The Houghton Weavers are an English folk music band formed in 1975 in Westh… Read Full Bio ↴The Houghton Weavers are an English folk music band formed in 1975 in Westhoughton, in the borough of Bolton in Lancashire, England. The current three band members are David Littler (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, banjo-ukulele, bouzouki, piano accordion and vocals), Steve Millington (bass guitar, keyboards, acoustic guitar, piano accordion and vocals) and Tony Berry (lead vocalist).

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.

Seth Davey
The Houghton Weavers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He sat on the corner of Bevington Brook
Astride of his old packing crate
The three dancing dolls at the end of his plank
As he croons with a smile on his face

Come day, go day
Wish, in my heart, it were Sunday
Drinking buttermilk all the week

But whisky on a Sunday

His tired old hands treat the wooden beam
As the dolls they danced to a cheer
A better show now you never have seen
In the pivvy on New Brighton pier

In 1905 old Seth Davy died
And his songs were heard no more

The three dancing dolls in the jowler bin ended
And the plank went to mend the back door

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Houghton Weavers' "Seth Davey" describe the titular character performing on a street corner, seated on an old packing crate and surrounded by three dancing dolls at the end of a plank. He sings with a smile on his face, wishing in his heart it were Sunday so he could enjoy whisky instead of buttermilk. As he performs, his hands deftly manipulate the wooden beam that makes the dolls dance, and the crowd cheers enthusiastically. The song also mentions Seth Davy's popularity on New Brighton pier, where he put on an even better show.

Line by Line Meaning

He sat on the corner of Bevington Brook
Old Seth Davy perched on the cobblestone curb by the river

Astride of his old packing crate
He was sitting on his custom wooden seat

The three dancing dolls at the end of his plank
He had three figurines fixed to his board

As he croons with a smile on his face
He sings happily with his mouth wide in glee

Come day, go day
Day by day goes by

Wish, in my heart, it were Sunday
I wish it were eternal day of rest, Sunday

Drinking buttermilk all the week
Non-alcoholic drink every day of the week

But whisky on a Sunday
However, on Sundays I drink whisky

His tired old hands treat the wooden beam
His elderly hands care for the wooden board

As the dolls they danced to a cheer
His figurines jig to his melody

A better show now you never have seen
A better cabaret performance one could never witness