge yourself ❤️

Just wonderful.❤️

Brass band music jus meks mi rooer

What a sweet song. Brought a little tear to my eye.

Beautiful song

So beautiful

this needs to be a Christmas number 1.

Check out a lovely version of The King of Rome by Dublin band The Jeremiahs. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYmsgmaLnNiZn9E

Beautiful, we need more music like this!

For Aldo

Just come across this tonight, and My oh my I am just a pool on the floor . Beautiful voices . And the brass band no words needed ❤️🇬🇧

What a beautiful song from the family of Spike Emmett a working man who loved his pigeons in Finglas, Dublin, Ireland

In the West End of Darby lives a working man He said, "I can't fly, but me pigeons can And when I set them free, it's just like part of me Gets lifted up on shinning wings." Charlie Hudson's pigeon loft was down the yard In a rented house in Brook Street were life was hard... But Charlie had a dream, and in 1913 Charlie bred a pigeon that made his dreams come true. There was gonna be a champion's race from Italy We got out the maps, all that land and sea... Charlie you'll lose that bird, but Charlie never heard He put it in a basket and sent it off to Rome. On the day of the big race a storm blew in A thousand birds were swept away and ever seen again... Charlie we told you so. Surely by now you know, When you're living in the west end there ain't many dreams come true. Yeah, I know but I had to try. A man crawl around or he can learn to fly... And if you live round here, the ground seems awful near Sometimes I need to lift to victory. I was off with me mate for a pint or two When I saw a wing flash up in the blue Charlie it's the King of Rome, come back to his west end home! Come outside quick! He's perched upon your roof! "Come on down, 'ur Ma-j-es-ty I knew you'd make it back to me... Come on down, you lovely one You've made my dreams come true." In the West End of Darby lives a working man He said, "I can't fly, but me pigeons can! And when I set them free, it's just like part of me Gets lift-ed up on shinning wings..."

Gosh! I'm crying! Please check out the more subtle version by June Tabor too!