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Tuesday 5 July 2011

I'm Landing on a Lamp-post

A tribute to the romance of gulls and the talent of George Formby

Photo Copyright James Rainsford 2011


I'm landing on a lamp-post at the corner of the street,
In case a certain lady seagull flies by
Oh me, oh my, 
I hope the lady seagull flies by.
I don't know if she'll get away,
She doesn't always get away,
But anyhow I know that she'll try,
Oh me, oh my, 
I hope the lady seagull flies by.

There's no other gull I would wait for
But this one I'd break any date for,
I won't have to ask what she's late for,
She wouldn't leave me flat 
She's not a gull like that.
Oh, she's absolutely wonderful
And marvellous and beautiful
And anyone can understand why,
I'm landing on a lamp-post at the corner of the street 
In case a certain lady seagull flies by.


Original lyrics by George Gay amended by James Rainsford.


Note to readers: Written  to accompany the above photo. With apologies to George Gay who wrote the original lyrics to this iconic song and to George Formby, the brilliant ukelele playing music hall performer who made it famous. For those who don't know the original song, just click on the link below to hear George perform it in his own inimitable style. 


http://bit.ly/1r5YK

Hope you all enjoy it!  Kind regards, James.

13 comments:

  1. Fabulous! I really enjoyed this... : )

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  2. i am envisioning the gull from the Rescuers singing this...just saying...smiles...fun piece james...

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  3. Oh, I think he'd understand. Delightful in the original or the new creative twist.

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  4. Lovely - thanks for sharing this!

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  5. Such a fun piece and as Brian said the Rescuers gull would be perfect singing this. Again a really fun post nice job.

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  6. Thanks for including the link--it took me back in time, and this was a most charming turn on the song. Enjoyed it.

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  7. I think Scuttle from the Little Mermaid serves this piece much better (If we must reference Disney) I'm sure Brian and Pat will see the error of their ways :) James, once again you have lifted my spirits on a day when it was much needed. I dare say that's a lucky little lady seagull who would be foolish to not take a perch to talk to one as witty as the waiting gull! Happy Oneshot!

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  8. Isn't that song from the 1920s, if memory serves? (and, no, I'm not that old, I just like old things!) Very charming how Mr. Gull made it his own, with a little help from you, James!

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  9. I remember hearing this many, many times as a child and passed through his hometown on many occasions. There was a timelessness to George Formby's gift, and hence your poem seems entirely appropriate. I think George would have had a good chuckle at it himself (before proceeding to sing it of course!)Artists of all genres are SO creative, this what I love about them.

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  10. So glad you shared the link to his song. It made the experience even more delightful :) Hope the lady seagull does fly by...

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  11. This was just a delight - from your photo, to the words and the original video to watch too. Thanks, James.

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  12. That was fun!

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  13. What fun-- she's not a gull like that...xxxj

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If you wish your views and opinions to be published here, please be polite and respectful. I welcome feedback on my work and will try to respond if you take the trouble to post a comment. Thanks for visiting 'The Sanctum of Sanity.' Hope you enjoyed the experience, James.