Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs

Subject: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: GUEST,Chris R
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 01:10 PM

Does anyone recall the song around in the 1970s written to remember the profumo affair The bits I recall are "They used toe Tory whip to play kinky games in that stately Cliveden garden, and Butler don't forget Rab Butler he saw lady Summerskil doing up her vest in that Stately Cliveden garden."

It was frowned on at the time but had some popularity in south London area.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: GUEST,Iains
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 02:14 PM

Here is   another song about the affair:

Nothing Has Been Proved
Dusty Springfield

Mandy's in the papers 'cause she tried to go to spain
She'll soon be in the dock and in the papers once again
Vicki's got her story about the mirror and the cane
It may be false, it may be true
But nothing has been proved
Stephen's in his dressing-gown now, breakfasting alone
Too sick to eat, he's on his feet and to the telephone
The police inspector soothes him with his sympathetic tone
It may be false, it may be true
But nothing has been proved
In the house a resignation
Guilty faces, every one
Christine's fallen out with lucky
Johnny's got a gun
"Please Please Me"'s number one
Now, Stephen's in the dock for spending money that was earned
By Christine, and the prosecution says that money burned
A hole in Stephen's pocket, for expensive sins he yearned
It…

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: Jim McLean
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 03:48 PM

Just one verse comes to mind at the moment... tune Cosher Bailey..

The village down in Clifton
Really looked like it'd been lived in,
There were parties, there wer orgies
that would satisfy the Borgies
Did you ever see, did you ever see
did you ever see, such a funny thing before.

The words are not correct but they'll come back to me unless someone gets there first.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: Jim McLean
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 03:58 PM

Another couplet
....I'll bet a fiver to a shilling,
That's what it cost MacMillan,
   Did you ever see....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 04:02 PM

The song in question from the OP was written by Eddie Macintyre of Hebburn around the time of the scandal - 1964/5.I'm away from my PC for a couple of days but I'll post what lyrics I can remember when I get home.
Dave Sutherland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: G-Force
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 05:50 PM

I seem to remember, to the tune of Pop goes the Weasel:

Half a crown for Mandy Rice,
Half a crown for Keeler,
That's the way the money goes ...

(that's all I can recall)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: GUEST,jugmws
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 07:35 PM

I have forgotten how to log in.
I have done it before but age takes it's toll.

Stan Crowther ran Jazz & Folk Clubs in Rotherham & was a long-time councillor, later Mayor (twice) & eventually became our MP. He wrote a song about the affair to the tune of Galway Bay long before he joined the Commons.
I have the lyrics as i got all Stans songs that survived before he died.
Unfortunately they are in 'picture format & I do not know how to display the pidtures of it here.   Can anyone help ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: Joe_F
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 09:16 PM

"Friendly Duet" by Michael Flanders & Donald Swann:

"No romance," said Juliet,
"I haven't left school yet.
We're friends, just friends."...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From:
Date: 08 Sep 20 - 04:46 AM

I have no idea where I picked this up from, but it was a log time ago.
               Christine

Queen Vickie used to sit upon her magic stane
Makin’ up governments o’ her ain
But they’ve taken this privilege awa frae the Queen
And gied it to the lassie that they ca’d Christine

      With your tooria folderiddle da
      Toori oori ooria
      With your tooria folderiddle da
      Toori oori ooria

Christine was poor when she left the school
But she made a lot of loot she was naebody’s fool
She didnae make it working on the factory floor
She went to London and became a model

In London Christine did go well
Wi’ a hoose and a Rolls Royce tae hersel’
But the silly wee thing she fell in love
Wi’ Gordon, Ward and Ivanov

And she had another lad named John
He was always there when the rest were gone
He was the luckiest man alive
Till he fell intae the airms o’ the MI 5

MI 5 were awfy taken back
They were nearly even gaun tae tell their uncle Mac
For here was a Tory and a rye buck red
Fightin’ oot the cold war in Christine’s bed

Lucky Gordon’s back in the jail again
And Mac’s getting thrown out o’ number ten
The ministers are all in a terrible rage
And Christine’s thinking of goin’ on the stage

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: GUEST,Georgina Boyes
Date: 08 Sep 20 - 07:11 AM

I also remember a parody Stan Crowther wrote & sang about Christine Keeler at the time. Set to the tune of "Oh No John", it was a request from Profumo to the Queen. Unfortunately, I can only remember the last verse -

"Dear Madam in her face was beauty
Lovely figure, gorgeous knees
So dear Madam, I was tempted -
But may I have my job back please?

CHORUS: Oh, no John, no John
No John, NO"

Perhaps jugmws has more of the words?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 08 Sep 20 - 07:46 AM

Christine Keeler by Phil Ochs

Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies,
You're the gals for me.
Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies,
I'll keep you company.
You can have your Marilyn, your Carolyn, your Jacqueline.
Grace Kelly never meant that much to me--
Just give me:
Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies,
You're the gals for me. (I'll give you secrets.)
And you're the gals for me.

Oh, you get good defense from Robert McNamara -
Defends us all day long;
But when Lord Profumo takes off his mascara
You know he can't go wrong.
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Lord and Lady Astor:
Everybody's gonna lose their minds
Because of:
Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies,
Will you be mine, all mine? (I'll take your pictures.)
Will you be mine, all mine?

