Druv

[pauli cee]

I'm not a native of Sussex and I might be more conscious of distinctive forms of dialect precisely because of this (and the fact that my family comes from Tyneside, where respect for dialect is inculcated into everyone at a very early age), but I've known the word "druv" (as a uniquely Sussex word) for YEARS.

The language is richer because words like this survive.

couldn't agree more, forms part of an identity...

 

[MACROBLUE]

A longer version ...

"Sussex Wun't be Druv"
by W Victor Cook

"Some folks as come to Sussex,
They reckons as they know -
A durn sight better what to do
Than simple folks, like me and you,
Could possibly suppose.

But them as comes to Sussex,
They mustn't push and shove,
For Sussex will be Sussex,
And Sussex wun't be druv!

Mus Wilfred come to Sussex,
Us heaved a stone at he,
Because he reckoned he could teach
Our Sussex fishers how to reach
The fishes in the sea.

But when he dwelt among us,
Us gave un land and luv,
For Sussex will be Sussex,
And Sussex wun't be druv!

All folks as come to Sussex
Must follow Sussex ways -
And when they've larned to know us well,
There's no place else they'll wish to dwell
In all their blessed days -

There ant no place like Sussex,
Until ye goos above,
For Sussex will be Sussex,
And Sussex wun't be druv!"

Makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Well done my Lord

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

how is druv pronounced?

Is it droove or druhv (if this makes ANY sense whatsoever?!?)

druv rhymes with bruv , wunt rhymes with ****. I've also heard twitten pronounced as "twittern" but that was in Burgess Hill.

 

[Titus]

i take it the banner slogan is designed to communicate. It would be better to use words that are more widely and readily understood in 2012.

Heritage is all. There's no point going forward, if you don't know where you've been.

 

[wunt be druv]

Druv is a uniquely Sussex word, referring or describing the stubborn,obstinate nature of those of us lucky to be Sussex born and bred.It is chiefly derived from driven but its true meaning is more than that.We wunt be druv translated into "proper" English would be Don't try to force us to do something against our will because we won't do it so don't even bother trying.We wunt be druv!

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Heritage is all. There's no point going forward, if you don't know where you've been.

I'd argue that it's worth knowing the past, but we don't have to be limited by it. 'We wunt be druv' was a slogan that was true to the language of the early 1900s. The best tribute to its spirit is to find language that is true to our times now.

 

[BUTTERBALL]

I remember this.....

 

[Max Paper]

Druv is my new favourite

 

[Shuggie]

I'd argue that it's worth knowing the past, but we don't have to be limited by it. 'We wunt be druv' was a slogan that was true to the language of the early 1900s. The best tribute to its spirit is to find language that is true to our times now.

I can see your point but its spirit relies on the use of dialect. It's sticking two fingers up to people who come down here with their fancy London ways. Not sure it could have been expressed as elegantly using estuary english (or the Edwardian equivalent). To me, the whole point is that it isn't easily understood by outsiders.

It also comes from the period when we won our only major trophy so perhaps it's should be tattoed on every player as part of his contract signing ceremony.

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

Until you goos Above,
For Sussex will be Sussex,
And Sussex wunt be druv'.

I get the feeling that we only arrived at this word because the person writing this poem couldn't think of a word that would rhyme with 'above'.

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

Fill-dick, m. The month of February.
" February fill the dick, Every day white or black."
—Sussex Proverb

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Are we going to have to talk like this when the banner goes up?
Sussex Sayings

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

Are we going to have to talk like this when the banner goes up?
Sussex Sayings

Even more.

Where I got my ridiculous one from. There's some on that list that I really think can catch on.

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

"Ow fackin' 'ell, I've just bashed me Ancliff on the Andirons."

 

[Wilko]

There ant no place like Sussex,
Until ye goos above,
For Sussex will be Sussex,
And Sussex wun't be druv!

Would look good on a banner. NSK? Got any materials left to make one?

 

[malcolmposkettspockets]

My Grandmother (who took me to my Albion game) remarried in her 70's to a Mr Tony Wales (from Horsham). He was big on the Sussex Folk and Book scene, and his first book was called 'We Wun't be Druv'. I still have a copy but couldn't see it referred to on the interweb. Anyway I did find a link to his Sussex Folk record. I particularly like 'Horsham Boys' Sussex Folk Songs and Ballads: Tony Wales: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads

It was with great sadness that I only went to his widow's funeral last Friday where Hilda Wales was laid to rest with Tony at Hill Cemetary, Horsham.

 

[malcolmposkettspockets]

Just found Tony's book: We wunt be druv. Songs and stories from Sussex. With the melodies of 12 songs.: Amazon.co.uk: Tony Wales: Books

 

[malcolmposkettspockets]

This maybe another book you would be interested in: Sussex as She Wus Spoke: A Guide to the Sussex Dialect: Amazon.co.uk: Tony Wales: Books so it is all properly documented.

 

[Diego Napier]

I'd argue that it's worth knowing the past, but we don't have to be limited by it. 'We wunt be druv' was a slogan that was true to the language of the early 1900s. The best tribute to its spirit is to find language that is true to our times now.

I have to disagree with this.

Preserving and using words and phrases from our past helps to reinforce our identity and adds to the richness of our ability to communicate effectively.

There's plenty enough of the text-speak dumbing down that English has to accommodate; lets retain some uniqueness.

 

[KZNSeagull]

"Ow fackin' 'ell, I've just bashed me Ancliff on the Andirons."

What an adle-headed fellow!