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.
Sit Thi Deawn
The Houghton Weavers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lies just inside of howfen
Who's praises I will sing to you in rhyme
Where lives my dear owd (old) grandad
And my granny too, god bless 'em
And many an hour I've spent theer (There) in my time
They have a little garden
And a slap up (loosely constructed) little green house
He's happy and contented
Among his plants and flowers
And if I should pop in he's sure to say….
Ay mon I'm fain (glad) to see thi, sit thi deawn
I'm as fain as if thed (thoued) give me half a crown
Neaw(Now) you munna (must not) go away
Tha mun (must) stop and have tha tay
Fer i'm gradely (greatly) fain to see thi sit thi deawn
God bless their silver yeds
They are both very owd and feeble
They're getting very near their journey's end
But still I feel quite certain
That when death shall separate 'em
In heaven above their lives again will blend
They've always been contented
They've tried to do their duty
No beggar from their door's been turned away
However ragged and tattered
He's always asked 'em inside
And then he with a smile to them would say...
I think we might a lesson learn
From this owd pair so humble
And try like them to lead a blameless life
And if we're ever tempted
To be selfish and hard hearted
Let's throw those nasty feelings clean away
Let's try to do to others
As we'd have 'em do to us
And remember what mi grandad used to say...
The Houghton Weavers's song 'Sit Thi Deawn' is a tribute to the singer's dear grandparents who live in a cosy little spot and have a lovely garden with a green house. The singer describes his grandfather as happy and content, enjoying his time among his plants and flowers. Grandad is delighted whenever someone visits and welcomes them with open arms, asking them to sit down and enjoy themselves. The singer also reflects on the fact that his grandparents, despite their old age and feebleness, have always been contented and tried to do their duty to others. They have never turned anyone away and have always been kind-hearted, leaving a lasting impact on the singer who hopes to lead a blameless and selfless life just like them.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a cosy little spot I know
I know of a comfortable place
Lies just inside of howfen
Located just within the town
Who's praises I will sing to you in rhyme
I will sing the praises of this place
Where lives my dear owd (old) grandad
My dear old grandad lives there
And my granny too, god bless 'em
My granny also lives there, may God bless them
And many an hour I've spent theer (There) in my time
I've spent many hours there in the past
They have a little garden
They have a small garden
And a slap up (loosely constructed) little green house
They also have a loosely constructed greenhouse
Where grandad passes many an hour away
Grandad spends many hours there
He's happy and contented
He is happy and satisfied
Among his plants and flowers
He spends time with his plants and flowers
And if I should pop in he's sure to say…
If I were to visit, he would surely say…
Ay mon I'm fain (glad) to see thi, sit thi deawn
Hello, I'm glad to see you. Please sit down.
I'm as fain as if thed (thoued) give me half a crown
I'm as happy as if you had given me money
Neaw(Now) you munna (must not) go away
Now, you must not go away
Tha mun (must) stop and have tha tay
You must stop and have some tea
Fer i'm gradely (greatly) fain to see thi sit thi deawn
I am very happy to have you sit down
God bless their silver yeds
God bless their grey heads
They are both very owd and feeble
They are both old and weak
They're getting very near their journey's end
They are nearing the end of their lives
But still I feel quite certain
But still, I am quite sure
That when death shall separate 'em
That when they die and are separated
In heaven above their lives again will blend
Their lives will be reunited in heaven above
They've always been contented
They have always been satisfied
They've tried to do their duty
They have tried to fulfill their responsibilities
No beggar from their door's been turned away
They have never turned away a beggar from their doorstep
However ragged and tattered
No matter how ragged and worn out the beggar might look
He's always asked 'em inside
They have always invited the beggar inside
And then he with a smile to them would say...
And then, with a smile, he would say to them...
I think we might a lesson learn
We can learn a lesson
From this owd pair so humble
From this old and humble couple
And try like them to lead a blameless life
And we should try to lead a blameless life like them
And if we're ever tempted
And if we are ever tempted
To be selfish and hard-hearted
To be selfish and unkind
Let's throw those nasty feelings clean away
We should get rid of those negative feelings completely
Let's try to do to others
Let's try to treat others
As we'd have 'em do to us
As we would like to be treated
And remember what mi grandad used to say...
And let's remember what my grandad used to say...
Contributed by Leo M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Timo Lohva
on Room In The Sky
2 more corrections: "on t' other side of town" & "they say he won't be suited".
Timo Lohva
on Room In The Sky
Also "There's no kinder people" - Not " "kind of ". + "But I've had a note from t' council".
Timo Lohva
on Room In The Sky
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
on Room In The Sky
I think "winter suitcase" should be "there i'nt a suitcase large enough...."(local dialect for isn't)?