Party pieces

I knew every verse of The Walrus and the Carpenter, actually I think I still do.

mine was reciting all the verses of The Lady of Shallot..

I typed Labradora umpteen times but my phone thinks it knows better than me!

No requirement for actual talent Labradors just expected to do something. No escape!

I remember my late mother telling me that she had a party piece that was"The Yellow Rose of "Texas". She would then sing a verse or two. I can't really remember them. Something about " her eyes "being like diamonds and..... sparkling like the dew.
I never had a party piece.
No talent !!!!

Oh yes, I would always do a recitation, my uncle was a professional musician, so he was obviously the star of the show, my grandfather would recite Barnacle Bill the Sailor, and sing Harvest Moon, my gran had a repertoire of naughty little songs, disapproved of by my dad.
One of my most embarrassing moments, bringing home a new boyfriend after a night out one Christmas, and arriving during one of these sessions, by now I’m really embarrassed by them, but he threw himself right into it, belting out Christmas carols, and endearing himself to my family, I never went out with him again.

Thanks for the info, Marydoll.

My Mum's party piece was "Big Tom, little Tom". Kept us amused for ages. I occasionally recite one of her poems; "I've got a penny in my pocket".

In our family, 'The farmer's boy' for grandad, we'd all sing 'knees up mother brown' & gran would dance, aunty always sang "all locked up in me little bottom drawer" , 'When Irish eyes are smiling', & 'little bitty tear let me down' were others that friends sung. & "Lambeth walk" from an in-law.

I did an impersonation of Frank Spencer every year at our neighbours Christmas party when I was young, I quite enjoyed making them laugh! I love Albert and the Lion. I can recite The Night Before Christmas which I'll treat the grandchildren to this Christmas!

I was brought up by Grandparents and yes, family members were expected to have some form of “Party Piece” (not always strictly limited to parties - but any form of visit by friends and/or family. I recited a small piece of poetry, which I still remember today!

My older sister and I had to sing 'Sisters, Sisters' by the Beverley Sisters.

I cringed even then but even more so now at the memory just awakened by the OP!

Goodess no, such a thing wouldn’t have happened in my family. I’m the only one who could do anything anyway. I did sing and recite, but only at school and in music festivals.

This thread is really interesting, thanks Aveline - such a variety of pieces we performed - I’ve looked some up, as I hadn’t heard of them before, much less performed them or seen anybody else do so.

mabon1

Oh yes. My sister and I would sing and recite in Welsh It stood me in good stead as I have always been confident. Also, we were chapel goers. Mum would give us verses from the Bible or a hymn (or both) to learn. The children in the Chapel would stand in a pew at the front Chapel facing the congregation, before the sermon to recite the verses (or hymns) we had learned. I add that we grew up in a Welsh bubble in Liverpool back in the day.

Since acquiring a Welsh daughter-in-law I have added Calon Lân to my repertoire, but can only manage the chorus in bad Welsh!

Oh yes - Stanley Holloway 'The Battle of Hastings'

She lives on just coconuts, and fish from the sea.
A rose in her hair, a gleam in her eye, and love in her heart for me!

I used to know all the words to ‘She Wears Red Feathers and a Huly Huly skirt’ and i have sung it in public (not recently). It’s very un-PC these days…
Adult DS’s party trick is to state the capital city of any country you can name. I think he’s working on the state capitals of all 50 US states now

No I most definitely did not. I would have been terrified.

Yes. I used to sing Ye banks and Braes. I have Scottish connections you see and it was the only song which I knew all the words to.

Yes a verse about a little girl at a party falling off her chair. I can still remember it seventy years later but not what I did yesterday🤣

No parties were ever held in our family growing up so party pieces were never necessary

Oh yes. My sister and I would sing and recite in Welsh It stood me in good stead as I have always been confident. Also, we were chapel goers. Mum would give us verses from the Bible or a hymn (or both) to learn. The children in the Chapel would stand in a pew at the front Chapel facing the congregation, before the sermon to recite the verses (or hymns) we had learned. I add that we grew up in a Welsh bubble in Liverpool back in the day.

I recently met up with some cousins I hadn’t seen for years. We were reminiscing the Christmas and New Year parties are family had and songs we used to sing. We were a mixture of Welsh and Scottish, lots of Welsh - Sospan Fach, Land of our Fathers and lots of very long Scottish dirges. An Uncle used to sing My Brother Sylveste.
Us children did nursery rhymes or pop songs of the time. My cousin and I particularly remember doing You were made for me by Freddie and the Dreamers with all the actions.

Mine was Morningtown Ride, with my brother.
I cannot sing, I just think I can! 🤣