The band John Lennon
formed, called The Quarrymen
played half skiffle and
half rock and roll.
Four years later in
nineteen sixty, the band
evolved into The Beatles
with five men lineup.
John, Paul, George, Stuart,
who died and Peter,
replaced by Ringo were
nicknamed The Fab Four.
Their arrival here sixty
years ago, this month
triggered cultural and musical
movement, the British Invasion.
Categories:
skiffle, culture, music,
Form: Verse
The Withernwick Ramblers Skiffle Group
Not exactly an enterprising name
But we did however have
One unique claim to fame.
We accompanied Audrey Hepburn,
Famous Film Star, yes that’s the one
That elfin faced great actress
Now so very sadly gone,
The Six Five SpeciaL National Skiffle Contest
The only one there’s ever been
Heats at the Star Cinema Hornsea and
We were behind the Silver Screen
The film was War and Peace
Saturday afternoon Matinee showing
And our last rehearsal
Before the heats got going.
So, we accompanied Audrey Hepburn
But I don’t suppose she ever knew
About those four Yorkshire lads
Murdering Worried Man Blues
We came fifth out of four
But that was outdone by by far
By the fact that we’d in theory
Accompanied a Hollywood Star.
Categories:
skiffle, adventure, celebrity, fun, happiness,
Form: Rhyme
As a child of the late1940s,
Heard Skiffle, Folk, Rock and Roll
Loved country and the blues
Loved the sound of soul.
Heard, Donegan, Perkins, Presley,
Make all those blues based hits
Heard Jerry Lee, Buddy, the Bopper
Guthrie, all those talented young Brits.
Suddenly we had a language,
A music of our very own,
Criss crossing the Atlantic
To mix with that home grown.
So many decades later,
My life having moved on,
I still listen to that music but
Most of the heroes are gone
Eyes closed, glass in hand
I listen at my leisure,
My music may be old but
It gives so much pleasure.
In my mind i see my idols
Strut and own their stage
Many died too young
That just means they don’t age.
Those very special people
Whose talent will not fade,
I have been so privileged to see
Music history being made.
A musical dinosaur maybe
But I don’t really care.
I heard the music change
And I was lucky to be there.
Categories:
skiffle, appreciation, music, nostalgia,
Form: Rhyme
Those five magic years
From when friendship started
To, friendship still intact,
Life tracks widened and parted,
You off to Manchester
In pursuit of your degree
Me to a military life
And service in Germany.
In those five magic years
We achieved so much
And through passing years
Always stayed in touch.
We discovered skiffle, had our own band,
joys of country music, the lifelong love of
Hank, saw Buddy Holly live, met so many
of our heroes, Lonnie, Sonny and Brownie,
Rambling Jack, chased the same girls,
the pleasure from a pint of beer, grew to a
stage where we both needed change from
days in humdrum office life and chose our
different paths.
And so those years ended
Our common experiences gone
But through subsequent life
That friendship carried on.
I am so sad now dementia
Is destroying you, old friend,
Understand you don’t want
Me to see your tragic end.
I think of you so much,
Often through a film of tears,
Recalling all the joys of
Those first five magic years.
Categories:
skiffle, best friend, farewell, friendship,
Form: Rhyme
(From Skiffle to Fame)
Quarrymen were a group
Quite good oldies do say
Quirky to the youth now
Quaint compared to these days.
Quoth Sir Paul McCartney
Quips John Lennon as well
Question’s metamorphosis.
© Harry J Horsman 2021
Categories:
skiffle, music,
Form: Verse
Skiffle was on a roll,
we danced to Nat King Cole,
Elvis was King;
Rock 'n Roll made all things swing,
And Jiving was the 'thing'
Fifty years have just slipped by...
Since that day that we said 'Hi'
Categories:
skiffle, anniversary, love, wife
Form: Bio