Jake Thackray 'The Hair of the Widow of Bridlington'

Jake Thackray performing 'The Hair of the Widow of Bridlington' live at the Cambridge Folk Festival on the 9th of September 1981.

[@TallPiler]

Apologies for the intrusive adverts at the start of the song. I have not asked for them and I do not receive payment for them. KZbin have put them there and presumably pocket all the profits. If this major problem isn’t resolved soon I will be deleting the video.

[@aureliuson9835]

Please re upload it at some point if you do. Means alot to me this live version

[@TallPiler]

@@aureliuson9835 it is superb! I don’t want to remove it but the advertising revenue should go to either Jake’s estate or the BBC. It obv doesn’t.

[@aureliuson9835]

@@TallPiler couldn't agree more! If you do end up deleting it would you be able to email it to me if possible? KZbin wants me to pay them to download it as it is. Starting to get quite sick of this modern age and it's day light robberies 🤣

[@fraserpadmore9455]

Please please don’t delete this

[@chrise7058]

Agreed. Please don't delete it. Wonderful stuff from Jake.

[@ianjeffery6744]

Perfect diction - every word clearly enunciated. A master of language and song. RIP.

[@WilboBaggins-dm7ub]

Thanks for sharing this; he lives on...I'm blessed to have seen him 3 times

[@PeteGlastonbury]

I was in the audience at that performance! Magic!

[@maychild1961]

Jake Thackray was a genius. All his songs are so sublimley crafted and he delivers them to perfection. What a wonderful wordsmith and singer. And there is always a certain sadness in most of his songs.

[@blackmore4]

Even though you know it's coming (if you know the song) that "blackbirds" guitar chord in this song damn near musically defines wistfulness. Every time.

[@engramic]

Exactly so !.

[@stuartmiller7419]

@@blackmore4 Yeah, but that's only the half of it. The 'Blackbirds go away' phrase illustrates the flight of the blackbirds. It's sublime

[@andyrome316]

Makes me cry this song...and smile... I love jake thackray. And how people called him a misogynist...noone who listens to this song would think that of him.

[@ericfirth2770]

What a wordsmith, a troubadour with a wicked sense of humour.

[@Pickhandle]

Every so often - perhaps three or four times a year - I come back to this song and sit enthralled by Jake's magic. I feel moved to tears every time I hear that line "they were in a cage": Jake understood! He had a grasp on life, and could turn it into sublime poetry and song for us to appreciate. I saw him on telly in the late 60s, and will always be grateful for how he has enriched my life. And, sadly, I will always feel a little regret that he was living in Monmouth when I used to visit a brother in law there - and never knew how close I was to genius. Thanks for everything, Jake!

[@clivemilson2372]

I loved Jake, Amazing song writing talent and musicianship. I hope his legacy lives on.. He was brilliant.

[@lnteIIigence]

The lyrics make me want to cry, but then at the end I'm like "Yeah, go you, widow of Brid'!" 😢

[@Romcom356]

I loved this guy. So innovative, such a genius.

[@RameUkulele]

"For she was wild as blackbirds are and they were in a cage." Beautiful performance, beautiful song, wonderful philosophy and a song that will always move me. RIP Jake.

[@Adeliasongwriter]

Absolutely one of my all time heroes. who else is there that has that combination of wit, poetry, originality and poignancy?

[@stuartmiller7419]

...plus musical and vocal abilty, subtlety and nuanced delivery to boot.

[@glynnrawle3719]

Victoria Wood. Can’t think of anyone ftb.

[@toffeeriot4219]

I think a lot of the Andy Partridge stuff would fit the bill. Try World Wrapped In Grey, Ballet For A Rainy Day, Rook and Easter Theatre.

[@Seaventeares]

Eyes of very unsettling blue. Brilliant words

[@marksoutham7074]

I am so lucky my mum was a huge fan ..I managed to see him 3/4 times when I was very little...Always small pubs or village Halls.. He used to sit at the bar having a pint!! A genius songsmith and lovely man ...still listening to Jake over 40 years on with fond memories..love all his songs...

[@Malcm59]

Cambridge folk festival 1981..A glorious few days of great performances from the likes of Jake, all served up on a bed of Guinness. Happy days !

[@CraigSparks_]

The man was a musical genius.

