Lyr Req: He Played for England (Harvey Andrews)

Subject: Lyr Req: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: GUEST,Skippy
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 05:28 PM

Has anyone out there got the lyrics for the above song?
I don't know the title!
Regards Skippy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 06:17 PM

Well, since Harvey is a MC member, I'm sure he'll be along soon. If not,I'll do a search.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: GUEST,Skipy
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 06:21 PM

Thanks for that.
But don't mention "Kalafrana banana"
(in joke - Harvey will understand)
p.s. It's a song title!
Regards Skippy

Subject: Lyr Add: HE PLAYED FOR ENGLAND (Harvey Andrews)
From: harvey andrews
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 05:13 AM

He played for England

He played for England, yes he did,
He played before the war
He was magic with a football
And by God, he made us roar
We saw him on the newsreel
He was talking to the king
he played for England once
but now, It doesn't mean a thing.

His cartilage went at thirty one
His back at thirty two
He left the game at thirty three
With nothing much to do
He couldn't settle down you know
He couldn't find a job
The only skill he'd ever had
Was nodding in a lob

Now in the pub he talks of when
Goals were goals, and men were men
But now the only pass he makes
Is with a glass that someone takes

He thought he world would not forget
To pay him what it owed
That he could live forever
On the memories he'd sowed
But legends mean so little
And memories grow old
As boys create new heroes
And men forget the old

He never goes to see a game
He reckons now it's all the same
Nameless numbers run like hares
The joy is gone, but no one cares

His wife deserted years ago
His kids have gone abroad
He spends his time with scrapbooks
Of the many goals he scored
And on his wall a photograph
Of when he met the King
He played for England once
But now, it doesn't mean a thing

This was also released in New Zealand, slightly re-written, as "He made the All Blacks"!
I remember singing it at Derek Dougan's retirement dinner to universal bafflement. I think they were expecting some rousing piece of crap like a World Cup Willie song!!!!

Subject: Lyr Add: WORLD CUP WILLIE (from Lonnie Donegan)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 05:33 AM

for those on whom the above allusion is wasted, The World Cup (soccer / Association Football) was held in England in 1966, when a record was released glorifying the competition's mascot, a lion called "World Cup Willie":

WORLD CUP WILLIE
(sung by Lonnie Donegan)

There's a football fella you all know his name
And the papers tell us he's in the hall of fame
Wherever he goes, he'll be all the rage
'Cause he's the new sensation of the age

Dressed in red white and blue
That's World Cup Willie
We all love him too, World Cup Willie
He's tough as a lion and never will give up
That's why Willie is favourite for the cup

Willie Willie
He's everybody's favourite for the cup

We're all football crazy, and its plain to see
That we're all so happy, like one big family
No we've found someone
Who makes the rafters ring
Welcome to a brand new soccer thing

Dressed in red white and blue
That's World Cup Willie
We all love him too, World Cup Willie
He's tough as a lion and never will give up
That's why Willie is favourite for the cup

Willie Willie
He's everybody's favourite for the cup

All the fans are waiting, how they'll spur him on
And those sixteen nations will soon know Willie's song
Wherever he goes, he'll be all the rage
'Cause he's the new sensation of the age

Dressed in red white and blue
That's World Cup Willie
We all love him too
World cup Willie
He's tough as a lion and never will give up
That's why Willie is favourite for the cup

Willie Willie
He's everybody's favourite for the cup

Nigel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 05:35 AM

Of course, history tells us that, spurred on by the above song, England did manage to win the cup that year.
Nigel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 10:27 AM

Harvey -- I hope when you sang it for the Doog you changed it to 'He played for Northern Ireland'!

BJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: Frug
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 11:47 AM

World Cup Willie..............isn't that the disease that is caught by football fans abroad ???? or is that Boxcar Willie ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: harvey andrews
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 12:28 PM

No Bullfrog....it doesn't scan!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: Noreen
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 01:25 PM

No rest for Harvey! You were still performing in Manchester when this request was posted- you can't have had much sleep :0)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: ard mhacha
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 04:35 PM

This song could refer to a large number of pre-1960 soccer stars, who were treated like slaves.
In those days the wages were a pittance £12.00 a week, rising to £20.00 in the mid 60s.
Tommy Lawton, Wilf Mannion, Raich Carter and many others finished their days scraping a living as watchmen or on security duty, unlike the pampered prima-donnas playing to-day, they were true sportsmen. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 04:50 PM

When I saw the heading....I thought "Jeez, he never struck me as being that fast"!

but cheap joke aside, I think it's an excellent song...well written and once again, celebrating Harvey's "everyman" (although we don't know whether he was an actual "Star", or an important cog in a winning team)...fine work Harvey.

Rick (he played for Toronto in Mixed slow-pitch softball)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 25 Mar 03 - 10:45 AM

I remember seeing Derek Dougan play when he was with the Villa -- a great character and a real showman. He had a mohican haircut forty years before David Beckham!

BJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: Brakn
Date: 25 Mar 03 - 10:57 AM

I have an autographed copy of the Doog's book "The Sash My Father Never Wore" (or something similar). My father went to see him play for Blackburn in the 1960 cup final. He handed in a transfer request as the teams were walking out onto the pitch. I saw him a few times when he was with Wolves. Great days!

Subject: Origins: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: GUEST,Karen Hussey
Date: 01 Jul 05 - 12:33 PM

Please can you tell me what the story behind this song is and where can I get a copy. We used it during a drama project at school and I have never ever forgotten it since. You kindly led me to a copy of the lyrics and now I have them I want to hear it even more ! It has been following me around for 19 years now and I still love it.

Subject: RE: Origins: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: alanabit
Date: 02 Jul 05 - 03:30 AM

I am not so good at searching the site, but I know that this song has come up here before. I recall reading the (excellent) lyrics. Leave the thread up and someone more computer literate will connect us!

Subject: RE: Origins: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 05 - 06:15 AM

It was loosely based on a story I heard of the sad last days of an England international of the 40's/50/s.It was released on the album "Fantasies from a corner seat" and on the cd "Someday fantasy" LBEEcd oo6, now out of print. However I understand the owners of the recordings intend to issue a double album sometime this year of all my Transatlantic recordings and "He played for England" will be on that.
As a sidelight on its history, I recorded a slightly changed lyric for NZ "He made the All Blacks" at the record co's insistence. Derek Dougan asked me to sing the original version for the gathered dignitaries at his testimonial dinner. I'll never forget their faces as their expectations of a cheerful footie song were shattered by the story of a lonely alcoholic the game had turned its back on!

Subject: RE: Origins: Harvey Andrews - He played for England
From: GUEST,harvey andrews
Date: 02 Jul 05 - 06:16 AM

Sorry, the above is by me.

Subject: RE: Origins: He Played for England (Harvey Andrews)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 05 - 02:36 PM

Hate to correct you Harvey, but that song ain't on my tape of "Fantasies from a corner seat" !

Subject: RE: Origins: He Played for England (Harvey Andrews)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 05 - 02:42 PM

You're right! It was on the subsequent album "Someday", still to be part of the double album release if it goes ahead.

Subject: RE: Origins: He Played for England (Harvey Andrews)
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Aug 05 - 04:05 PM

Dear Harvey

Any news of when the album including He Played For England will be available - not that I am desparate or anything !!

Karen

Subject: RE: Origins: He Played for England (Harvey Andrews)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 05 - 12:54 AM