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Subject: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: GUEST,Martin Hungerford Date: 26 Jul 19 - 08:26 PM Hi folks, I am chasing a song from a few decades ago about the Imperial measurements system. I thought it was by John Dengate but cannot find it. The chorus finished with "An 8 furlong race round the dusty old track Bring the imperial measurements back!" |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: Hagman Date: 26 Jul 19 - 09:24 PM Life imitating art.... From this morning's Guardian: "A list of rules has been sent to Jacob Rees-Mogg’s staff asking them to stop using words such as “hopefully” and demanding that they use only imperial measurements and give all non-titled males the suffix Esq. Aides to the new leader of the House of Commons sent out the list shortly after Rees-Mogg’s appointment to the role by the new prime minister on Wednesday night." |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: GUEST,Gerry Date: 26 Jul 19 - 09:52 PM John Dengate it is, Anti-Metrics, to the tune of Dreary Black Hills, on Page 6 of My Shout! Songs and Poems by John Dengate. Packets of butter and cheeses and hams All should be purchased in pounds and not grams And as for kilometres, I've often thought They'd like to be miles, but they're too bloody short. Chorus: Three pounds of pumpkin, two inches of rain, A gallon of beer and a bushel of grain, A six furlong race round the old Randwick track: Bring the Imperial measurements back. And four more stanzas. No date on the song, but the book was published in 1982. It was reissued in 2012, so maybe it's still available from the Bush Music Club. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: GUEST,Martin Hungerford Date: 26 Jul 19 - 10:49 PM Hi Gerry, Now I feel truely stupid. I have that book but have not looked through it for decades. Thanks! Regards, Martin |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Jul 19 - 02:29 AM Gerry, it's not listed on the lyrics page of The John Dengate Collection how about posting the rest of the words so we can link to it? sandra |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: Mr Red Date: 27 Jul 19 - 02:59 AM And just to play devil's advocate What meter is it in? I'll just climb me pole and perch...................... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: GUEST,Martin Ryan Date: 27 Jul 19 - 03:03 AM I'll just climb me pole and perch...................... .... but not furlong! Regards |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: Nigel Parsons Date: 27 Jul 19 - 05:14 AM I don't know about the meter, but the beat just pounds Scansion of the verse (but not the chorus) is very similar to "My favourite things". |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: GUEST Date: 27 Jul 19 - 07:47 AM Hagman, a very interesting article indeed. Make Queen Victoria great again! The song cannot possibly have a meter, just a metre (an old French word, thus approved by Victoria von Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha in the given sense). |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: GUEST,Grishka Date: 27 Jul 19 - 07:47 AM That was I. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: GUEST,Grishka Date: 27 Jul 19 - 07:55 AM Just reading in the article: "Rees-Mogg has also used his position of influence to argue against abortion, even in cases of rape, and same-sex marriage." So you cannot have an abortion even if the other parent is of the same sex? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: leeneia Date: 27 Jul 19 - 12:32 PM As free citizens of the free world, we are all free to speak of miles or kilometers, ounces or grams as we wish. We don't need permission. Money is a different story. I don't suppose you can coerce your bank into doing your statement in shillings and pence. I remember fondly a story about a man having a pleasure boat built in Ireland. One day the builders came over to his place to convert the measurements "from metric to Christian." |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: GUEST,Ray Date: 27 Jul 19 - 01:10 PM Mees Rogg is a pillock! The Guardian has checked Hansard and found that he’s used the words he’s trying to ban some 700 times in the house. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: GUEST,Mike Yates Date: 27 Jul 19 - 02:38 PM I love the way that the press are now called Rees-Mogg 'Minister for the 17th century". Just about says it all, I guess. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: ANTI-METRICS (John Dengate) From: GUEST,Gerry Date: 27 Jul 19 - 09:09 PM By popular demand, the full lyrics: Packets of butter and cheeses and hams All should be purchased in pounds and not grams And as for kilometres, I've often thought They'd like to be miles, but they're too bloody short. Chorus: Three pounds of pumpkin, two inches of rain, A gallon of beer and a bushel of grain, A six furlong race round the old Randwick track: Bring the Imperial measurements back. All cricket pitches should measure a chain; Metric conversion is simply insane: Give back our pint, fluid ounces and quarts! Metrics are nothing but fly spots and noughts. Chorus Kick the conversion board hard in the pants; Take up a collection and send them to France. Hands off that hundredweight! don't touch that ton! Who damn well asked them to do what they've done? Chorus They foisted it on us in usual style, We gave them an inch and they've taken a mile. Milli-milli-milli-metres: now that's a French farce And hectares especially are a pain in the arse. Chorus This bloke at the gas company weighed fifteen stone, Six foot of manhood, all muscle and bone. Fate sent a metre down onto his head, "Murdered by metrics!" the coroner said. Chorus The tune, as I mentioned earlier, is Dreary Black Hills, which is easy accessed on the net. Nigel, I also had "My Favorite Things" running through my head as I read the lyrics. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bring the imperial measurements back From: Hagman Date: 27 Jul 19 - 11:45 PM Not sure how Parliament is going to report on petrol prices over there, given that all your bowsers are in litres.... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anti-Metrics (John Dengate) From: Bruce D Date: 05 Aug 19 - 08:44 AM Don't forget that Poles and Perchs are also old units of measurement |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anti-Metrics (John Dengate) From: Nigel Parsons Date: 05 Aug 19 - 11:31 AM Thanks, Bruce D: "Spare the rod and spoil the child" A rod, pole or perch is 5 1/2 yards, or one quarter of a chain, or one 40th of a furlong. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anti-Metrics (John Dengate) From: Joe_F Date: 05 Aug 19 - 05:45 PM The (dactylic) meter requires that "kilometres" be pronounced in the vulgar manner. It should rhyme with "millimetres". |
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