[@ianjeffery6744]

One of Thackray's best songs - witty, sensitive, and moving.

[@planetqwerty]

Jake's lyrics paint an utterly priceless picture: "And when her sobs and hiccups stopped ..."

[@SugarfreeYT]

Such a beautiful song. I think my favourite of all Jake's songs. Thank you for this video, I could watch this endlessly. His voice somehow makes every word clear even when he scarcely whispers it. Maybe it's just me, but he seems to look visibly emotional as he finishes the song, and I'm right there with him - they're very touching lyrics.

[@richardstevens4953]

One of Jakes finest. Beautifully crafted, wonderful use of words, an absolutely stunning song. I wish I had seen Jake perform live.

[@suededman5957]

All of Jakes stories bring back memories o precious time with my amazing Dad. we used to listen to them on the record player and laugh out loud!!!

[@classicteachings]

"Poor old bloody Scarborough!" "Bugger Brid' I'm still the same!" Classic from a brilliant lyricist who was unafraid of venturing into dialect and the art of the 'chansonnier'.

[@problemchimp4231]

I'm so happy I found this genius.

[@RocketmanRadford]

A superb performer and lyricist. My favourite Thackray song.

[@daverigby23]

Priceless !!! I saw him in a working mens club, must have been about 1973, an unforgetable night. an unforgetable personality, in a world of shallow, so-called celebrities

[@joespirit]

Saw Jake perform this song in Bridlington Spa, it was the first time he’d performed it in said town, marvellously written and performed.

[@Hlogical]

I'm so sad that at 28 years young I missed this fantastic artist. Digital media thankfully allows me to at least have a window into this era.

[@neiltrotter5933]

+Aitch To hear you say so make me less sad :-) I've been enjoying Jake's genius since the late 60s, and continue to do so. His appeal is timeless, and I hope others will enjoy his art long into the future, through his recordings, and possibly the retelling by others.

[@Rupertbear27]

try and see John Watterson Aitch--next best thing --www fake thackray

[@borlani]

och no - don't be sad... at least, as you say, you can relive his performances and - I am sure - there must be classic performances in your own era happening all the time if you keep your ears and eyes open..... likewise there must be herds of us who are at the other end of life's brief age cycle who wish we still had our youthful future ahead of us, but also feel a sense of nostalgia for those days when this was all new and fresh...... you never want the music to stop.... that's why we have encores, people can't get enough.... I like that David Byrne song "Heaven" coz he says "The band in Heaven - they play my favourite song... play it one more time - play it all night long" Thakray was brilliant and very unique for his day - every so often I still hear from friends who only just discovered him... just like there are old and new artists I still haven't happened upon, .... and one day you'll be sitting somewhere where the acoustics are just coincidentally perfect and you're in the right frame of mind to just appreciate something new and it sticks with you forever, because that first time it blows you away is like your first line of cocaine - it is the best one A quiet cafe in Perth when "Maneater" came on.... sitting on the top deck of an Edinburgh bus when Webber's "Theme & Variations" came on..... sitting in a car park alone and quiet and contemplative when "Twist in my sobriety" came on...... a night in alone when ELO did a full live concert I didn't even know was going to be on..... oh sweet! When I was a kid I would stay up all night listening to Radio Luxembourg on a fading transistor radio just to hear "Lady D'Arbanville" and one night got drunk and replayed "The Way" by fastball till about 4 am. Sometimes I go on a nostalgia binge and start looking for Victor Borge or Tom Lehrer (whom you also might like as they were both clever and masterful musical comedians). Then there is Max Boyce with "The marvellous plan" and "Hymns and Arias" that are not only funny, but have a sense of "hiraeth" ( which you'll need to look up) Hugh Laurie is another comedic genius with fine musical talents, likewise Bill Bailey. oh and Loudon Wainright the 3rd does some hilarious stuff as well as some bitter-sweet material.

[@jamie2051]

Ian Borland God bless you Mr Borland

[@grahamwarren270]

Lines like 'They spat upon her cycle shed' don't crop up in songs much these days. What a shame! Graham Warren

[@leemitchellmusic]

So beautifully talented XX

[@sheepsick]

What a a fantastic man. What a loss to humanity.........hope he's composing wherever he is :)

[@myfanwy7]

Sheer genius. Just brilliant in every way.

