Lonnie was an iconic figure. My brother and I bought most of his records and I used to listen to them when I was revising for A levels. I still regularly sing his songs when out walking.
When I was a youngster, about 5 ish, my mother bought me a Chrystal radio kit from Radio Shack. Got it working and this was the first song I heard. I have been hooked on music ever since. Smile! W.P.
Back in the early 1960's Lonnie appeared as guest banjo player at the Barnet Jazz Club. During the interval we all jammed into the local pub, the name of which I've forgotten. Across to me at the bar was Lonnie and his friends. I started singing "Have a Drink on Me" and Lonnie asked if I'd bought his record. I told him I'd bought every record since 'Bring a Little Water Silvie'. He shouted to the barman, "Get this man a drink" and he bought me a mild and bitter. My only claim to fame in this life. Well, except for the time I met Connie Francis, briefly.
I lost my dad in 2018...sitting here thinking of him as I listen to this because I know my dad would love this. I don't think he ever heard of this guy and I just discovered him today...man I wish I could share this with my dad :(
Fantastic times these were, he really livend things up in those days, simple chords it made you think that you can play guitar, but he had an amazing voice too, lots of famous groups were influenced by him including the Beatles, great man cheers Lonnie.
Yes- when you think he influenced: George Harrison, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck- all the great rock guitarists: arguably THE most influential musician of the 20th century. Rock wouldn't have been quite what it was without his inspiration.
Note the scriptwriter for the show was Trevor Peacock who was Jim Trott in The Vicar of Dibley and the author of the song "Mrs. Brown You Got a Lovely Daughter."
Paul Griggs:First,thanks for posting and sharing this perticular video. Watching it. Hearing this classic Lonnie Donegan song. So much can be said here. This is an amazing music performance. Starting with Lonnie's humorous closing remarks. Really sounds like a little like Robin Williams. Seeing him playing that rhythmic banjo. Seeing the deep concentration of the guitar player behind him. As he keeps time with the beat. You feel the spirited energy there. All in all,classic Lonnie Donegan. Once again,thanks for posting and sharing this awesome video.
We chose this song together. It will be played at your funeral. I miss you so much, but this song reminds me of you and when we lay your body to the ground . We will have a drink on you Gramdad. Love you x still feel like your here x
I will have been watching this on tv and enjoying this cheery tune at only 3 year old. My mam and dad never sent me to bed early. My two much older siblings at 9 and 11 years old will have been up in their shared bedroom listening to this on the tv as they were made to do their school homework. My eldest sibling has actually told people that I was bullied as a child! Lol.
In 1880 down a dusty road Along came a miner with a big fat load He was caked in dirt from his head to his foot His hair so black, that it looked like soot Well, he reined in his mule and hitched him to the rail And he said, "Ol′ fella it's the end of the trail" Well, he ambled on down to the old saloonHe said, "I know it′s early and it ain't quite noon" But, hey, hey, everybody drink on me Everybody! Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on me Everybody have a drink on me Hey, hey, everybody drink on me Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on me Everybody have a drink on me Hey, hey, everybody drink on meWell, I just got a letter from down in Tennessee It said my Uncle died and left an oil well to me Hey, hey, everybody drink on me I've been diggin′ all my life and I nearly got to hell But my Uncle dug potatoes and he struck an oil well, oh Hey, hey, everybody drink on me Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on me Everybody have a drink on me Hey, hey, everybody drink on me Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on me Everybody have a drink on me Hey, hey, everybody drink on me Brother Leslie nowWell Black gold Yellow Gold I Guess it′s all the same Take my tip and give up the mining game Hey, hey, everybody drink on me Well sell your shovel and your old long johns You can make a fortune writing Adam Faith songs Hey, hey, everybody drink on me Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on me Everybody have a drink on me Hey, hey, everybody drink on me Oh well have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on me Everybody have a drink on me Hey, hey, everybody drink on me
Do not forget that young Tony, the son of Tony (Lonnie) is still carrying on the Trad Tradition to this day with his own Lonnie Donegan group, singing live and just as good a showman as his dad, he played at a party for me last year and was FAB. Let us not forget that Lonnie started out playing Banjo for Ken Colyer and I have the first version of Rock Island Line on the Jazz LP. New Orleans to London...
This is the single greatest recording on RU-vid. Ive probably watched about 30 times. I wonder if it was a single in America, would it have gone up the charts.
Dear Paul : many thanks for this video I never see before. Lonnie was the singer and banjo he gives me "the mind to" (I hope this is correct, my english is poor) banjo playing, the country music (in 1958/9, "skiffle" was "country for me...shame) and the dixieland jazz (with Lonnie AND, OF COURSE, Chris Barber's jazz band). I purchased one tenor banjo by Clifford Essex (London) in 1969...Best wishes from France and, one more time : Thank you so much ! Jo
I love it when he yells and almost yodels like he's really enjoying the moment. Shame he never enjoyed the fact he could and should have been a bigger star and was never truely paid for his work. Great man great singer. I wouldn't be paid £3 to write or perform a song... Its funny and good that Dave Clark just as much a genius as donegan was the one who changed the music pay and contract by creating his own and became the first artist to create the modern expectations we see today of pay as an artist. Shame that back then you were paying producers and entertaining them not the other way round.
Too many people called him bitter and moany. I wouldn't say so. I think he had alot of joy in him as an artist but deserved more respect from "the man" J.B. who ruined rock!
The jokey joke stuff the Beatles brought with them, John Lennon being so silly cute, and the rest of it...oh the roots here with Donegan. I love his 1959 tune that came to the USA when I was a kid, "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor". Superb music of the folks.
@@kathryngraves4108 Sure, the Goons factor in as influence, but this skiffle thing Donegan has and others did and do... that's what I'm talking about; it's a mix of several accounts that play culturally into The Beatles landscape.
Simply fantastic, again Lonnie Donnegan use to stay at Holdsworth House in Halifax back in the early 70's and when he was Touring and to see his son singing a big success that Lonnie wrote for Tom Jones is simply fantastic ! Thank you Richard Lupton, made my evening !
