I WRITE THE SONGS

(To the tune of Yellow Submarine)

In the place where I was born

There lived all my family

And we tried to get away

Because we wanted to be free

So we sailed into the West

Till we found a sea of grey

And we rowed upon the waves

And we starved from day to day

We all sail in a tiny little boat

tiny little boat,  tiny little boat

We all sail in a tiny little boat

And we try to keep afloat, try to keep afloat

And our friends are all on board

Though sadly some of them have died

And the boat begins to sway  ….

We all sail in a tiny little boat

 tiny little boat,  tiny little boat

We all sail in a tiny little boat

And we try to keep afloat, try to keep afloat

And we live a life that’s tough

Because none of us have got enough

But there’s a land that’s far away

And we will get there some day

We all sail in a tiny little boat

tiny little boat, tiny little boat

We all sail in a tiny little boat

And we try to keep afloat, try to keep afloat.

(Based on Ralph Vaughan Williams’ 1923 adaptation of the traditional English folk song, Greensleeves. Vaughan Williams called his: Fantasia on Greensleeves)

My rose I tell is my love now lost,

To a time of old to a time of old,

My rose I tell is my love now lost,

Though my rose continues to bloom.

Greensleeves is my love for you,

Is my love for you, is my love for you,

Greensleeves is my love for you,

And I know this will last forever.

Greensleeves is your love for me,

Is your love for me, is your love for me,

Greensleeves is your love for me,

And I know this will last forever.

Dark shadows may appear though my heart will stay near,

And the turn of the tide will bring you closer to me,

The bright stars that shine will enlighten your path,

And any doubting shadows will be lost from the start.

Oh shadows may appear, but there won’t be any tears,

And the turn of the tide will bring you closer to me,

Above us in the sky the Moon will guide your path,

And any doubting shadows will be lost from the start.

Lost love I will be yours once more,

In a time untold, in a time untold,

Lost love I will be yours once more,

And our rose will flower and bloom.

Greensleeves is my love for you,

Is my love for you, is my love for you,

Greensleeves is my love for you,

And I know this will last forever.

Greensleeves is your love for me,

Is your love for me, is your love for me,

Greensleeves is your love for me,

And I know this will last forever.

(To the tune of Ombra Mai Fu (Never Was A Shade) composed by Handel in 1737, and first performed in London on 15 April 1738. This piece is an aria from his opera, Xerxe. Last recorded by Andreas Scholl in December 1998).

Heaven I call,

Call for divine light

God’s hand there is no fight

Only 

Heaven I call

Lead me into your heart

Open thy garden

The fountain 

Playing a harp of love

Heaven I call again

Forgive my unworthiness 

I come in peace for angels 

I come in peace for angels

Blessed the Lord.

(Inspired by the rhythm of the hymn Lord of the dance by Sydney Carter) Pub. 1963 , 2001. Stainer and Bell).

I queued in the morning when the sun came up

And I queued at the station and then for a cup

Of coffee at the café, where I queued some more

A flat white and waffle I just love this store.

Queue, queue wherever you may go

I loathe queuing, so darn slow.

And I’ll always avoid wherever I may go

The crowded places and the queues I know.

 I queued at the gates of dear old London Zoo

But when I got in I had to queue for the loo.

I queued to see the reptiles another queue for bears

And to see the penguins wobble on their beach in pairs.

Queue, queue wherever you may go

I loathe queuing, it’s so darn slow.

And I’ll always avoid wherever I may go

The crowded places and the queues I know.

I queued on a Sunday the worst day of the week

The tigers and giraffes I needed to take a peek.

I queued for an ice cream the weather was so hot 

I queued again to find a quieter spot.

Queue, queue wherever you may go

I loathe queuing, so darn slow.

And I’ll always avoid wherever I may go

The crowded places and the queues I know.

I sat by the fountain and ate a picnic lunch  

Now I was worried, another long crunch

A queue for the exit, what a crying shame.

I must get out before I go insane!

Queue, queue wherever you may go

I loathe queuing, so darn slow.

