Granddad Goes Dancing on May Day

Subject: RE: morris dancers are racist gay men!!!
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 02 May 11 - 11:48 AM

Helen Akitt was inspired to write the song when she heard a child at Upton festival say "we're just off to see Granddad dance...". But I was watching MikeofNorthumbria's side (Hexham) at Whitby last August, and they really give the lie to the idea that granddads can't dance with energy!

Kitty

Subject: Granddad Goes Dancing on May Day
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 02 May 11 - 04:15 PM

At katlaughing's suggestion, I'm putting this link to my video of Helen Akitt's very funny song. Sorry about the awful sound quality ...

The words were posted a long time ago on this thread, which starts off extremely silly and a bit offensive, but gets taken over by sensible people.

Subject: RE: Granddad Goes Dancing on May Day
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 02 May 11 - 04:42 PM

Thanks Steve - never mind the sound quality, loved the pictures! And I've sent the link to Helen (who posts here occasionally)....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Granddad Goes Dancing on May Day
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 May 11 - 07:19 PM

Good man, Steve! What a great song and you did a fine job. I love those pix, too!

kat

Subject: RE: Granddad Goes Dancing on May Day
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 03 May 11 - 04:00 AM

Sensible as in get up at dawn to dance in front of a couple of insomniac dog-walkers?

Subject: RE: Granddad Goes Dancing on May Day
From: Gurney
Date: 03 May 11 - 04:13 AM

I laughed at the parody, but I wouldn't sing it myself out of respect for the subject matter of the original.
Sorry if that sounds precious or PC.

Not that I'm against taking the p*ss out of morrismen on principle.

Subject: RE: Granddad Goes Dancing on May Day
From: GUEST,HSA
Date: 03 May 11 - 04:47 AM

Kitty pointed me to this thread (thanks).

I would just like to add that both Kitty and I were once (North West Clog) Morris dancers and I also sing the original song. "Grandads" was not really intended as a piss take, it was just one of those moments that suggested itself as a song. And it's all true......

Just glad people enjoy it.

Helen Akitt

Subject: RE: Granddad Goes Dancing on May Day
From: Derby Ram
Date: 03 May 11 - 06:11 AM

I'm all for people laughing at themselves, I've done it all my life, but to those who don't get that, this is just adding to the world wide misconception that Morris is nothing more than you have written and sung about here. Are you a supporter writing and singing in irony or do you really see these comments as the all that Morris is? Is might be a good idea for you to make it clear which?

Interesting to note that none of the pics actually display any of the negative allusions in the song which is the best thing about it but I'm not sure it's enough to justify the tiresome sentiment of the song. Is anyone going to write a song with the same enthusiasm that tells the positive truths and ridicules all the pillocks who have it wrong?

Now that might help eh?

Subject: RE: Granddad Goes Dancing on May Day
From: Acorn4
Date: 03 May 11 - 08:14 AM

As someone pointed out to me a couple of years back, you need a sense of humour to be a morris dancer.

Subject: RE: Granddad Goes Dancing on May Day
From: Acorn4
Date: 03 May 11 - 08:18 AM

The Recruited Eric

I heard the news the other day,
Though I scarce could be believing,
Concerning of poor Erik's fate,
It set my heart a grieving
It's not that they had dragged him off,
To the war with all its horrors..
He'd gone to a fate much worse than that,
For they'd taken him for the Morris.

He used to like to singaround,
Lord Franklin with bold relish,
But now he's gone and blacked his face,
And with bells he is embellished,
While walking past he stopped to watch,
A move that was not clever,
They shoved a stick into his hand,
And now he's gone forever..

Singing...Dance, dance

"Dance, dance with wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance" said he
Mutant ninja Morris dancers
Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Do you want my body, do you think I'm sexy?
Somehow I don't think so,
Come back to my campervan and maybe ,later on,
I'll show you my manboobs and…(nudge nudge)
You can playon on my melodeon,
Yes, you can play on my melodeon.

The guilty look upon his face,
Told us that they had got him,
And now he's gone beyond recall,
Twas better that they had shot him,
They could have chosen Bill or Ben,
Or Brian, Stan or Horace,
With copious promises of beer,
They lured him to the Morris

Singing Dance, Dance...

When e'er I think about the dance,
Though done so trim and neatly,
My heart will groan and heave a sigh,
They've taken him completely,
An estate agent called Trevor,
An accountant who's nemed Derek,
They all dance in formation now,
Alas, alas poor Erik.

Subject: RE: Granddad Goes Dancing on May Day
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 03 May 11 - 12:59 PM

In the interests of balance, if I sing Grandads I also then tend to sing Albion Boys....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Granddad Goes Dancing on May Day
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 10 May 11 - 06:41 AM

Helen, I've just realised I've mistyped you name! Please accept my grovelling and abject apology. I'll make sure I give proper credit when I sing it.

Kitty: I don't do balance, it spoils the jokes! I've sung this quite a few times to Morris men & women, and it always goes down well. I don't think they mind gentle fun being poked, and I can take it as well as dish it out.
As a matter of fact, my earliest memory of seeing Morris Dancers is of respect for people who'd go to such trouble to keep traditions alive.

Subject: And another one ...
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 10 May 11 - 06:47 AM

This is getting to be a bad habit! I've added another movie, in the same vein, of The Baby's Name.