I sing-a-lot at various venues (mostly) Music Hall songs, but lately I've been branching out into a slightly different direction.
I've rediscovered songs I remember from my childhood (50's/60's) that my mum used to sing to me, and Uncle Mac used to play on Saturday mornings. I'd gathered a few from memory, eg: Animal Crackers (Shirley Temple) Nellie the Elephant (Mandy Miller).
Of course, I could look up a variety on Google - but that feels like cheating! So, all you great Gransnetters, I ask you, what songs would/do you still sing from your childhood? It would be so helpful for me to have an idea what folk like to hear and join in with 
There once was an ugly duckling whose feathers were stubby and brown ... and when I was in hospital very young the auxiliary nurse singing 'What did Dela wear boys, she wore a brand new jersey, that's what she did wear'
Happy songs, happy memories )
Has anyone mentioned The Little White Bull? I used to love that.
And another Tommy Steele - Hold it, flash bang wallop, what a picture...
My dad used to sing Scarlet Ribbons to me, which could make me cry now.
Also Cushy Butterfield - She's a big lass and a bonnie lass and she likes her beer (rather too close to home these days .
And of course - Oh, Maggie, Maggie May, they have taken her away, and she'll never cruise down Lime Street anymore. She robbed so many sailors and captains of the whalers, that dirty, robbin' girl called Maggie May. And there was more, even less appropriate...!
And The Blaydon Races and The Lampton Worm, though those are local to the North East.
Maggiemaybe The Lampton Worm - love it, but would never be able to get that accent right
One Sunda mornin lampton went a fishin in the wear he cowt a fish upon his hyuk and thowt it very queer.
And what a kind a fish it was young lampton couldna tell he couldn't be fash te carry it yem so we hoyyed it in the well
Whishd lads had her gobs all tell yer all an arful story
Wished lads had yer gobs all tell yer boot the wore-m
bohemian and maggie a'll be singin this in me sleep the night
It's reeeely hard tu type in Geordie slang cos the stoopid pyoota keeps tri -in to put it awl rite . Or summick like that anyways.
Daddy came home from work tired
His boss had been driving him mad.
The kids were all shouting, the dog bit him too
His dinner was nothing but boiled over stew.
I guess it was then he decided
Up to the rooftop he'd go
He was about to jump off when
The kids started howling below
'Don't jump off the roof, Dad
You'll make a hole in the yard
Mother's just planted petunias
The weeding and seeding was hard
If you must end it all, Dad
Won't you please give us a break
Just take a walk down the park, Dad
And there you can jump in the lake.'
Tommy Cooper....
I remember Children's Choice with great affection. The presenter was a World War 2 veteran called Dennis Macculloch. I used to hope to hear The Dance of the Sugar Plum fairy and High Hopes - there were lots more, "The Run Away Train, They're Changing Guard at Buckingham Palace ...... The programme really brightened up many a Saturday morning in the 1950s. 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qedAoXl3KnU
Talking of Alphonso, my grandmother had a collection of 78s that she would let me play on their ancient gramophone.
I loved Gracie Fields singing, Fonso, my 'ot Spanish Knight. Most of the innuendo went over my head
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »
