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Benny Lynch

  • Matt McGinn

    The whole of the river sang, Benny has been
    Benny has been, Benny has been
    Down in the city that never was mean
    We all sang, Benny has been

    Up from the heart of the Gorbals he rose
    Don't tramp on his toes for everyone knows
    From then on when we see the bend in your nose
    We'll all sing, Benny has been

    Down to the shows Benny went as a youth
    To fight in the booth, I'll tell you the truth
    Many's the big man was short of a tooth
    As he sang, Young Benny has been

    To Manchester City young Benny went down
    To fight Jackie Brown, he picked up the crown
    He came back in triumph to old Glasgow town
    And the city sang, Benny has been

    He beat Small Montana, he floored Peter Kane
    Sent him back to train, then downed him again
    The lynch-pin of boxing inflicted more pain
    And the city sang, Benny has been

    The city had T.B., the city had booze
    Her victims she'd choose, and send out the news
    That Benny would win and then Benny would lose
    And the city sang, Benny has been

    As sung by Arthur Johnstone

Susannes Folksong-Notizen

  • [1937:] GLASGOW BOXER'S WORLD TITLE
    Benny Lynch of Glasgow is now the undisputed flyweight champion of the world. At the Wembley Pool, here, to-night he defeated Small Montana of America on points over fifteen rounds. Lynch won, I thought, with a bit in hand. Benny has always been noted as a fighter depending mostly on a big punch to bring him victory, but on his display to-night he surprised his most ardent admirers by the way he boxed and brought into play a clever craftsmanship. Lynch throughout was the aggressor, and although he failed to land a knock-out punch, he obviously worried Montana with wicked lefts and rights to the body. Against a less crafty fighter, Lynch would surely have gained his objective, as he did against Jackie Brown and Pat Palmer. [...] Thre were 13,600 people at the fight [...]. (Elky Clark, Daily Record, Jan 20)

    CROWD GOES "BENNY DAFT" - CHAMPION AND WIFE "MOBBED" - Amazing Scenes in Glasgow

    A welcome appropriate to Royalty was accorded to Benny Lynch, flyweight champion of the world, on his return to Glasgow last night, after his spectacular victory over Small Montana. His train from London was due at Glasgow Central Station at 9.35 p.m., but long before then a dense crowd gathered in and around the station. A strong force of mounted and foot police were on duty, keeping clear the carriageway leading to No. 11 Platform, at which the returning champion's train was due to arrive. The crowd grew in numbers until, as the train drew into the station, there must have been about 15,000 people present. [...] Amid shouts of "Good old Benny," they crowded round the carriage door. Wearing a light ovecoat and soft hat, and looking a little pale and drawn, Lynch, accompanied by his wife, stepped on to the platform. Then a remarkable scene ensued. A strong party of police formed up in two rows between the carriage door and the motor car which was waiting to convey Benny and Mrs Lynch home. It appeared that the intention was to form a lane along which the couple could get safely and comfortably to their car; but a rush of spectators almost swept the police aside. (Daily Record, Jan 21)

  • [1988:] (Benny Lynch) 1913-1946, British, European and World Flyweight Champion. Biography cf. Burrowes, John: Benny, The Life and Times of a Fighting Legend (1982) (King, Palace 91f)

  • [1989:] This is a tribute to two of Glasgow's greatest sons: Benny Lynch a great boxer, and Matt McGinn a great songwriter. (Notes Arthur Johnstone, 'North By North')

  • [1990:] The leitmotif of this period [the Depression] for many Glaswegians is the career of Benny Lynch the boxer. A Gorbals boy, he became British, European and World Flyweight champion in a spectacular series of fights in the 1930s. The punters say that he was the best fighter his country has ever produced. But Benny had a drink problem, hit the skids and wound up drinking cheap fortified wine and all sorts of poison. He drank himself to death in 1946 at the age of 33, but is remembered throughout Glasgow with nothing but affection on the 'there but for the grace of God' principle. (Damer, Glasgow 148)

  • [1995:] Benny Lynch is still a household name in Scotland, a tiny boxer whose brief, meteoric career, messily ended by the booze, seemed to prove to so many people in the thirties that sheer courage could get you out of the ghetto. (Notes Brian McNeill, 'No Gods')

Quelle: Scotland

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