Ruminations on wargaming, especially the Seven Years War, the English Civil War and other 'black powder' periods. Occasional forays into obscure Nordic music and opinionated 'dribble' [sic] on Grimsby Town Football Club.
Friday, 25 September 2020
A long long time ago...
....a small boy used to sing along with his big sisters to a hit record. The meaning of the words was a mystery but it didnt matter, it was a catchy song and the singer sang it with feeling.
A few years later at a comprehensive school in Cleethorpes, the, by now, not quite so small boy had lessons with a trendy young English and Drama teacher. You know the type. One who sat on the corner of his desk and, thankfully, took his vocation seriously. One day Trendy Young English and Drama Teacher explained the references in the song to the class. For a while it was a revelation, and the class sang along with a little extra feeling.
The trouble is, formerly small boys ('FSB') do not remember most of the references now. But over the years whenever it cropped up in the repetoire of singers with guitars in boozie bars like O'Neills in Kingson, or the Walkabout in Covent Garden (which is to say, all the time, just before 'Living Next Door to Alice') FSB would sing along with gusto, transported back to cosier days.
Not all of the big sisters are around any more to join in, which make FSBs sad when they think about it. However, Tradgardmastare's latest post was all the excuse a FSB needs. Take it away Don...
Delighted to have provided an excuse. Btw we watched the channel 5 Finnish rail journey, wow! The two decker trains and scenery. Another place added to my list of post Covid potential destinations. One think I was surprised at was the warning at the start relating to “ historic war violence “:or something similar. We seem to have disproportionate warning on tv all the time. Can’t get my head round it.
ReplyDeleteI’d forgotten about that warning. It does seem over the top.
DeleteWe said we’d do that journey in winter - I’ve never been in dead of winter before and the furthest north I’ve been is Kajaani, which is only half way up the country. It’s well worth seeing the country in summer too.
In 2016 a good friend of ours passed away suddenly. After a rather formal Catholic Church funeral service, the congregation proceeded to the crematorium for a committal ceremony, which was much more informal. This song was a favourite of David's, and was included in the service - in the format of the priest strumming on his acoustic guitar while the congregation, equipped with printed lyric sheets, took the vocal part. I had no idea there were quite so many verses.. But it was a lovely moment, and the best memory of the day.
ReplyDeleteNow that's a great way to be sent off. It must have been very emotional.
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