Lyrics:

Hail the Ball
(Prior/Donockley)
Folk customs of Britain are surprisingly vibrant in our computer/digital age. Often extremely violent or challenging, they provide an outlet for those energies not exorcised by organised football or other physical exertions. This is a picture of the Cumbrian, Workington Easter custom of the 'Uppies and Downies'. It is a centuries-old game of rugby-type anarchy between two 'ends' of the town. Toy grew up in Workington and his draws heavily on his knowledge and experience.

They're gathering at Cloffocks
In the late afternoon
Testosterone in T shirts
The game's beginning soon
An ancient war-like stuggle
For the Park or harbour wall
The Uppies and the Downies
Wage a battle for the ball

Hail, hail the ball
Hail the barbarians
Running along the Harbour Wall

The ball is up, they're in the beck
The scrum is hard and tight
The ball flies out away they run
The beat the failing light.
They're ploughing up the cricket pitch
And allotments of the town.
Stand back, stand back, bystander
Or the scrum will run you down

Laughing, pushing flexing style
Dark determined eyes.
Thousands crowd the high-ground
Murmuring asides.
They think the ball is the pack
In the blood and muck and dirt.
But there are no rules in this game.
It's stuffed up Millican's shirt.