And just for the fun of it there has been another change in my life this year.
Another social one that is.
With pleasure being the name of the game I’ve upped stumps and joined another choir.
The one I joined last year – the one I settled into so easily and throughly enjoyed singing with – moved house. To another suburb One much further from home. They raised the annual membership fee plus the weekly fee which when combined with longer train travel there and back was going to make a big dent in my day as well as my small personal monthly allowance so I looked around for another option.
And I found one really close to home – a short 10 minute drive in fact!
It’s not quite as organised as some I’ve sung with (meaning the conductor may not have as many qualifications as some of the others) yet for a group of 30 retirees the quality of singing is just as good.
We have a gig coming up at the end of this month that is going to be lots of FUN
Performing at the Highland Games and Celtic Festival out here in the eastern suburbs. How good is that!
Since our first rehearsal at the end of January it’s been Popular Scottish songs/tunes all the way. Well mostly Scottish; Men of Harlech The Ash Grove and Danny Boy may be heard – to give a nod to a couple of other Celtic nations 😊
Last week during rehearsal we were asked what songs we sang as youngsters on bus trips. With no idea what was wanted suggestions included……
- If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands
- The wheels on the bus go round and round
- 10 green bottles hanging on the wall
- She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes
- Oh the grand old Duke of York
- Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree
- Row Row Row your boat gently down the stream
- I’ll tell me Ma when I come home, the boys won’t leave the girls alone
No, we get told, They are too general, I want something this particular audience will relate to. Then our lovely pianist (of Scottish descent) started to sing this.
Oh ye cannae shove yer Granny aff a bus
Ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus,
Oh ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus,
Ye cannae shove yer granny, for she’s yer mammy’s mammy,
Ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus.
Ye can shove yer other granny aff a bus,
Ye can shove yer other granny aff a bus.
You can shove yer other granny, for she’s yer daddy’s mammy,
Ye can shove yer other granny aff a bus.
So I’m sitting here with my coffee on this sunny Monday morning wondering if it’s only in Scotland where children learn (and seemingly love) a song about pushing their Granny off a bus ?? 😎😎
What strange songs did you learn as a youngster?
Still Waters 
Well, not really, but if your choir would like to continue the Glasgow theme there is this
The Jeely Piece song….or a critique of high rise housing.
There was one…vaguely remembered, a ball game song…one, two, three aleerie..you bounced the ball and on aleerie passed your leg over it…had some – for our times- scurrilous verses, I recall.
Then there was Coulter’s Candy….
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I have heard the song too. I would add ging gang gooly goo to your list.
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My husband is Scottish and his granny used to sing this! Glad you have found another choir – we have two around here just a short walk to the village – unfortunately I cannot sing so I am going to the Yoga. Hope I come out feeling better than you did – I loved your post on the ballet – I think my feet naturally go into position from doing ballet when I was five.
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When the old group became onerous, it was time to leave. Good job on the new choir. Interestingly, I found myself singing along in my head as I read the Granny lyrics and when I listened to the clip, it was the same tune! I suppose many children’s lyrics are set to that tune.
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It’s great that you found a new doctor who could help you. And you seem to be a lot happier, singing and dancing. Terrific!
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Sounds like fun. I tried to form a small choir here but no go. I was remembering that old song too: Hello my name is Jo. I remember the granny song and all the rest. Taught many to Grandgirl 🙂
Good luck on the new choir.
XO
WWW
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