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.
Where Have All the Flowers Gone
The Houghton Weavers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long time passing.
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls pick them everyone.
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Long time passing.
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone to young men everyone.
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the young men gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone to soldiers everyone.
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards everyone.
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers everyone.
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
The Houghton Weavers's song "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" is a thought-provoking ballad that highlights the cycle of violence and the futility of war. The first verse talks about how flowers, which are often associated with beauty and life, have disappeared. The second verse explains that young girls have disappeared and gone to young men, perhaps indicating the end of innocence and the transition to adulthood. The third verse talks about the disappearance of young men into the army, highlighting the devastating impact of war on society. The fourth verse talks about how soldiers have disappeared into graveyards, alluding to the horrific death toll of battles. Finally, the last verse describes how graveyards have disappeared into flowers, perhaps suggesting the cyclical nature of life and death.
The repeated refrain "When will they ever learn?" punctuates the end of each verse, questioning whether society will ever break free from the cycle of violence and war. The song's powerful message has resonated with listeners for decades and has been covered by various artists throughout the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Where have all the flowers gone?
What happened to all the flowers that used to be here?
Long time passing.
It's been a long time since they disappeared.
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where did all the flowers go a long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
What happened to all the flowers that used to be here?
Young girls pick them everyone.
All the flowers were picked by young girls.
When will they ever learn?
When will people understand the consequences of their actions?
When will they ever learn?
When will people understand the consequences of their actions?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Where did all the young girls go?
Long time passing.
It's been a long time since they disappeared.
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where did all the young girls go a long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Where did all the young girls go?
Gone to young men everyone.
All the young girls went to be with young men.
When will they ever learn?
When will people understand the consequences of their actions?
When will they ever learn?
When will people understand the consequences of their actions?
Where have all the young men gone?
Where did all the young men go?
Long time passing.
It's been a long time since they disappeared.
Where have all the young men gone, long time ago?
Where did all the young men go a long time ago?
Where have all the young men gone?
Where did all the young men go?
Gone to soldiers everyone.
All the young men went to become soldiers.
When will they ever learn?
When will people understand the consequences of their actions?
When will they ever learn?
When will people understand the consequences of their actions?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Where did all the soldiers go?
Long time passing.
It's been a long time since they disappeared.
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago?
Where did all the soldiers go a long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Where did all the soldiers go?
Gone to graveyards everyone.
All the soldiers went to the graveyards.
When will they ever learn?
When will people understand the consequences of their actions?
When will they ever learn?
When will people understand the consequences of their actions?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
What happened to all the graveyards?
Long time passing.
It's been a long time since they disappeared.
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where did all the graveyards go a long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
What happened to all the graveyards?
Gone to flowers everyone.
All the graveyards have been overtaken by flowers.
When will they ever learn?
When will people understand the consequences of their actions?
When will they ever learn?
When will people understand the consequences of their actions?
Writer(s): Peter Seeger
Contributed by Nicholas 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)?