Magnet Ale and Greasy Chip Butty
I'm glad you mentioned the alcohol. This is my favourite med too, and I also restrict it to evening, otherwise I'm all over the place. A lot of people say they can't tolerate it. In the first year or so, I couln't even face it, but got to tolerate it gradually, and now I have a theory that it reduces my inflamation and acts as a painkiller...... I do suffer the side effects the next day though. I'm talking good old English real ale here (they have some good ones up your way, Ad)
Good man. Alcohol (in the right quantities and taken over the right period of time) can be taken like medicine I guess?
It is also a muscle relaxant (I walk better after a couple or three) as well pain supressor and probably does some other sciency stuff no doubt, and certainly aids my mental wellbeing.
Ahhhh the BEER.
Don't get to pubs these days sadly.
Stones is a good Sheffield beer - a bit light for me.
Tetley's - dark and strong flavoured - top brew - irritatingly made in Leeds.
Wards - Sheffield beer. Fine if you like yeasty taste. I do not. Makes you fart summet chronic.
Last, but certainly not least of the major northern bitters - John Smiths. The ordinary everyday pint is OK. But does not travel well.
The prince of all beers John Smiths Magnet.
Much beloved ale. Revered so much so it makes into the Sheffield United FC club anthem known as the Greasy Chip Butty Song.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greasy_Chip_Butty_Song
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...e-hymn-sheets-fill-up-the-senses-1291807.html
The song is to the tune of Annie's Song by John Denver.
You fill up my senses
Like a gallon of Magnet
Like a packet of Woodbines
Like a good pinch of snuff
Like a night out in Sheffield
Like a greasy chip butty
Like Sheffield United
Come fill me again....
Na Na Na Naa Naa Naaaaa, ooo!
Meaning
To a native of Sheffield the words are probably self explanatory; the words celebrate the many pleasures that can be had in Sheffield, culminating in the target of the fan's adoration, Sheffield United.
Magnet refers to John Smith's Magnet, a beer once widely available in Sheffield. Some people claim that the second line is really Like a gallon of maggots. Maggots are obtained from fishing tackle outlets in denominations of imperial pints and hence this version would not be unreasonable, as fishing is popular in the region and hence a gallon of maggots would mean a good day out fishing.
Woodbines refers nostalgically to a once popular brand of strong cigarette.
Snuff is ground tobacco for sniffing up the nose.
A Greasy chip butty can be purchased in any of the many local fish and chip shops. Butty is a slang word for a sandwich, and a chip butty is simply a sandwich where the filling is chips, ideally greasy and sometimes sprinkled with salt and vinegar. Generally, a white sandwich bap will be used for the bread. In Sheffield, these are simply known as Breadcakes.
Original incidence.
The song itself is a plaintive rally-cry by the fans of Sheffield United. It is usually heard on commencement of the home games played at 'Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane' (as it is often called by the announcer on match days), the home of the club, and sporadically throughout away matches.
Of course there are dozens of videos of the song on Youtube. And mugs sold in the Bramall Lane shop.
Apparently, amongst many others, Toronto FC have a version of this song - any Toronto FC fans on forum?
Their song goes:
You fill up my senses,
Like a gallon of Fifty,
Like a Tim's double-double,
And a big WALNUT CRUNCH!
Like a night out at Beeee-MO,
Like a greasy chip butty...
Like Tor-on-to F-C,
Come fill me again!
Na na na na naa Ooo!
Not quite as catchy as The Blades original and no John Smiths of course (wonder what Fifty is like) but not bad.
Orate den me old, wots tha' sup int tha neck o' woods?