REQ:Between the Wars - BBC Music Workshop Aut 1978

Subject: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: GUEST,Andy Witcomb
Date: 04 Feb 20 - 11:34 AM

I recall a song from a BBC schools music program. I believe it may have been Music Workshop, probably about 1978/9. A story series with music, but I can't remember the main story.
Song entitled "Between the wars", I think.
Opening lyrics:
"Between the wars, when I was a lad, I remember the long summer days".
Slow, wistful, sun-soaked rhythm.
It sticks it my mind. Please help, someone!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: cnd
Date: 04 Feb 20 - 08:38 PM

The BBC had a television program that first aired in 1978 called "Between the Wars." It looks more educational but maybe it used this as a themesong?

In 1973 London Weekend Television also ran a series of TV shows called "Between the Wars." That one looks like they just adapted books to the TV screen, but maybe the same case of using it as a theme?

BBC online has a pretty decent looking search tool called the BBC Genome but it's not clear to me whether it covers all their stations or not, and the level of detail for some entries can vary, but you can try looking there

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 06 Feb 20 - 11:20 AM

Thanks to cnd I found the following:

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/issues

I hope it's some use to you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: GUEST,Jon Hill
Date: 18 Oct 20 - 07:58 PM

Hi, Andy.

I remember the song! I think it might have been from a musical of some sort, about the march of technology. We did it in music lessons in the early 80s, but it could be older of course. Let’s see what I can do with the lyrics, it’s been a while!

Between the wars, when I was a lad
I remember the long summer days
When the bees droned by, and the meadow lay,
And shimmered in a golden haze
And the grass was soft, and the river was clear
As it gurgled and tumbled over the weir
And I can’t remember a single tear
When I was a lad

There was at least one more verse, but I’ve only got bits of that. Still, it’s amazing what you can remember, isn’t it?

Cheers,

Jon.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: GUEST,The Man from UNCOOL
Date: 18 Oct 20 - 08:51 PM

Hard to research online, w/o running into Billy Bragg's song of the same name.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: GUEST,Andrew
Date: 17 Jul 21 - 12:52 PM

I remember and think about this song often.

"And I can't recall a single tear, when I was a lad"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jul 21 - 04:28 PM

For some reason I think it’s a bbc music workshop play for schools called chaos at crusty towers and was sung by the Gardner.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: GUEST,Andy Cole guest.
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 05:29 AM

I remember this song. So sad and melancholy.
I remember singing it during music lessons around 1980.
The words I remember are:
Between the wars when I was a lad
I remember the long summer days
Just me, my dad and our faithful Prince
With his doggy nose nuzzling my palm.

Hope that helps.
Andy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: GUEST,Kernow Lad
Date: 17 Nov 21 - 11:43 AM

Again, I remember it from school although I have in mind it was pre 1980 as I think we sang it in Primary school. I could be wrong though!

As Andy Cole says:

Between the wars when I was a lad
I remember the long summer days
Just me, my dad and our faithful Prince
With his doggy nose nuzzling my palm.

But Im going to add:

Then home to Mum
For some scones to eat
And a big brown egg
Was my teatime treat
And the milk was cold and the bread was sweet
When I was a lad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 23 - 03:20 PM

Thanks for all the help, everybody. I loved singing it to myself again.
After a bit of sleuthing, I think the song may have featured in Chaos at Crusty Towers, which was on BBC Music Workshop in 1978.
https://www.broadcastforschools.co.uk/site/File:Music_Workshop_cover_summer_1978.jpg.
Does anyone else think that's right?

I just wish I could find a recording. Such a lovely melody.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 04 Nov 23 - 06:27 PM

Hi there, I have been remembering this song too, which I sang at school (it would have been pre 1978 or 1978 at the latest). There was a musical production of The Tinder Box being put on at school, and I remember this song being part of this (but I may have muddled it in my mind over time). The verse I remember, which is probably the last one goes like this.

Between the wars, when I was a lad
I remember the long summer days
There was time to do what I wanted to
And I laughed through the live long day.
I would watch the iridescent gleam
as I tickled a trout in the crystal stream
But its only a half forgotten dream
When I was a lad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Nov 23 - 06:52 PM

I wonder if this song inspired Billy Bragg to write his Between the Wars. Could he have heard it in school?

Has anybody found this song in back issues of BBC Music Workshop?

Subject: RE: REQ:Between the Wars - BBC Music Workshop Aut 1978
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Nov 23 - 05:49 PM

I'm not finding it in Nigel's index. Can anybody take a look with a second pair of eyes?

Subject: RE: REQ:Between the Wars - BBC Music Workshop Aut 1978
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 08 Nov 23 - 07:26 AM

No, Joe you're not missing it.
If it's in that booklet "Chaos at Crusty Towers' (BBC Music Workshop Summer 1978 & 1980) it's one of the gaps in my collection, so isn't in my index.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 23 - 03:20 PM

Thanks for all the help, everybody. I loved singing it to myself again.
After a bit of sleuthing, I think the song may have featured in Chaos at Crusty Towers, which was on BBC Music Workshop in 1978.
https://www.broadcastforschools.co.uk/site/File:Music_Workshop_cover_summer_1978.jpg.
Does anyone else think that's right?

I just wish I could find a recording. Such a lovely melody.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 04 Nov 23 - 06:27 PM

Hi there, I have been remembering this song too, which I sang at school (it would have been pre 1978 or 1978 at the latest). There was a musical production of The Tinder Box being put on at school, and I remember this song being part of this (but I may have muddled it in my mind over time). The verse I remember, which is probably the last one goes like this.

Between the wars, when I was a lad
I remember the long summer days
There was time to do what I wanted to
And I laughed through the live long day.
I would watch the iridescent gleam
as I tickled a trout in the crystal stream
But its only a half forgotten dream
When I was a lad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Between the Wars - BBC children's music
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Nov 23 - 06:52 PM

I wonder if this song inspired Billy Bragg to write his Between the Wars. Could he have heard it in school?

Has anybody found this song in back issues of BBC Music Workshop?

Subject: RE: REQ:Between the Wars - BBC Music Workshop Aut 1978
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Nov 23 - 05:49 PM

I'm not finding it in Nigel's index. Can anybody take a look with a second pair of eyes?

Subject: RE: REQ:Between the Wars - BBC Music Workshop Aut 1978
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 08 Nov 23 - 07:26 AM

No, Joe you're not missing it.
If it's in that booklet "Chaos at Crusty Towers' (BBC Music Workshop Summer 1978 & 1980) it's one of the gaps in my collection, so isn't in my index.