And Michael Portillo called at Cliveden in a programme broadcast last week; Michael Portillo picks up his rail journey from Warwick to Rye. In Reading, he traces the origins of education for workers, and in Cliveden explores a great Italianate mansion.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: GUEST,jugmws
Date: 08 Sep 20 - 07:54 AM

Georgina. I have all the surviving papers scanned (& the recordings) & that is the same one I have. Stan morphed Galway Bay into The Bee song then No John No halfway through. Stan originally would not let me into his club (where I first met you) because he knew that I was underage. When I finally got into The Travellers it was the time when his work commitments were preventing him from coming himself except at holiday times. Rather strange that with a start like that he gave me all his material shortly before he died. Hope all is well - Mick Shaw

These are the words he gave

(Tune Galway Bay)
If you ever go across the Thames to Clivedon
Then maybe at the closing of the day
You may meet a luscious blond called Christine Keeler
Well watch it mate; she's poison all the way.

(Tune Bee song)
Oh what a wonderful thing to be
A healthy, wealthy sexy M.P.
Flitting around The Commons; the brightest ever seen
Having lots of fun with dear Christine

(Tune Galway Bay)
My name is John Profumo; ex-Minister of War
When it came to ambition, i was not behind the door.
Tipped to be Prime Minister; lined up for Downing Street
But now an ex-M.P. without a blinking seat.

(Tune No John No)
Harold in her face is beauty
Gorgeous figure shapely knees
Couldn't resist such great temptation
So can I have my job back please ?
          OH NO JOHN, NO JOHN, NO JOHN NO.........

(Tune Galway Bay)
If there's going to be a life hereafter
You never know the kind of luck you'll get.
I will ask old Mac if he will please forgive me
Then I'll make damn sure the next is a brunette.

Hope it is of use - m

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: GUEST,jugmws
Date: 08 Sep 20 - 07:59 AM

In the earlier post from jacko@nz he gives the words to "Christine".
.
In my records it shows that the transcript was given by Matt McGinn
I do have a recording of that also.
m

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: GUEST,Georgina Boyes
Date: 08 Sep 20 - 10:40 AM

Thank you very much Mick. Stan wrote so many good - and extremely funny - songs. I'm delighted to hear that they're properly saved and archived by someone who, I know, really appreciates them.
All good wishes - Geoorgina

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: Jim McLean
Date: 08 Sep 20 - 01:54 PM

G-Force

Half a crown for Many Rice
Half a crown for Keeler
That's the way the money goes
......Ten Bob to feel her

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: GerryM
Date: 09 Sep 20 - 03:25 AM

Here's a link to the Phil Ochs song. It's to the tune of Walk Right In.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 09 Sep 20 - 07:39 AM

But are there any songs that expose the real story behind the scandal? Most of the above songs fall for the smokescreen story, with the easy ridicule about pimps and prostitutes. Was Stephen Ward actually working for intelligence services, with John Profumo just blunderingly getting in the way, so the whole titilating sex scandal story was cleverly exaggerated to deflect our attention away from more serious issues?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: Gurney
Date: 11 Sep 20 - 10:31 PM

I can't remember a song, but Michael Flanders had an intro that went; "There's no smoke without fire, -or as the Romans say 'Nil Combustibus Pro Fumo.'"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 14 Sep 20 - 03:18 PM

This is what I can remember of the song that Chris R requested. It might be a verse short so hopefully someone from the North East can fill in the gaps.

Stately Cliveden Gardens (tune English Country Garden)

A lot of Tory Ministers skipped to and fro in those stately Cliveden Gardens,
One of them got caught, this we all now know in those stately Cliveden Gardens,
It started with Profumo, he let Alec Hume know, and soon all Westminster was in the dock, all except Big Ben,
Oh The Queen thought it sinister these excursions from Westminster to those stately Cliveden Gardens.

High ranking Tory Ministers high class Soho Dames used those stately Cliveden Gardens,
They used the Tory Whip for playing kinky games in those stately Cliveden Gardens,
They said …… Maxwell – Fyfe was indignant with his wife as she was found in bed with Ivanov the Red.
Oh the Queen Etc.
Butler, don’t forget Rab Butler, Butler don’t forget Rab Butler

Rab said to Maudling stop your senile dawdling in those stately Cliveden Gardens,
It was said upon the sword that he seduced Irene Ward in those stately Cliveden Gardens,
………………………………………………………………………
He was giving them advice all about their whole – sale price,
Oh the Queen Etc.

Edward Heath was seen swimming nude with Ray Martine in those stately Cliveden Gardens,
This raised a jealous howl from the lips of Enoch Powell in those stately Cliveden Gardens,
When Macmillan heard of this he told them make up with a kiss or I’ll have you both transferred to the Foreign Orifice.
Oh the Queen Etc.

Armstrong – Jones he took some pics of Edith Summerskil in her vest in those stately Cliveden Gardens,
Her chest expanders did adjust and put three inches on her biceps in those stately Cliveden Gardens,
But Dame Edith wasn’t foxing, it’s more strenuous than boxing and she was in line for a belt from Lord Lonsdale (for boxing)
Oh the Duke he thought it was immoral it wasn’t held up in Balmoral instead of Stately Cliveden Gardens.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: GUEST,Don Day
Date: 15 Sep 20 - 10:28 AM

You've just about got it Dave

1. Sir David Maxwell Fyfe was indignant with his wife.
2. Lord Astor in the House of Lords, was pimping for all Mayfair broads.
3. Upon the lawns green sward he reduced Dame Irene Ward.
4. Quintin Hogg was seen swimming nude with Ray Martine
5. Lord Snowden snapped some pics of Edith Summerskil.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Profumo affair songs
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 15 Sep 20 - 11:53 AM

Thanks Don, will we see you at Jim Irvine's funeral next Tuesday?