A couple of days back a mate in Gateshead announced on social media he’d become a grandad. Witnessing this posting led me to post a tribute YouTube video on my buddy’s timeline showing a recording of Dad’s Army actor Clive Dunn’s 1970’s novelty single ‘Grandad’.
A misguided action on my part which’ve meant for the past forty eight hours the refrain’s lyrics and tune have been looping on repeat play on my cranial jukebox. Consequently, annoyingly I’ve been unable to eliminate the following verses and choruses from my conscious mind:-
I’ve been sitting here all day thinking
Same old thing ten years away thinking
Now my days are gone, memories linger on
Thoughts of when I was boy
Penny farthings on the street riding
Motorcars were funny things, frightening
Bow and hoops and spinning tops
Penny dreadfuls, lollipops
Comic cuts, all different things
Grandad, grandad you’re lovely
That’s what we all think of you
Grandad, grandad you’re lovely
That’s what we all think of you
Grandad grandad
These words the reminisces of an old man acted out by Dunn who was only 50 years old at the time. That being said, acting in his dotage was something he’d become accustomed to; after all, he’d spent the two years prior to the songs release portraying excitable butcher/Home Guard soldier Corporal Jones in the much-loved Jimmy Perry and David Croft comedy.
As I was only 7 years old when the song was released, I’m unable to give informed comment on whether Dunn’s skill at playing the role of convincing old man in middle age was a consequence of his acting ability, well applied makeup and/or him just looking old for his age….. Or indeed all three.
Witnessing the video brought to mind notions of what nostalgic childhood thoughts I’d sing to my grandchildren in my dotage. With apologies to the original songwriters Herbie Flower and Kenny Pickett, possibly this’d be the version of my childhood I’d convey to my future grandkids sitting attentively at my feet….. To the tune of Clive Dunn’s Grandad
Verses by me:
I’ve been sitting here all day thinking
Same old thing about years away thinking
Now my days are gone, memories linger on
Thoughts of when I was boy
Football on Allerdene Field, playing
Bowling beamers at our kid, frightening
Raleigh bars at funny angles
Cola cubes and tubes of spangles
Roy of The Rovers, all different things
Chorus by Grandkids:
Grandad, grandad you’re a nutcase
That’s what we all think of you
Grandad, grandad you’re a nutcase
That’s what we all think of you
Grandad grandad
Verses by me:
Holidays at Reighton Gap, smiling
Cricket at Chester-le-Street park, beguiling
Monochrome TV and stereograph, Les Dawson made us laugh
One gurn we were falling about
Familiar things I keep around, near me
Memories of my younger days, clearly
Come into my mind
Everyday I find, thoughts of when I was boy
Chorus by Grandkids:
Grandad, grandad you’re a nutcase
That’s what we all think of you
Grandad, grandad you’re a nutcase
That’s what we all think of you
Grandad grandad
