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Jake Thackray (27 February, 1938 - 24 December, 2002) was a singer-songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴Jake Thackray (27 February, 1938 - 24 December, 2002) was a singer-songwriter in the tradition of French chansonniers such as his friend and inspiration Georges Brassens. Born in Yorkshire and educated at the highly respected University of Durham, Thackray became a teacher in the early 1960s and started singing, both in folk clubs and to amuse his students. He became a familiar figure on television in the late 1960s, often composing a new song every week. He recorded several albums and was a popular stage performer, but Thackray preferred the smaller, more intimate atmosphere of folk clubs. He retired from recording in the mid 1970s and scaled down his performances to his favoured small venues.

Jake's precise diction and risque lyrics won him comparison to Noël Coward; his distinctive nylon-stringed guitar technique is deceptively complex.

Jake retired to Monmouthshire in Wales in the 1990s, where he died in 2002.

A musical based on his work, Sister Josephine Kicks The Habit, made its debut in 2005. After many years out of print, Jake's music has started to reappear - Jake In A Box collects all of his EMI work and a number of live albums have appeared, highlighting Jake's rapport with his audiences, his tall tales, and his warmth as a performer.
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Jake Thackray Lyrics


Bantam Cock It was a grand upstanding bantam cock, So brisk and stiff…
I Stayed Off Work Today I stayed off work all day the day I met…
It Was Only A Gypsy I am a handsome policeman. I am bold and versatile. My…
Lah-Di-Dah Now we're agreed that we're in love We'll have to face…
Leopold Alcocks Leopold Alcocks, my distant relation, Came to my flat for a…
On Again! On Again! I love a good bum on a woman, it makes…
Sister Josephine Oh, Sister Josephine, What do all these policemen mean By …
The Ballad Of Billy Kershaw Back off, Boo-ga-loo, I said Back off, Boo-ga-loo, come on …
The Hair Of The Widow Of Bridlington She was a widow in Bridlington, she was, was the…
The Last Will And Testament Of Jake Thackray I, the under-mentioned, by this document Do declare my true…
The Lodger My landlady had three lovely daughters. They used to come an…


Maja Tompkins


on Jumble Sale

There is a mistake in the transcription of the first verse of "Family Tree". It should say "There they perch for all to see", as it does in all the other verses.

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