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/