The Monkey Parade? by The Shambles

The Sunday bells would summon
There was none as devout as we
We'd walk all the way from Southwell
Bert, Henry and Me
Tommy would meet us in Weston
Then off to church we'd go
But our thoughts were not on the heavens
More on the place, 'down below'

Bert, Henry, Tommy and me
Off to look for a maid
Roaring like thunder, down Old Hill
To join the Monkey Parade
Strutting like 'swells'
Up and down Fortuneswell
Oh what a sight we made
Glad that Sunday
Was the one day
We joined the Monkey Parade

Us boys in our Sunday finery
Would keep to one side of the street
The girls along with their families
Encouraging smiles, kept discrete
When they walked a few steps
Pretend we were going there too
I wonder whose rules we were playing?
And just who was looking at who?

Bert, Henry, Tommy and me
Off to look for a maid
Roaring like thunder, down Old Hill
To join the Monkey Parade
Strutting like 'swells'
Up and down Fortuneswell
Oh what a sight we made
Glad that Sunday
Was the one day
We joined the Monkey Parade

We've been together a long time
Our birds have flown the nest
Of all the ways to choose a mate
I think ours was the best
For though I had my admirers
May have flirted with a few
I remember those days on the Monkey Parade
When I only had eyes for you

Roger Gall 1997