Lyr Req: Basingstoke (Bernard Bolan)

Subject: Lyr Req: Eric Bogle's 'Basingstoke'
From: Irene M
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 09:30 AM

Basingstoke, he used to be so hairy, till he tried to Kung Foo the canary,
Up he went soaring ever higher......
Til his soaring stopped and he came down plop, in the middle of the fire.

Now life's no joke for Basingstoke......

And that's all I can remember. I don't know if Eric has ever recorded it.
It was about a cat. I heard him do it at the PERFORM concert in the Manchester Free Trade Hall in March 1982.

Anyone know it?

Subject: Lyr Add: BASINGSTOKE (Bernard Bolan)
From: Peace
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 10:05 AM

BASINGSTOKE
© Bernard Bolan

I've got a cat called Basingstoke. he's a cat you must admire.
He's black and white, or he was, till the night that he jumped into the fire.
What a night! The tale it must be told,
So grip your seat, for you're in for a treat that will make your blood run cold.
Basingstoke, he used to be so furry
Till he tried to kung-fu the canary.
Up he jumped, soaring ever higher,
Then the soaring stopped and down he dropped in the middle of the fire.

In flames and smoke my Basingstoke went roaring round the room.
His fiery tum and his blackened bum appeared to spell his doom.
What a cat! Whoever would have guessed
He could stick his rear in a pint of beer while beating out his chest?
Basingstoke, he truly is a trier.
It takes guts to sing when you're on fire.
What a cat! You should have seen him strain,
Stuck like glue in the bottom of the loo and trying to pull the chain.

Now life's no joke for Basingstoke; so runs the ugly rumour
That the fiery hob did not just rob him of his sense of humour.
Poor old chap! The prospect it appals.
Just one jump and down with a bump and he's burnt off all his undergrowth.
Basingstoke, his tale is truly tragic.
Fire and smoke, they have robbed him of his magic.
The former spring-pawed terror of the tiles
Just sits and sighs with tears in his eyes 'cause he only raises smiles.

Basingstoke, he used to be a charmer.
Now ladies joke, they talk of fried banana.
Poor old chap! He was too young to retire.
Once he was happy, handsome and hairy,
Just a red-blooded pussy with a taste for canary.
Now he comes somewhere between a fritter and a fairy
Since he walked the fire.

From folkaustralia.com/BernardBolan/lyrics.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eric Bogle's 'Basingstoke'
From: Cattail
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 07:30 PM

Chords if required can be found here,

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~dexy/music/


Cheers

Cattail!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eric Bogle's 'Basingstoke'
From: Peace
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 07:58 PM

Great site, Cattail. Hotlink here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eric Bogle's 'Basingstoke'
From: Cattail
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 08:16 PM

Glad you like it, and thank you for putting the link in, I never
did get the hang of doing that.

Cheers

Cattail!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eric Bogle's 'Basingstoke'
From: Irene M
Date: 25 Sep 07 - 10:53 AM

You guys are trly amazing. Thank you so much.

Irene

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eric Bogle's 'Basingstoke'
From: Peace
Date: 25 Sep 07 - 10:58 AM

It's nothing that wouldn't have been done by any two common ordinary simple everyday saviours of the World's destiny.

You are most gracious and most welcome, Irene.