In the U.K. if you pull out a uke some card will adopt a nasal whine and warble 'whennnn I'mmm cleanin' widoooooowwws'.
It's happened to me on so many occasions I thought 'well, alright then' and set about learning 'When I'm Cleaning Windows' by the late George Formby.
I can't say I'm a Formby fan but during the process of beating this song into my head I've developed a great respect for him.
I've still some work to do but, for the moment, this is as good as I can get it:
When I'm Cleaning Windows by Outa_Spaceman
I have another reason for wanting to play and sing this kind of song.
Some musicians I know have been getting gigs in old folks homes. The material they choose is, usually, completely inappropriate for the audience they are attempting to entertain so I decided to put a set of sing-a-long songs from the 30's and 40's together that they might enjoy.
I'm all heart (and empty wallet).
Here's the masters version:
Now, where's that Tiny Tim album...
Thursday 16 September 2010
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11 comments:
Next time you have to deal with one of those cards, have your extended version of When I'm Cleaning Windows ready, the one "with all the original lyrics". Keep singing. You're a serious folk musician, a stickler for historical accuracy. We can't hold the great George Formby to our modern moral standards.
Hmm, inappropriate ukulele songs...
Are you familiar with the work of Doc Cox (a.k.a. Ivor Biggun)? I can email you a copy of his most famous track if you like.
I will say no more of this here.
I've got ...Cleaning Windows and Chinese Laundry Blues on 78 somewhere.
The still accompanying the YouTube video shows that strange banjo/ukulele thing.
Orlando.
Glyn mate, yer' back!
Good to hear from you.
I agree with what you say.
I have a feeling 'Windows' was actually banned from broadcast by the BBC at the time.
Orlando, I am aware of Mr. Biggun's work but tend to be a fan of the double rather than the single entendre. If memory serves I believe the broadcast version of the song in question mentioned winking.
The instrument most associated with Mr. Formby is the banjolele. I have a steel strung 'Whirle' banjolele made in the 1940's hanging on the living room wall. It needs new machine heads to make it playable but I'm reluctant to take the original's off.
The other GF song I'd like to get under my belt is 'Leaning On A Lampost' but it'll have to wait until I've wrestled 'I'll See You In My Dreams' to the ground.
George Formby's banjolele was spotted this summer in a glass case at the V&A. Mixed feelings about this. Glad that it is preserved, but sad it's not being played.
Angela,
I heard that GF had several ukes tuned to different keys for different songs so the V & A exhibit is probably one of many.
I suspect there maybe one or two in the estate of the late George Harrison.
Glad about that, bet GH didn't leave them under glass never be to be sullied by other human hands.
Glad about that, bet GH didn't leave them under glass never be to be sullied by other human hands.
I was just playing my ukulele yesterday as a sort of forced therapy needed after a bout of thinking. I find thinking very depressing and the ukulele usually gets me out of it.
Good rendition.
Yep, perfect cure for having to much to think.
Hi again David!
I've attended some old people sing-a-longs, and I'm sure those people would sit all afternoon, with their glasses of port, happily listening to you and your ukelele. I could.
At one of those sing-a-longs an old guy played us a Nazi marching tune on his harmonica. He said he and another little soldier had walked into a canteen full of German prisoners of war and played it to them. Half of them walked out and half of them froze on their seats. He says he doesn't remember why he did it, but if a prisoner had done the same he would have been executed.
Respect to the Spaceman! I'm with Glyn, you have a great voice, although I didn't hear you giving any saucy winks during your performance (not Mr Bigun's type of winks obviously.
Incidentally, George Formby was a most moral man (stop me if I've told you this. When he was invited to play in South Africa, he refused to play the big, white only, venues unless he was also allowed to play in the townships. The authorities said no, so he played them anyway. Yo.
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