I write a lot of parodies. I found it to be an easy way into songwriting and singing. If the singing isn't up to scratch, at least I can hide behind the humour. I do two parodies of "Wild Rover", two parodies of "Farmer's Boy", one of "Who'll Be a Soldier?", and one called "Three Leaf Clover" which is a parody of, er...

Some of the parodies have been "one offs" never to be sung again. others have been accepted and repeatedly requested. Others have done more harm than good, with the parody's words "contaminating the original song when it is performed by someone else.

How many people can now sing "Dido, Bendigo" now without thinking of "Dido, Fido, Bonzo and Rex"? (The Kippers' version.)

There is a place for parody, but in mocking a perfectly good and serious song, it can spoil it for everyone.

Three Leaf Clover:
I`m looking over a three leaf clover
That I used to think had four.
One leaf is missing - the glue came unstuck;
I bought it from a Gipsy as a charm for good luck.
There`s no use complaining that there`s only three remaining,
'Cause I got no guarantee.
I`m looking over a four leaf clover, that turned out to just have three.

Red Leicester Cheese:
I went on a picnic with a sweetheart of mine
We had red Leicester cheese and some sparkling wine.
(Sparkling wine.....)

A bird that laid eggs that were twice normal size
Would have red puffed out cheeks and a startling cry.

Now Tony Blair wakes up each morning at five,
He goes for a leak and then starts telling lies

To serve after hours is not such a crime
So let`s hope the Landlord won`t start calling, "Time".