And I’ll always avoid wherever I may go

The crowded places and the queues I know.

I once was in Italy, Rome to be precise

And wanted to catch a bus, so sought some advice.

At the tabaccai  I bought a city pass.

Then looked for a bus stop, no one to ask.

Queue, queue wherever I may be

I needed a queue to help guide me

But here in Rome no queue could I see

Which way I’d be going, little lost me.

Then all of a sudden the bus arrived

And out of nowhere a crowd appeared

Push, shove and crush like peas in a stew

I shouted out “I’m British where is the queue?”

Queue, queue wherever I may be

I needed a queue to help guide me

But here in Rome no queue could I see

Which way I’d be going, little lost me.

Author's Note:

The original lyrics by Sidney Carter were inspired by both Jesus and the Hindu God Shiva in a statue of him in dancing pose. They were also intended as a tribute to Shaker music.

I have always adored the rhythm of this hymn and having researched the lyrics and Sidney  Carter’s explanation I embrace his inclusiveness and acceptance of all religions.

My words having nothing to do with the original lyrics just came to my mind out of the blue one morning as I woke with the tune in my head.   A gift perhaps, from a passing early morning muse ?

(To the tune of Jambalaya by The Carpenters)

Morning Sun, alarm clock sounds, a brand new day, oh

No lying in, no, not for me, I’ve got them kids, oh

Every morn, it’s the same, from day to day, oh

The morning rush, well, it’s no fun, when you’re a mum, oh

“Mum, where’s my tie?” and “Where’s my bag”

For goodness sake, boy

You know you’re nearly seventeen, not going on four

“What’s for lunch?” “I can’t eat that.” “I’m going vegan.”

The morning rush, well, it’s no fun, when you’re a mum, oh

Breakfast first, pack the lunch, do the washing,

Walk the dog, sweep the floor, the shelves need dusting,

Fold the clothes, plan the meals, do the shopping,

All before I settle in to Zoom work meetings.

Home from school, bags on floor, shoes at the front door,

More tidying for me, I’ve got them kids, oh

“I need a lift,” “What’s to eat?” “What time is dinner?”

The evening rush, well, it’s no fun, when you’re a mum, oh

Fill out forms, iron shirts, and run the hoover,

The sun’s been down for hours, but my day is not over,

“Mum, I feel ill,” says my girl, “I’ve got fever.”

“I feel so bad,” what can I do but relieve her?

I might moan, I might complain, but I love ‘em

I wouldn’t change a thing, they are such true gems,

They make me laugh, they bring me hope, they make my day, oh

They are my joy, my whole world, I’ve got them kids, oh

To the tune of Don't Cry For Me Argentina, recorded by Sarah Brightman)

This is so easy, it’s not hard to explain

You’ll agree with me when I say how I feel

That I hate school dinners however they’re done

You won’t believe me

How bad lunch was at a school I once knew

Although hungry at each dinner time

The smell made us ready to spew

Don’t bring me semolina

The truth is I always loathed it 

The watery cabbage

And lumpy custard

And those spam fritters

They made me vomit

It didn’t have to happen, I needed a change

Couldn’t spend each lunch feeling mortally ill

Staring out of the window, staying out of the sun

So I chose sandwiches

Packed lunches with crisps in them too

My friends impressed by it all

Brought their packed lunches too

Don’t bring me semolina

The truth is those dinner ladies

With grim persistence

They made us eat it

Every last bit

Despite resistance

(To the tune of I Want To Hold Your Hand)

Oh dear Paul, I’ll ask you something

I think you’ll understand

I really , really, I really want to join your band

I wanna join your band

I wanna join your band

Oh please, say to me

That I can join your band.

Oh please say to me that I can join your band

That I can join your bianiand

That I can join your band

Oh, when you spotted me, I felt happy, inside

It’s such a feeling of pride,

I can’t hide, I can’t hide. I can’t hide.