[@nch1646]

Thanks to Great Lives I’ve just discovered Jake. Having grown up on the continent with a bard/chansonier culture I’m absolutely in love with him and his songs! What marvellous lyrics, very clever verse and profound feeling. Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!

[@pauljones5066]

how great is that performance?!

[@stevejones4235]

This man rocks! There was so much frustration and anger in his music.

[@engramic]

Indeed !

[@adrianfell4161]

A song you come back to again and again and again

[@chap666ish]

Brilliant. I was fortunate enough to see him in concert. A long time ago.... Jake RIP.

[@gregmathews1687]

Where is the person to continue Jake's inspiration and take it forward. What a loss is this gone forever?

[@chap666ish]

Brilliant. So sad Jake's no longer here.

[@bertjohnandjake]

What a performance. I saw him once and he seemed very nervous, but this demonstrates how strong a performer he could be. Not my favourite JT song originally but now is, courtesy of this video.

[@nicolacarroll2767]

Brilliant 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@trishjackson2728]

Bloody marvellous 👏

[@Dartwith]

this is an extremely powerful song.

[@christinekent9439]

Haha I love this! I used to live in Bridlington too. So glad to have discovered Jake Thackray.

[@harrybaker7264]

A true Wordsmith, Poet and all round nice guy !

[@jamesburns248]

"Bloody Scarborough!"

[@stuartmiller7419]

A life hero for me. All about the attitude and the desire. Doesn't get better than this performance, tbh. Bless you, Jake

[@MrVinceq]

Only Jakes genius could offer a woman smelling of fish as profound compliment :-)

[@engramic]

Northern values,,lol

[@littleyellowtig]

Genius singer-songwriter with superb guitar skills. I particularly love this performance, he looks as though he's really enjoying himself. I don't think he liked really big venues so I guess a folk festival was good for him.

[@MegaVector2011]

Virtuoso on the guitar. Poet, no doubt., but I'm just as mesmerised by his guitar playing.

[@42burnside42]

Everything about this is golden

[@42burnside42]

what an absolute dude

[@COZZIG]

A staggering talent in a league consisting of one!!

[@ianjeffery6744]

Superb performance of a witty, sensitive, and very moving song. One of Thackray's best.

[@richhenderson6662]

The lyrics, the guitar playing, the performance - superb 🥇

[@myfanwy7]

Brilliant and life affirming

[@clivemilson2372]

Great wordsmith, I greatly admired his story telling.

[@i8allthepies2]

Love this one She sold up house and bought a wig a wig did the widow of brid

[@grahamboddy3353]

A genius and this performance is but one example. It is time, Jake was given the full credit he deserves by the Country and the Music Industry. I guess Jake would have shied away from these comments. He was a unique genius, with a very original and never to be witnessed again gift in his Music. God bless you Jake.

[@yvettestaelens]

a unique genius - so wished I had seen him perform live

[@welderman444]

That is genius. So clever. Mesmerizing performance.I saw him live in Wigan around 1980.

[@cristinapavesi4729]

Simply beautiful

[@stewartwebb5699]

Absolute genius, just wonderful use if the English language, sorely missed...

[@51Rog]

"great and unique artist" ...couldn't agree more.

[@norfolkacallinnorth7443]

Genius!!!

[@andrewjohnstone963]

Beautifully eccentric ❤

[@bertjohnandjake]

I forgot to say, colossal guitar accompaniment too, he doesn't get enough credit for this - on his commercial recordings he tended to leave it to the professionals and session musicians.

[@blackmore4]

He sometimes had a second guitarist on the studio albums but I'm pretty sure the main part (on nylon stringed 6 string) was always Thackray.

[@bertjohnandjake]

The name John Etheridge comes to mind, or was that his regular bassist? I think he played on many of his recordings even if you can't hear it - the ones that seem to move along at a good pace, unlike the orchestral ones. I think he was a natural musician and doesn't get enough credit for it. What with the songwriting too - just a genius!

[@terrythomas3755]

I believe he was the bassist

[@Dartwith]

Brings the peace.

[@LeeMitchellAcoustic]

Beautiful Jake

[@stephenbennett3688]

Sad funny charming ...great

[@JuliLa222]

True genius.. truly unique *sigh

[@malthuswasright]

Nice work - remember his pieces on That's Life (oh God that makes me sound like a Mail reader), but his songs are sooooo good.

