"The Dane" posted a song in tribute to Lonnie on this thread a few days ago. I read it, and some bits of it got stuck in my head. Then some more thoughts gathered around them. The version below eventually crystallised out - I hope The Dane doesn't take offence at having his song messed about with.


One cold winter's day, at the start of November,
Came the end of a story we'll always remember.
When they gave out the news that a hero of mine
Had taken his last ride down the Rock Island Line

Chorus:        And we sang all the old songs as we sat round the bar,
        On the night Lonnie Donegan laid down his guitar.

Now can you recall the way things used to be?
No place on the bandstand for you, or for me,
Just guys in tuxedos, with brilliantined hair
And songs about "Lurve" to a beat that was square. Ch.

Then up jumped Lonnie, guitar in his hand,
He went singing his folk songs all over the land.
Soon thousands of youngsters found out it was true,
That though he sang them best, they could all sing them too. Ch.

With a washboard for a drum kit, and a tea-chest for a base,
In a church hall, a coffee bar, or any old place,
The kids gathered round, and all started to play
Those three magic chords you could learn in a day. Ch.

There were songs of the farmers whose crop got wiped out,
The miner, the lumberjack, and the old roustabout,
The hobo and the drifter in search of a meal,
And all the good people who need a square deal. Ch.

You told us about Woody, and Leadbelly too -
We might never have heard them, if it wasn't for you.
May your memory stay green, and your legend live on,
And we'll tell 'em Lonnie Donegan done been here and gone. Ch



Wassail!