Paul, when I sing with you

I feel really happy inside

It’s such a thrill

That your songs I sing with pride

I love singing in your band

I love singing in your band

I love singing in your band

Yeah, when you found me, I know you understand

When I started singing.

That’s when I came alive

I wasn’t banned, I wasn’t banned, I wasn’t banned.

(To the tune of Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits)

I am a foundling, meaning someone abandoned me

Left alone in a plastic bag, on a bus number sixty-three

Found by a schoolboy, on the back seat

No name, no clothing, no letter no receipt

How ‘bout that?

Taken to a to a police station, then passed from one to another 

hospital and foster homes while they tried to find my mother

What had I done wrong, to deserve this kind of life?

Like an unwanted puppy being left to die

My time on earth was ruined from the start

And I know, my mother simply had no heart

Try to forget, forget, but it’s too deep in my soul

Nothing or no one, can ever fill this gaping hole. Nothing.

-----

The report said I was heading, downwards for a fall

The only way to pass exams, was to stay back after school

The teacher showed me much, taught me what he knew 

But at twelve years old I didn’t need what he put me through

My parents dreamed for me, their dream of my success

yet my life shattered I had nowhere to confess

I had nowhere to run, nowhere to run and hide

No one to share my pain, no one in to confide

Oh my child, when I left you there I cried

I said I’ll miss you ‘til the sun goes cold, and until the day I die

Won’t forget won’t forget, don’t want to give you shame

So I’ll never look for you, and add to your pain, oh my child

I finally realised - when I reached sweet sixteen

That I couldn’t live my life, to fulfil my parents’ dream

And I pray that your life’s full of love and success

I would never want you to know that mine’s such mess

I hope you never think - that I didn’t care my son

and I hope you never search for me, and find your evil mum, 

Just to make sure, that I am never found

I am taking myself underground

Oh my child, when I left you there I cried

I said I’ll miss you ‘til the sun goes cold, and until the day I die

Won’t forget won’t forget, I don’t want to give you shame

So I’ll never look for you, and add to your pain, oh my child

-----

I am a foundling, meaning someone abandoned me

Left alone in a plastic bag, on a bus number sixty-three

Found by a schoolboy, on the back seat

No name, no clothing, no letter no receipt

How ‘bout that?

How ‘bout that?

(To the tune of All You Need Is Love by The Beatles)

Fun, Fun, Fun

Fun, Fun, Fun

Fun, Fun, Fun

There’s nothing you can write that can’t be read

Nothing you can think that can’t be said

Nothing you can’t do now there’s free time to learn how 

At sixty

There’s nothing in your loft that can’t be sold

No ball you can putt that can’t be holed

There’s no wine you can’t drink be it white or be it pink

At sixty

Make life fun 

Make life fun

Make life fun, fun

Sixty full of fun

Make life fun 

Make life fun

Make life fun, fun

Sixty full of fun

There’s nothing using google that can’t be known

Nothing you can draw that can’t be shown

There’s always a way to home with sat nav on your phone 

At sixty

Make life fun 

Make life fun

Make life fun, fun

Sixty full of fun

(To the tune of The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel)

I am just a poor nurse 

With a story to be told

Of blood and sweat and sickness 

For a basketful of grumbles

And broken promises

All toil no rest 

But the nurses hear the calling

And disregard the rest

When I left my home and my family

I was no more than a girl

Being left to care for strangers

In the quiet of the night ward

Feeling scared

Laying out the poor defeated dead people, 

Where the ravaged bodies go

To other places when they didn't make it through

De de dum, de de dum dum, de de dum

De de dum, dum de de dum, de de dum de de dum

Getting only basic wages

At least I got a job

Hoping for a pay rise

Just a mealy thankless pittance take-home wage

I do declare there were times when I felt so tired

It got too much to bear

De de dum dum dum dum dum

At the roadside stands the neighbours

With clapping on their minds 

For nurses who are angels

But that don't feed their kind  

Which makes us want to cry out

In our anger and our pain

"I am leaving, I am leaving"

But the nurse still remains, she still remains.

Author's Note:

Apologies to Paul Simon!