On the album titled: Play Up Pompey: The Songs Of Portsmouth FC there is a track called Don't Jump Jimmy Ware by The Blues. Does anyone know the story behind the song, the year and most importantly who was (or is) Jimmy Ware?
Unfortunately, I don't have this album so don't know if there's more information on the sleeve notes. Perhaps you do? If so let me know.
Why am I asking? A friend recently told me a story where her young daughter was walking along a small wall and whenever a gap appeared she had to jump across and my friend would say: 'Don't jump Jimmy Ware!'. It was all part of the game. She says it's a saying she picked up when she lived in Portsmouth many years ago, something she once saw on a car bumper sticker - and it's stuck with her ever since!
She knew nothing of the history behind the song so I decided to try and find out. I can't find anything on Google, so I decided to download it from iTunes to see if it gave any clues.The lyrics go like this:
Verse One
Look out Jimmy Ware, if Pompey don't go up
You said you'll jump right off the pier
You can hold on good and tight to Peter Mellor's hand
'Cos he'll wanna join you...can't get this bit
Chorus
Don't jump Jimmy Ware
Pompey's on the road to victory
They're going up
So fill up the cup
And don't jump Jimmy, we'll push you!
Verse Two
What a great big mouth
You've gone too far this time
You think you'll never have to jump
So prove your loyalty to Portsmouth Football Club
And simply shut-up when they go up
Final Chorus
Don't jump Jimmy Ware
Pompey's on the road to victory
They're going up
So fill up the cup
And don't jump Jimmy, we'll push you!
Don't jump Jimmy Ware
Pompey's on the road to victory
They're going up
So fill up the cup
And don't jump Jimmy, we'll push you!
Don't jump Jimmy Ware
Pompey's on the road to victory
They're going up
So fill up the cup
And don't jump Jimmy, we'll push you!
Don't jump Jimmy!
Don't Jump Jimmy!
We'll push you!
@PompeyChicken at Twitter.com
Post Script
Our North West Pompey correspondent @Davesargent at Twitter.com has come up trumps! Jimmy Ware was the co-commentator on Radio Victory for matches during Pompey's Division 4 promotion season. Jimmy apparently said on air that if Pompey didn't get promoted then he would jump off Clarence Pier! Although Dave thinks he jumped off the pier anyway, in jubilation!
The Division Four promotion season was 1979-80.
@Blu33arthling at Twitter.com commented that he attended his first ever match in that season at the last game against Northampton Town. A game remembered with much fondness by Pompey fans as around 8,000 fans travelled to support the team and welcomed them with a tickertape reception. Pompey won 2-0 and with other results on the day going their way promotion was confirmed, on goal difference.
3rd May 1980, Northampton Town 0-2 Portsmouth (Davey and Purdie). Att: 10,774
Portsmouth team: Mellor, McLaughlin, Bryant, Brisley, Ellis, Davey, Hemmerman, Laidlaw, Perrin, Brown, Purdie.
Source: Portsmouth From Tindall To Ball A Complete Record by Colin Farmery
