The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #40887 Message #588846
Posted By: GUEST,MCP
09-Nov-01 - 05:56 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Shores of Old Blighty (Graeme Miles)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The shores of old blighty we're leav
The Wilson's recorded version on Horumarye says it is the first recording of original version of the song ("written on board the 'Empire Parkeston'when I embarked for Germany in 1955" - sleeve notes by Graeme Miles), although he believed several recordings of the third version existed.
When I started singing on Teesside in the mid 60s, the usual version (sung mainly by The Teesside Fettlers - this was possibly the third version GM referred to - I must dig out my old TF recordings and see if they recorded it;I can't remember) was only 3 verses (omitting the farewell to the girls from the 4 verse version quoted elsewhere), this was presumably the third version. That verse we got from Graeme himself at some time in the late 60s/early 70s. The tune used differed from that used by the Wilsons in that it was a slow 3-time song without the repeat of the Sergeant bit at the end of the verse and with 'Life on a serviceman's pay' in the chorus. The very long version quoted elsewhere I have never heard and don't know if this is one of Graeme's later versions of the song or not.