Seth Davy

Video Playlist Index
Songs Index 

I learned this song from the singing of Jenks in Plymouth. It is based in Liverpool - New Brighton (with it's Pivvy - ie Pavilion Theatre) is just across the River Mersey. Bevington Bush is a pub in Bevington, a district near Everton.

Seth Davy would have sat on a packing case, astride a plank which was balanced on it so that the free end was able to vibrate when the plank was drummed by his fingers. The dolls were held above the far end of the plank, at the end of wooden sticks, with their feet just touching the plank. Seth's other hand would drum the plank so that the loose legs of the dolls ( hinged at the knees, hips, shoulders and elbows) would dance.

I believe it may have been written by Glen Hughes.

Scroll down to watch Videos

Sitting outside the station at Bevington Bush
Astride an old packing case
The dolls on the end of the plank they went dancing
As he crooned with a smile on his face

Li li li li...

Come day, Go day
Wish in me heart it was Sunday
Drinking buttermilk all the week
Whisky on a Sunday

His tired old hands drummed the wooden beam
As the puppet-dolls they danced the gear
A finer show than you've ever seen
At the Pivvy or New Brighton Pier

Then in 1905 when old Seth Davy died
His song was heard no more
The two dancing dolls in an old dustbin ended
And the plank went to mend the back door

Now some stormy nights down the Scotty Road way
When the wind whistles up from the sea
You can still hear the song of old Seth Davy
As he croons to his puppet dolls three.

Video Playlist