On Ilkla Mooar baht 'at / On Ilkley Moor baht 'at: The song and history

Hear how it should be sung! Many people have corrupted this song over the last 50 years. In this film, Arnold Kellett (author of a book on the song), goes back to the tune's origins as 'Cranbrook' composed in 1805. He then goes on to explain how it came about and the meaning of the original lyrics, in Yorkshire dialect. This is the orginal song - not the corrupted lyrics found on Wikipedia or other web sites!

[@Smijth]

Where is Mr. Kellett's hat?!? You'd think after writing a whole book about it, he'd know the consequences!

[@molly1949]

🤣🤣

[@pipmitchell7059]

Haha!

[@poshtim1362]

Wonderful, sang it many a time in the minibus on the way from Pocklington to play other schools at cricket or rugby in the 80's! Great to hear it explained and not at all surprised that it has the odd Viking word in there. Thankyou.

[@drnickyp]

Oh, the irony! - Mr Kellett is out on Ilkley Moor baht 'at!

[@balloch]

This guy would be amazing to have a few ales with

[@billybritvic5500]

Hello Arnold, just to say thank you for this information, very interesting and very well told.

[@cornishalps9870]

Visiting otley and ilkley for the cycle races and my grandad mentioned this tune. I guess it was more popular in his time as neither me or my mother had heard of it before

[@alexodonnell4949]

may God bless you.. now now and forever.. the world needs you more than ever..

[@alejandrogolt68]

He'd obviously lost his hat while canoodling on Ilkla moor many years ago.. We can only guess what the poor young lass lost..

[@quasarsphere]

Her car keys.

[@peteacher52]

Well well well! We live and learn!

[@coletteobasi3554]

Very interesting. Baht’at…without hat…

[@aroundaboutyorkshire2776]

I think you might have to pick it up (used) on Abe, eBay, Amazon or similar. It was published by Smith Settle (who now just do limited hand tooled reprints).

[@dixgun]

Wonderful !

[@alfiekelly5914]

I love this song. But it's 'Auld Lang Syne'. Not 'Auld Lang Zyne'

[@tonydalton6756]

Locally it's known it was originally "On Baildon moor Bhat 'at". Ilkley pinched it, they were far too posh.
We had many different versions when I was a lad including "Without tha trousers on" & " Where the ducks play football"

[@mjrob914]

This is great

[@lawrencemorritt8819]

Well, Óo'd a thowt it. Very interesting.

[@garrygodfrey7117]

where do I get the book, that was lovely

[@theoogle3756]

I thought this was david attenborough when I saw the thumbnail

[@user-td4do3op2d]

Does anyone know where I can find the old video of an old man speaking in an old Yorkshire dialect? It shows him talking to a man then working in a field, and he describes what he's doing in his dialect, using phrases like "addle some brass". It had about half a million views and was an incredible historical resource. I would happily re-upload it if anyone can find it. Thanks.

[@steelersnation2426]

123456789 987654321 I think I saw something about that. I'll see if I can find it

[@Waitakeredame]

th-cam.com/video/ScELaXMCVis/w-d-xo.html

[@aroundaboutyorkshire2776]

On Ilkla Mooar Baht 'at: The Story of the Song by Arnold Kellett (Dalesman Publishing 1998) available on Amazon etc

[@wednesdayfan272]

@@Waitakeredame nobody speaks like that in Yorkshire, he is just purposely speaking weirdly and claiming it's an old dialect

[@Yorkshire2024]

Erwin Bealdley

[@greatshades2012]

What is the name of the book??

[@phoebenewton4883]

Is it his Yorkshire dialect dictionary?

[@MrIrrepressible]

A romp in the heather! 😂😂😂

[@johnbartrambrooks8882]

So where is my truthful comment ?

[@steve-r-collier]

rik clay's ashes were scattered there..

[@NeelLLumi-AnCatDubh]

Amusingly, בטט batát is Hebrew slang for a fat man, from בטטה batáta ‘sweet potato’. So whenever I hear this song I imagine a fat guy walking around Ilkley Moor.

[@nickmacdonald9535]

Where the ducks play football!