I won’t go on about the term “old folks”; irritating as it is. It is a newspaper placard, space is important. “older persons” is clumsy, and longer.
No. What gets me is the “pub sing songs” bit.
It automatically conjures up images of good ‘ole cockney types in caps and mufflers, drawing deeply on Capstan Full Strength as they quaff ale and sing Roll Out The Barrel and Knees Up Mother Brown.
“Never mind the bombs falling Duck, get another drink in and we’ll sing Roll Me Over In The Clover”
But hang on a minute. Let us define “Old Folks” as those of 75 years of age. That means they were born in 1931. Now, say for the purpose of argument that one’s musical tastes are formed by the music you grow up with, what were the contemporary hits of 1953, when these wrinklies were 22 years of age?
Guy Mitchell “She wears red feathers.” (13 March 1953)
Lita Roza “How much is that doggie in the window?” (17 April 1953)
Frankie Laine “I Believe” (Various times for something like 18 weeks in total).
Now pardon me, but I have never heard a pub full of old timers belting out “How much is that doggie” before trashing the place and steaming down Upper Street in their mobility carts.
And as for “I Believe”, well anyone who can sing
“I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows”
In these drought-ridden times deserves to be bought a drink, not banned from the pub.
No comments:
Post a Comment