September 28, 2015

 

 

‘Ring my bell’ sang Anita Ward,

back in seventy nine,

five years after Abba’s ‘Ring ring’ request

came down the telephone line.

 

Jethro Tull, also in the 70’s,

gave us ‘Ring out Solstice Bells,

and ‘Here I go again’, and ‘Soul City Walk’;

hits for Archie Bell and The Drells.

 

Judy Clay in 68, shared with William Bell

this ‘Private Number’ song,

whilst ‘Call me’ by Blondie in 1980,

in the charts, could do no wrong.

 

‘Black is Black’ by La Belle Epoque,

in 77, a re-entry hit, so fine.

‘Saved by the Bell’ from lovely Robin Gibb,

reached number 2 in sixty nine.

 

Belle and the Devotions ‘Love Games’

reached 11 in eighty four.

Whilst Harry Belafonte’s ‘Banana Boat song’

reached his ‘Island in the sun’, decades before.

 

In 81, Godley & Crème’s ‘Wedding Bell’s,

proved ‘Under your thumb’ wasn’t wrong.

And Belle Stars ‘Sign of the times’,

followed  ‘Iko Iko’ and ‘Clapping Song’.

 

From School bells to Church bells;

through hymns and nursery rhymes.

From Wedding Bells to Christmas Bells;

a life lived out with chimes.

 

From happy bells to hell’s bells;

the price paid for our crimes.

And at the end, those Funeral bells;

with sweet thoughts of glorious times.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury.

 

 

September 24, 2015

 

 

I watch my glady’s

hour by hour.

Every year they grow

but they never flower.

 

Their lanky leaves a mess;

a victim of the storm.

I wait impatiently

for just one flower to form

 

But as autumn nears

I fear they’re for the chop

Another barren season;

another flowerless crop.

 

Though out in the countryside,

with seemingly effortless toil,

they grow in vast abundance!

It must be the Cotswold soil?

 

In shades of red and white,

and purple, pink and blue,

they sit in buckets outside

the growers house, on view.

 

He must know what he’s doing,

but when I pass, I sigh,

as he also grows sunflowers

that nearly touch the sky.

 

 

 

 

 

Half naked dancing with desire;

no thought of what may yet transpire.

The fairies moved with gentle ease,

and tiptoed lightly in the breeze.

The elves retired, their whim complete;

to do what elves do, in the heat.

 

 

 

 

 

Out of the blue, the moment right,

to jump ship now, by harbour light,

and land unscathed, in calmer waters:

Mother of the sea, what sense you taught her.

 

Out of the blue, the Solent still,

reached by desire via Portland Bill.

No onward journey, destiny’s clutch.

Mother of the sea; thank you so much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although the stone wall

looks quite well.

One cannot fail to see,

it’s body swell.

 

And also bricked up,

can be clearly seen,

the space where,

sill and glass have been.

 

And on closer inspection,

there’s signs of damp,

and two shades of mortar,

from different builders stamp.

 

So not nearly as grand

as at the first sighting,

and nowhere near as old,

as time, inviting.

 

But still mind blowing

to other passers by,

who don’t possess

my critical eye.

 

 

 

 

And towards the junction of the road,

undecided, dear Erasmus strode.

Three choices had he at this brow;

go left or right, or return home now.

 

But going left just wasn’t right;

the west not on his satellite,

and if going right, all that was left,

would the eastern star find him bereft?

 

So although freedom, Erasmus yearned,

from the unknown, his back he turned.

And no other option had he now,

but to seek out middle ground, somehow.

 

 

 

 

 

And as we tread

the road to nowhere,

our onward journey

not in vain.

For with each step

around every corner

waits a new adventure

life cannot explain.

 

And as we tread

the road to nowhere,

a mistimed plan

can change the day

For with each step

around every corner,

courage of conviction

sees us pave the way.

 

And as we tread

the road to nowhere,

New horizons

ours to own.

For with each step

around every corner,

a trusted hand awaits;

we are not alone.

