Someone mentioned this song in the thread WWII songs, so I looked it up. Spotify has 2 recordings: one by Arthur Askey and one by Arthur Riscoe. The lyrics are identical (except for some irrelevant patter).


FOLLOW THE WHITE LINE
Words and music by Michael North & Davy Burnaby, ©1939.

Bill's been busy with his pot of paint
Making all the roads look as if they ain't.
The big white line gets longer every day,
And when it's dark you can hear the people say:

Follow the white line all the way.
Leading from the Rose and Crown,
From Trafalgar Square it'll take you anywhere.
It'll lead you round the Marble Arch and back to Leicester Square.
Follow the white line all the way,
And no matter where you roam,
It will take you after dark
Round the railings in the park
And back again to home sweet home.

* * *

Can someone put this in some historical context for me and explain what the song is about?

I'm guessing it's about some sort of alternative navigation system that people used when they couldn't read street signs at night due to the blackout. Can anybody tell me more about how it worked? Was there (as the song implies) only one continuous white line, or many?