|
25 Jun 21 - 11:55 AM (#4111354) Subject: Origins: Christine Keeler 1970’s Irish song ? From: GeoffLawes Does anyone know anything about this song? My friend Bill Sowerby in Hull would love to know more about the song and tells the story of how he first encountered it. Bill Sowerby and some friends were on holiday in Ireland in August 1974, visiting the Fleadh in Listowel, County Kerry and were in a session in Lynch's Bar with lots of other singers and musicians. The MC repeatedly asked a young man if he would "give us Christine" to which he always replied "maybe later". Eventually he was persuaded to sing the song and, anticipating a good Irish song, Bill switched on his cassette recorder and this is what was sung. We don't know who he was or who wrote the song and we have never heard it sung since except by Bill. The words here have changed a little over the years as happens but it is mostly as we heard it in 1974. The tune is a variant of Brighton Camp / The Girl I Left Behind Me. > Christine Keeler > > The truth I’ll tell it happened in the merry month of June When the > Russians tried to put a woman on the moon But over here in England a > terrible storm did blow Concerning Christine Keeler and a bloke called > Profumo > > Now it’s well known that Christine was generous to the boys To > ministers and diplomats and also Russian spies She was generous to all > colours be it black or white or red Sure half the British government > had slept in Christine’s bed > > Profumo had a lovely job his salary was high He also had a lovely wife > but he had a roving eye One day in high midsummer his room was far > from cool He first met Christine Keeler in the Clivedon swimming pool > > He tickled her in the swimming pool, he cuddled her in the park Then > went for drives round pubs and clubs, he caressed her in the dark One > day he was late for keeping a date Christine to him she said I’m sorry > Jack you should have stayed with the crack cos there’s a Russian in my > bed > > Now Dr Ward tried very hard to keep the whole thing quiet But “Lucky > Gordon” came to call and the story came to light It reached the House > of Commons, McMillan he was vexed I can’t allow corruption or an > overdose of sex > > Profomo now is in disgrace he’s finished for all time McMillan and his > Cabinet they forced him to resign He lost his MP’s salary and calls > before the Queen And that’s the price he had to pay for his sessions > with Christine If anyone can give us more information or even an online recording of this it will be much appreciated. |
|
25 Jun 21 - 07:56 PM (#4111402) Subject: RE: Origins: Christine Keeler 1970’s Irish song ? From: GUEST,Hilary Marge Steiner (Indiana U PhD '88) has a field recording made in 1978 in Brookeborough Fermanagh with a song about Christine Keeler. It was sung by Agnes Lavery. Marge's Irish field tapes have just been added to the Archives of Traditional Music at Indiana University and are being digitized by them. So they're not available yet, but if you send me an email at hwarnere AT indiana DOT edu, I can give you more information at a later date. I'm not 100 percent sure it's the same song, by the way, since it's been a long time since I listened to it. |
|
11 Aug 21 - 05:05 AM (#4116139) Subject: RE: Origins: Christine Keeler 1970’s Irish song ? From: GeoffLawes I@m stil looking???? |
|
11 Aug 21 - 05:30 AM (#4116140) Subject: RE: Origins: Christine Keeler 1970’s Irish song ? From: John MacKenzie No help I know Geoff, but this sounds awfully Dominic Behan like. Jim McLean might be the man to ask, on that score. |
|
11 Aug 21 - 03:26 PM (#4116197) Subject: RE: Origins: Christine Keeler 1970’s Irish song ? From: GUEST,# https://aran.library.nuigalway.ie/handle/10379/5634 There is reference to a song entitled Christine Keeler (1963) at that site. Also, there is discussion of the song at the following site, but alas no lyrics. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:g9e6X32B76IJ:journals.ed.ac.uk/ScottishStudies/article/download/1807/2385/+&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca |
|
11 Aug 21 - 06:10 PM (#4116218) Subject: RE: Origins: Christine Keeler 1970’s Irish song ? From: GUEST,Jerry Shouldn’t this song be updated now that it’s apparent that Ward was working for MI5, and the sex story was just nurtured as a devious distraction from a much bigger story? Here’s my final verse suggestion: Recruiting spies, MI5 devised to bribe the Russian attaché, With girls procured by their Stephen Ward, but blundering Jack got in the way; To save their necks, they sold tales of sex, and by a smokescreen we were duped, Our good old Press, being so sex obsessed, just took the bait and missed the scoop. |