Clapham 1938 'Great Days'

Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK - 04 Jul 2002

Dixieland, they say you're grand
for generations I've been told,
of the charms of Mammy's arms
back in the Swanee River fold.
Tennessee, it seems to me,
reigned for far too long.
Listen while I sing to you
my new Homeland song.
Let me see again that portal
on a sunny summer morn,
take me to that dear immortal little place
where I was born.

I want to go back home to Clapham,
Clapham calls me home.
Maybe it isn't 'Ritzy' in the modern way,
there's lots of land in Clapham
that is Common ev'ry day.
Still I yearn, to return,
how I burn for you.
I know the place has changed
because they've built a million flats,
but ev'ry night a serenade
is sung by all the cats.
Oh, take me back, back home to Clapham
where my heart belongs.

I want to go back home to Clapham,
Clapham calls me home.
Maybe you haven't flow'rs to smell
as flowers should,
but I think Clapham Junction 'smells'
are nearly just as good.
Still I yearn, to return,
how I burn for you.
I want to see my Mammy,
ah I dream to see her now,
I see her stagg'ring down the street
she's coming from the Plough!
Oh, take me back, back home to Clapham
where my heart belongs.

I want to go back home to Clapham,
Clapham calls me home.
It seems to set the brain of ev'ryone afire,
and if you don't like Clapham
you can always laugh at Dwyer!
Still I yearn, to return,
how I burn for you.
We have no Royal Palaces
that people come to view,
a Gaumont and an Odeon's
the best place that we can do,
Oh, take me back, back home to Clapham
where my heart belongs.

Funny, money isn't honey
in that sweet old home of mine.
Let me get me just you set me
on that Southern Railway line.
Hear me shout HipHipHooray
when I'm heading back.
Pack my grip and there I'll stay
in my suburb shack.
I'll have Roses round the door
(and lots of Mauds and Mabels too)
you can never ask for more
to make a heav'n on earth come true.

I want to go back home to Clapham,
Clapham calls me home.
Maybe it isn't 'Ritzy' in the modern way,
there's lots of land in Clapham
that is Common ev'ry day.
Still I yearn, to return,
how I burn for you.
I know the place has changed
because they've built a million flats,
but ev'ry night a serenade
is sung by all the cats.
Oh, take me back, back home to Clapham
where my heart belongs.

I want to go back home to Clapham,
Clapham calls me home.
Maybe you haven't flow'rs to smell
as flowers should,
but I think Clapham Junction 'smells'
are nearly just as good.
Still I yearn, to return,
how I burn for you.
I want to see my Mammy,
ah I dream to see her now,
I see her stagg'ring down the street
she's coming from the Plough!
Oh, take me back, back home to Clapham
where my heart belongs.

I want to go back home to Clapham,
Clapham calls me home.
It seems to set the brain of ev'ryone afire,
and if you don't like Clapham
you can always laugh at Dwyer!
Still I yearn, to return,
how I burn for you.
We have no Royal Palaces
that people come to view,
a Gaumont and an Odeon's
the best place that we can do,
Oh, take me back, back home to Clapham
where my heart belongs.

Soft karaoke
Words
treble clef 1
treble clef 2
lyric line
bass
*
Clapham 1938
by Ralph Reader
copyright 1938 by Francis, Day and Hunter Ltd.
sequence and karaoke by Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK
on Thursday 04 July 2002 at 18.12
in association with Doug Grierson
*
from Ralph Reader's Gang Show of 1938
'Great Days'
*