[@DoubleCross2009]

Was there........magic stuff

[@mickjoyceandthesonicgypsie3709]

That's great

[@pomdeterror]

Unique. Great English hatter. Brilliant man.

[@myfanwy7]

Yes the show itself would have been between July 31 and Aug 2 1981

[@PeteGlastonbury]

Cambridge Folk Festival on the 9th of September 1981.

[@alexquinn9213]

I’ve just come across jake la di da came on at my dads on Spotify and it hit me so I noted it and downloaded album. I must say I’m loving his best of album. If anyone has any tips for songs that would be great

[@42burnside42]

Alex Quinn Famous People is a fav of mine, something of a rarity but available on Spotify as part of the Jake In A Box album kzbin.info/www/bejne/i17KlKqNjt1njsU

[@joelamont4682]

Low-Tech High Art! What have we lost? How many entertainers can delight us with a plain guitar and a shure mike? Today they travel by truck-train, lagging behind a genius on a bike . . .

[@kipperhouse]

There is a performer called John Watterson, AKA Fake Thackray. He can never be the same as Jake, but he's pretty good. He's quite popular on the English Folk scene. There are several KZbin clips of him, under both names.

[@Rupertbear27]

he is the next best thing John

[@RubyRubeMe]

She was a widow in Bridlington, she was, was the widow of Brid, Small and bonny at forty-two, With eyes of very unsettling blue, And what she thought she ought to do She did, she did, she did; Whatever she thought she ought to do She did, did the widow of Brid. "My only darling's dead, he is, and all my children grown; "The house has emptied, all the love-birds flown. "In place of widow's weeds I'll let my coal black hair grow long: "As glossy as a blackbird's wing, as cocky as his song." She found that she could please herself, she could, could the widow of Brid: Swim in the sea when she felt hot, Stay in bed when she did not. And she began to laugh a lot, She did, she did, she did, To sing and dance and laugh a lot, She did, did the widow of Brid. And sometimes she would drop the shopping, leave the bed unmade And sit till evening on the esplanade. She'd sometimes go to church and call on Jesus by his name. She fed as any blackbird would, whenever hunger came. She learned to play the violin, she did, did the widow of Brid, And Saturday night in a drinking shop She jumped upon the counter top And fiddled till the dancers dropped, She did, she did, she did, Stomping upon the copper top She did, did the widow of Brid. And she was fond of fishing boats and all their beardy crew And partial to a salty kiss or two. And some of them would gruffly whisper, "Marry me and stay". But blackbirds do their singing from a different bush each day. She had a massive motorbike, she had, had the widow of Brid, And so she could, when so she wished, Ride back home early-morningish With her hair in the air and smelling of fish, She did, she did, she did, And every time of a different fish, She did, did the widow of Brid. And though she did no harm the neighbours sniffed, as neighbours do, And day by day a cankerous rancour grew. And many a pair of front-room curtains twitched and shook with rage, For she was wild as blackbirds are and they were in a cage. They came and broke her window panes, they did, of the widow of Brid, Spat upon her cycle shed, Dragged her out of her Sunday bed And cropped her hair and shaved her head, They did, they did, they did; They chopped the hair and shaved the head, They did, of the widow of Brid. And when her sobs and hiccups stopped she tidied everywhere, She cleaned the shed, she swept up all the hair. Some few of them came back in shame to ask her would she stay, But if you ever startle blackbirds, blackbirds go away. She sold up house and bought a wig, a wig, did the widow of Brid, And unrepenting, undeterred, She thundered off to cause a stir In poor old bloody Scarborough, She did, she did, she did. "Forget the spit and the window pane. "Bugger Brid! I'm still the same. "My hair will always grow again." It did, it did, it did. "My hair will always grow again." It did, it did, did, did, on the widow of Brid.

[@bountybar]

so was I!

[@moodsk]

I never met him, but the golf I played with his brother should have merited a song by Jake

[@rackpunch4026]

And they call him a misogynist!!

