My Grandfather was a stereotypical northern English man to the core, and the kindest, sweetest person that I ever had the privilege to know. For those that are familiar with the comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, my grandfather was very similar to Eric Morecambe – he had a silly sense of fun and an eclectic sense of humour, and some of my happiest memories are of him proclaiming that the sponge pudding and custard would put the ‘skin on yer back like velvet.’ He loved music and liked to make up silly lyrics, and even though he passed away in 1997 I still remember every word to his version of ‘My Grandfather’s Clock,’ written in 1876 by Henry Clay Work. I’ve written it in the way that I remember him singing it to my sisters and I – he had a broad northern accent – so would say words like ‘me’ instead of ‘my’… While I am not expecting others to understand or even enjoy, this means a lot to me.
So, for a bit of a laugh, find the song on YouTube and I challenge you to follow the lyrics within the song!
Me Grandfather’s Clock – Alfred Elliott
Now me Grandfather’s clock,
Was a Waterbury watch,
It could live forty days without food.
With a small ‘at on its head,
And me father’s mackintosh,
It was dressed up like a Piccadilly dude.
Though it stood in the ‘all,
‘Cos the cupboard was so small,
And we ‘ad no place the food for to store.
So the butter and the eggs
And the little mutton legs,
We out them in me Grandfather’s clock
Now me Grandfather’s clock
Was me mother’s primulator,
And through the park in it we used to ride.
There was me and Polly Perkins, Liza Jane and Treacle Tommy,
Screaming Jimmy and the twins all stuck inside.
Now me Granddad, who was dead,
Changed his mind, got up instead,
And the sight that met his eyes gave him a shock.
For the man with the coal,
Couldn’t get it down the ‘ole,
So we put it in me Grandfather’s clock.
What about you guys? Are there any songs that mean a lot to you from your childhood?
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_writing_challenge/to-the-tune-of/
What a lovely memory, and what fun lyrics 🙂
*sigh* My father is still trying to get me own grandfather’s clock fixed.
That was grand, lass, reet grand 😉
‘Ee, cheers our Richard!
Nay problem, chuck
A great memory with wonderful lyrics.
What an awesome memory! Thanks for sharing it with all of us!
love it! I listened on youtube and realized I knew the song- how I don’t know- must have learned it as a child I guess. What a wonderful memory- I so get it, and enjoyed reading your remembrance.
What a wonderful memory of your grandfather.
What a funny song.
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Superb! Grandfather’s Clocks have so much history to them. Your song made me smile 😉
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I so enjoyed this. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us all.
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