David Littler and Tony Berry are both founder members of the band, whilst Steve Millington joined in 1996.
Previous members are Norman Prince (1975 to 1999, 6 string acoustic guitar, 12 string guitar, bass guitar and vocals), John Oliver (1975 to 1976 vocals), Denis Littler (1976 to 1984 bass guitar and vocals) and Jeff Hill (1984 to 1996 and 1999 to 2007 bass Guitar, 6 string acoustic guitar, 12 string guitar, electric guitar and vocals)
They sing mainly English folk music, much of it in Lancashire dialect, and demonstrate an eclectic range of song subjects including "The Blackpool Belle", "Uncle Joe’s Mintballs" and "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" (a biographical song about the painter L. S. Lowry).
They are best known for their BBC T.V. show "Sit Thi Deawn" (a Lancashire colloquial corruption of "Sit You Down"; referring to the supposed hospitality of Lancashire people). The programme ran for six series or seven years and was a mixture of easy listening music and comedy for a local audience[1]. The group also starred in six of their own series for BBC Radio 2.
Room In The Sky
The Houghton Weavers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And there's no kind of people you could ever hope to meet
But [I've had a note from council?], a young chap brought it ‘round
He said that very soon they're going to knock our houses down.
But he told me not to worry
They've just the place for me
A brand-new flat not far from here
So I thought I'd take a stroll ‘round there and give the place the eye
But it came as quite a shock to find it fifteen stories high
Oh I don't want to leave me old two-up, two-down
It isn't much to look at but at least it's on the ground
It would surely break my heart for me to say goodbye
When they moved me to that room up in the sky
Well I asked me next-door neighbor why we have got to go
But he was none the wiser, no one seems to know
He said there were a rumour that he heard the other day
Someone said they need the space to build a motorway
So now I'll have to pack me bags
It's going to be a squeeze
The winter-suitcase large enough to hold me memories
And I can't take me old dog Ben ‘cause pets, they aren't allowed
They say it won't be suited to a life amongst the clouds
Oh I don't want to leave me old two-up, two-down
It isn't much to look at but at least it's on the ground
It would surely break my heart for me to say goodbye
When they move me to that room up in the sky
Just the other day I saw me old friend, Mrs. brown
She has a flat, the same as mine
On to the side of town
She said it's nice and cosy but there's one thing, makes her vexed:
She doesn't see a single soul from one day to the next
Well the more I think about it
The more I want to stay
I wish that I could close me eyes and make it go away
The only consolation, I'll say to be quite
I'm sure to get to heaven, ‘cause I'll be off
Oh I don't want to leave me old two-up, two-down
It isn't much to look at but at least it's on the ground
It would surely break my heart for me to say goodbye
When they move me to that room up in the sky
When they move me to that room up in the sky
The Houghton Weavers's song "Room in the Sky" is a poignant commentary on the rapid urbanization and changes in the housing landscape in England in the post-World War II era. The song's narrator has received a notice from the council that their house, and those on the street, will be demolished soon. In place of their traditional two-up, two-down home, the council has offered them a modern high-rise flat. However, the singer is reluctant to leave his old neighborhood and the memories he has built there. He is also hesitant to move to the new flat, which is located "fifteen stories high" and does not allow pets.
The song touches on themes of nostalgia, loss, and the changing face of urban landscapes as traditional housing and communities are replaced by modern, sterile high-rise buildings. The singer is deeply attached to his old home, despite its modest appearance, and laments having to leave it behind. He is apprehensive about adjusting to the new flat and the impersonal lifestyle it may entail.
Overall, "Room in the Sky" is a poignant reminder of the emotional attachment people form to their homes and neighborhoods, and the toll that urbanization can take on these communities.
Line by Line Meaning
It's nigh on fifty years since i moved into this street
It's been almost 50 years since I moved to this street.
And there's no kind of people you could ever hope to meet
The people living on this street are not the kind I would like to meet.
But [I've had a note from council?], a young chap brought it ‘round
Recently I received a letter from the council. A young man brought it to me.
He said that very soon they're going to knock our houses down.
According to the young man, they will be demolishing our houses soon.
