General Chat

Barges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AROM7xgU72s

Me and my brother returned to the water
I saw a pike that was two feet long
Two small magicians, each with a jam jar
Cast spells on the water with hazel twig wands

Country boys catch tadpoles, dive into water
Made shy by their laughter, we wandered down stream
And summer rolled o'er us with no complications
'Cept thinking of Mama sometimes in dreams

Stand by the drawbridge, waiting for barges
Waiting around for smiles from the man
Lifting the bridge whilst watching the horses
Dragging the slow boats up the canal

I do remember the times but no number
After the day, but before evening comes
Waiting for castles and kettles with roses
Painted on barges that sailed into the sun

Oh, see the river run, that was by man begun
Open the locks, let the boats sail on
Taking their castles and kettles with roses
With summers of childhood leaving smiles on the man.

Ralph McTell

Summers of Childhood - got me reminiscing of the days when 'Black-eyed Susie' came on the radio and Mum sung along to it. All seemed right with the world in those far-off happy days of childhood. Funny, I recall them as if it were yesterday.

As I reached my teens, 'Here comes Summer' was the song that brought with it long and happy carefree days for me, of non-stop dancing and tennis in the park. (I'd like to say tennis at school but those pesky older ones made sure we younger ones didn't come near to putting a foot on those courts.)

A nice piece, Rollo, definitely leaving smiles on this woman. No doubt it will evoke happy memories of childhood for a lot of us.

Edit: Guy Mitchell's Black-eyed Susie.