[@MacEoin]

Lyrics: She was a widow in Bridlington, she was, was the widow of Brid, Small and bonny at forty-two, With eyes of very unsettling blue, And what she thought she ought to do She did, she did, she did; Whatever she thought she ought to do She did, did the widow of Brid. "My only darling's dead, he is, and all my children grown; "The house has emptied, all the love-birds flown. "In place of widow's weeds I'll let my coal black hair grow long: "As glossy as a blackbird's wing, as cocky as his song." She found that she could please herself, she could, could the widow of Brid: Swim in the sea when she felt hot, Stay in bed when she did not. And she began to laugh a lot, She did, she did, she did, To sing and dance and laugh a lot, She did, did the widow of Brid. And sometimes she would drop the shopping, leave the bed unmade And sit till evening on the esplanade. She'd sometimes go to church and call on Jesus by his name. She fed as any blackbird would, whenever hunger came. She learned to play the violin, she did, did the widow of Brid, And Saturday night in a drinking shop She jumped upon the counter top And fiddled till the dancers dropped, She did, she did, she did, Stomping upon the copper top She did, did the widow of Brid. And she was fond of fishing boats and all their beardy crew And partial to a salty kiss or two. And some of them would gruffly whisper, "Marry me and stay". But blackbirds do their singing from a different bush each day. She had a massive motorbike, she had, had the widow of Brid, And so she could, when so she wished, Ride back home early-morningish With her hair in the air and smelling of fish, She did, she did, she did, And every time of a different fish, She did, did the widow of Brid. And though she did no harm the neighbours sniffed, as neighbours do, And day by day a cankerous rancour grew. And many a pair of front-room curtains twitched and shook with rage, For she was wild as blackbirds are and they were in a cage. They came and broke her window panes, they did, of the widow of Brid, Spat upon her cycle shed, Dragged her out of her Sunday bed And cropped her hair and shaved her head, They did, they did, they did; They chopped the hair and shaved the head, They did, of the widow of Brid. And when her sobs and hiccups stopped she tidied everywhere, She cleaned the shed, she swept up all the hair. Some few of them came back in shame to ask her would she stay, But if you ever startle blackbirds, blackbirds go away. She sold up house and bought a wig, a wig, did the widow of Brid, And unrepenting, undeterred, She thundered off to cause a stir In poor old bloody Scarborough, She did, she did, she did. "Forget the spit and the window pane. "Bugger Brid! I'm still the same. "My hair will always grow again." It did, it did, it did. "My hair will always grow again." It did, it did, did, did, on the widow of Brid.

[@pauljones5066]

from a different time

[@bountybar]

That was the date of the BBC broadcast not the performance:-)

[@Seaventeares]

Who isn't partial to a salty kiss or two?

[@nauroticdax]

there is someone who does covers of jack thackray songs but i dont think anything to them

[@tonymontana1974]

@Glaznoz Hi where was the show ?? it sort of looks like a folk festival and what year was it ?.

[@billykershaw2781]

Where's me ballad?

[@metaissam9802]

His left forearm tells it all…

[@Raven-Creations]

This is the same guy who humourless idiots labelled as a misogynist for his On Again, On Again song, but this clearly shows how strongly he supported the emancipated woman. The passion in his delivery says as much as his lyrics.

[@KingofRoath]

@sheepsick probably "decomposing"

[@Morn1n5tar]

proud card carrying Thackray

[@Pitcrew1960]

Jack Thackeray Ulysses

[@Roxyjohn29]

Jake was an absolutely superb songsmith and he will live long in my memory - he seems here to be delivering the song in rather an urgent way - I know this was towards the end of his life when his demons were abound and I wonder if he was rather overcome in this performance? He looks really flustered but know he didn't especially like performing publicly - any thoughts?

[@Robhalifax]

He lived for another 21 years

[@nauroticdax]

hmmm i havent really heard any good tributes but ill take your word

[@Buttermilkjug]

Jake is better than George Harrison in every way possible~

[@clivemilson2372]

What is wrong with diversity. We need this in music. Jake was extremely talented.??

[@BroodingCharisma]

Lovely. But why is his damn guitar always out of tune?

[@blackmore4]

Really? I'm a total tuning fiend and it didn't bother me. Probably because of the whole presence of genius thing going on around the dodgy tuning ;) But the reason is straightforward. It's a nylon string guitar on a hot day... like tuning hell.

[@ticketyboo2456]

Ok. Can't see what all the fuss is about.

[@rockybruh7034]

Sucks

[@blackmore4]

I'd be fascinated to hear in which way you think it sucks.

[@Rupertbear27]

and you're a tosser