But he told me not to worry
Luckily, the young man assured me that I shouldn't worry.
They've just the place for me
He told me they have a place ready for me.
A brand-new flat not far from here
This new place is a brand-new flat located not too far from here.
Just waiting there to see
I haven't seen it yet but it's waiting for me to check it out.
So I thought I'd take a stroll ‘round there and give the place the eye
I decided to take a walk to this new flat to take a closer look.
But it came as quite a shock to find it fifteen stories high
I was shocked to find out that the new flat was a 15-story building.
Oh I don't want to leave me old two-up, two-down
I don't want to leave my old two-story house.
It isn't much to look at but at least it's on the ground
My old house may not be much to look at, but at least it's on the ground.
It would surely break my heart for me to say goodbye
It would definitely hurt me to say goodbye to my old house.
When they moved me to that room up in the sky
I don't want to move to that room in the sky (15-story flat).
Well I asked me next-door neighbor why we have got to go
I asked my neighbor why we have to move.
But he was none the wiser, no one seems to know
Unfortunately, my neighbor didn't have any answers either. It seems no one knows.
He said there were a rumour that he heard the other day
All he knows is that he heard a rumor the other day.
Someone said they need the space to build a motorway
The rumor he heard is that they need the space to build a motorway.
So now I'll have to pack me bags
I'll have to start packing my things.
It's going to be a squeeze
Moving to the new flat will be difficult as it's smaller than my old house.
The winter-suitcase large enough to hold me memories
I'll need a large suitcase to carry all my memories with me to the new flat.
And I can't take me old dog Ben ‘cause pets, they aren't allowed
I won't be able to bring my old dog Ben with me because pets are not allowed in the new flat.
They say it won't be suited to a life amongst the clouds
Apparently, the new flat is not a suitable place for pets to live in.
Just the other day I saw me old friend, Mrs. brown
The other day, I saw my old friend Mrs. Brown.
She has a flat, the same as mine
Mrs. Brown has a flat similar to the one I'll be moving into.
On to the side of town
But it's located in a different area of town.
She said it's nice and cosy but there's one thing, makes her vexed:
According to Mrs. Brown, the flat is nice and comfortable but there's one thing that bothers her.
She doesn't see a single soul from one day to the next
She feels lonely because she hardly ever sees anyone in the neighborhood.
Well the more I think about it
The more I think about moving, the more I realize how difficult it will be.
The more I want to stay
I'm starting to think that staying in my old house is the better option.
I wish that I could close me eyes and make it go away
I wish I can make this situation disappear by closing my eyes.
The only consolation, I'll say to be quite
The only consolation I have is that I'll probably reach heaven faster since I'll be living up in the sky.
I'm sure to get to heaven, ‘cause I'll be off
I'm almost certain that I'll be going to heaven sooner because of the move to the new flat.
When they move me to that room up in the sky
I really don't want to move to the new flat in the sky.
Contributed by Leah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Timo Lohva
2 more corrections: "on t' other side of town" & "they say he won't be suited".
Timo Lohva
Also "There's no kinder people" - Not " "kind of ". + "But I've had a note from t' council".
Timo Lohva
Also: "The only consolation, I'll say to be quite fair, I'm sure to get to Heaven, 'cos I'll be halfway there"?
Timo Lohva
I think "winter suitcase" should be "there i'nt a suitcase large enough...."(local dialect for isn't)?
@paddinton53
They knocked our house down in NH in 1970. Community lost forever. Imagine leaving your baby in the pram outside your house these days. What replaced these communities were largely soulless places to sleep. Cultural and social vandalism on a grand scale. Well presented pic's here.
@johnturner1073
No comments for a long time but rest assured this song is still out there and was recommended by YouTube after I was listening to the Weavers. Brought a lump to my throat. Happy memories of so long ago.
@jakeoneill9975
Its a great song!
@ElizabethShaw-dk6gu
J@@jakeoneill9975
@ElizabethShaw-dk6gu
A place i was born in Mansfield Notts😢😢
@callummunkycult
brilliant. heard this song a while back through my nan and grandad. im a 20 year old singersonger from north wales, lyrics like this inspire me to do what i do. x