 

 

September 22, 2015

 

 

Tune into

Tonys Time Machine

Live

Wednesday 23rd September

11.00 – 1.00pm

This weeks theme is 

America

and Tony will be reading

Harriet’s poem

‘More memories of Live Aid 85

JFK Stadium USA’.

The show is repeated 

as follows

Thurs 8.00am – 10.00am

Fri  01.00am – 03.00am

Satrdy 18.00 – 20.00pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 21, 2015

 

 

Pink Floyd certainly proved,

that there is no another way,

with their early hit of 67;

the great –  ‘See Emily Play’.

 

Neil Diamond also showed

that on belief he was fed,

with his memorable anthem

of strength,  – ‘I am.. I said.

 

Never easy – the uphill path,

when laden with strife,

but Dire Straits gave us hope

with their ‘Walk of Life’.

 

Another talented deep thinker

on hand, when needing to unwind,

was Mr Gordon Lightfoot,

with ‘If you could read my mind.

 

Always the Master of Smooth;

Andy Williams laid his heart bare,

with this unforgettable classic;

his hit song – ‘Solitaire’.

 

Both poignant and meaningful,

Whitney’s hit, easy to recall.

When giving so much of herself

with the ‘Greatest love of all’

 

The only hit for Eddie Holman

back in seventy four,

was ‘(Hey there) lonely girl’;

bringing lovers to the dance floor.

 

Stevie Winwood and Traffic

showed us a way through,

when it was wet underfoot,

with their hit, ‘Hole in my shoe’.

 

Whilst Carole Bayer Sager’s

assertive hit of seventy seven;

‘You’re moving out today’,

sent all feminist’s to heaven.

 

In 1980, Joan Armatrading,

brought us  ‘Me myself I’,

years after ‘Love and Affection’;

her army of fans – still standing by.

 

From his Hollywood Nights album,

Bob Seger gave us ‘Still the same’.

A song showing how some survive,

by playing the power game.

 

‘An Englishman in New York’,

from Sting, – came this 88 hit.

About solitude and elegance,

from a certain sartorial Brit.

 

There’s a time to be in company,

and a time to be alone.

A time to be nostalgic,

and a time to call your own.

 

There’s a time to be together,

but it’s getting the balance right,

that makes for true contentment,

when anxiety comes to bite.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 19, 2015

 

Happy Halloween – 31^st October.

 

Cream satisfied our thirst,

in 67, with their ‘Strange Brew’,

and in this year, The Beatles took us,

on a ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, they knew.

 

63 saw the King, Elvis Presley,

at number one with ‘Devil in Disguise’

and making number two in 69,

‘Suspicious Minds’ came as no surprise.

 

In 74, one of our fave U.S. Rockers,

at number one, did arrive:

Following her Daytona Demons,

Suzi Quattro took us to Devil Gate Drive.

 

A ‘Specials’ 81 hit –‘Ghost Town’,

in June made number one

‘Too much too young’, from their AKA live EP,

so poignant, now beloved Rico has gone.

 

‘Black Magic Woman’, an early classic,

from Fleetwood Mac, in style.

Two years later, Jimi Hendrix Experience

introduced us to their Voodoo Chile.

 

Alive and kicking came ‘Simple Minds’

insisting ‘Don’t you (forget about me).

Jim Kerr, at the helm showing us,

how cool ’Ghost Dancing’ could be.

 

Never ones for a ‘Quiet life’,

Japan, in 82, brought us ‘Ghosts’,

and with the help of a ‘Night Porter’,

ensured ‘All tomorrows parties’ – the most.

 

‘The Devil went down to Georgia’

to link up with The Charlie Daniels Band.

And ‘Ghostbusterrs’ had us on the run

when Ray Parker Jnr made his stand.

 

 Whether you believe in demons,

and hauntingly spooky apparitions,

or in a devil who’s entered a body,

without any consenting permission.

 

Or if you think the whole concept nonsense;

preferring to keep your grip on reality tight.

Just for the hell of it, drop your guard,

and enjoy ‘Halloween’ tonight.

 

Written By Harriet Blackbury

 

« Older Posts — Newer Posts »