Hi folks,
    The song Leadfingers wanted me to offer up is "Oh Shit! I've Forgotten the Words" which was written by my old friend and performing partner in 'Laidback Folk', Murray Lewis. Hamish Imlach recorded this although I think he 'created' a chorus where Murray didn't write one.

      Murray wrote this one night at a folk club where it seemed every floor singer was afflicted with memory loss. Murray nipped out to the loo and scrawled down some words, came back and sang the song.

      To make it memorable he used his initials, M L and then S O S to start the words to each verse (it is not the song in which to forget the words!) I know, I have!



OH SHIT I'VE FORGOTTEN THE WORDS, by Murray Lewis

My heart is a-pounding within my breast,
I've remembered the first line but forgotten the rest,
A memory like mine is one hell of a pest,
Oh shit, I've forgotten the words.

Last time that I sang it, it went down a treat,
Then a dog started howling right out in the street,
And I spilt my beer all over my feet,
Oh shit, I've forgotten the words.

Some time they come by line as I sing,
But tonight I cannot recall a thing,
Terry's* sure to know them, should have given him a ring,
Oh shit, I've forgotten the words.

On a scrap of paper** I had them wrote down,
But I threw it away as I came through the town,
And now I am feeling one hell of a clown,
Oh shit, I've forgotten the words.

So come all of you singers and practice your verse,
For if you do not you surely will curse,
But if you follow me then you cannot do worse,
Oh shit, I've forgotten the words.


* Murray always changed the name depending on the venue, usually inserting the M/C's name.

** Murray actually wrote, 'On the back of a fag packet, I had them wrote down.' but since he actually died of lung cancer I can't bring my self to sing his words. He literally smoked himself to death.

    He was a dear, dear friend who was there for me at the darkest time in my life. When he died his daughter gave me his song book in which he had notated all his songs. (He actually took a week off work to decorate his flat but ended up creating his song book instead.) If anyone would like copies of Murray's songs, pm me.