In the 70s he was a huge pop star, with Number 1 hits like 'Rock On' and 'Hold Me Close'. In the 80s and 90s he became a star of the stage with lead roles in GODSPELL and MUTINY! Most recently he became a Number 1 hardcover bestseller with his autobiography, OVER THE MOON.
Now comes a wonderful collection of his poetry and lyrics. Here are nostalgic poems recalling his family's traveller roots, such as 'Travelling Tinker Man', and 'Fairground Attraction', verses filled with memories of his warm and loving boyhood, like 'Beano Day', 'Dad' and 'Upton Park' – and poetry reliving the highs and lows of fame, such as 'Celebrity' and 'Like Moths to a Flame'.
Humour, anger, nostalgia, triumph and tragedy. The joys of being a lover, a husband and a father – here is something for everyone.
In the 70s he was a huge pop star, with Number 1 hits like 'Rock On' and 'Hold Me Close'. In the 80s and 90s he became a star of the stage with lead roles in GODSPELL and MUTINY! Most recently he became a Number 1 hardcover bestseller with his autobiography, OVER THE MOON.
Now comes a wonderful collection of his poetry and lyrics. Here are nostalgic poems recalling his family's traveller roots, such as 'Travelling Tinker Man', and 'Fairground Attraction', verses filled with memories of his warm and loving boyhood, like 'Beano Day', 'Dad' and 'Upton Park' – and poetry reliving the highs and lows of fame, such as 'Celebrity' and 'Like Moths to a Flame'.
Humour, anger, nostalgia, triumph and tragedy. The joys of being a lover, a husband and a father – here is something for everyone.
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Overview
In the 70s he was a huge pop star, with Number 1 hits like 'Rock On' and 'Hold Me Close'. In the 80s and 90s he became a star of the stage with lead roles in GODSPELL and MUTINY! Most recently he became a Number 1 hardcover bestseller with his autobiography, OVER THE MOON.
Now comes a wonderful collection of his poetry and lyrics. Here are nostalgic poems recalling his family's traveller roots, such as 'Travelling Tinker Man', and 'Fairground Attraction', verses filled with memories of his warm and loving boyhood, like 'Beano Day', 'Dad' and 'Upton Park' – and poetry reliving the highs and lows of fame, such as 'Celebrity' and 'Like Moths to a Flame'.
Humour, anger, nostalgia, triumph and tragedy. The joys of being a lover, a husband and a father – here is something for everyone.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781784082338 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Bloomsbury Publishing |
| Publication date: | 02/12/2015 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 144 |
| File size: | 26 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Travelling Tinker Man & Other Rhymes
By David Essex, Carlotta Christy
Head of Zeus Ltd
Copyright © 2015 David EssexAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-78408-234-5
CHAPTER 1
John Lennon
Strange to look back, how fate deals its hand,
I remember you mop head, in that world-changing band.
We covered your songs in a pub by the docks,
The locals would sing, the locals would rock.
I wanted Muddy Waters, but they wanted you,
The sound of the Sixties to help them get through.
She Loves You, Money, Twist and Shout,
Those covers we did would knock them all out.
I was blinkered and closed to the music you made,
Girls screaming and stuff when you hit the stage.
It ain't Memphis Slim, it's not Buddy Guy,
It was only your looks that made the girls sigh.
But you and your brothers, your brothers-in-arms,
Your songs and your voice would sound an alarm,
A bell that would ring with respect for you, John,
A respect for you, man, I admit I was wrong.
Your humour, your wit, your gift and your love,
Like Jesus, you said, a gift from above.
An honour to meet you that time in New York,
At the Grammy Awards, when we had our first talk,
When you told me Rock On was one of the best,
You thought it was special, stood out from the rest.
Those songs that you wrote, the songs that you sang,
Were part of my life, John, as a boy and a man.
Folk know where they were the day the King died.
I'm sorry, I don't and I don't think I cried.
But I remember the minute that you said goodbye,
I remember that moment and yes, I did cry.
Destiny
Fate, the child of destiny, where coincidence clashes with what might have been,
Crossroads with signposts, this way or that,
Fortune, charted by an enchanted black cat,
Which road left to follow and where will it lead?
Horoscope horrors, a rabbit's foot wish,
A shamrock discovered in the grey morning mist.
It's all in the book, it's all written down,
The twists and the turns, life's merry go round,
The circle of life, tomorrow's surprise,
Lies waiting and hidden away from our eyes.
Castles in the sand, journeys that reach
For distant horizons, with secrets to keep,
Shadows of past, turning the page with expectant fingers,
For tomorrow, today,
But patience and wait, don't wish life away.
Give thanks to your life for each breaking day.
A bump and a bruise will heal well in time
And black will turn golden when the planets align.
Walk the path carefully, gently with care,
For around every corner your fate's waiting there,
To carry you somewhere, to strangers unknown,
In future dark corners, to roll back the stone.
Then at the end, when destiny closes,
Look back and smile at your life's bed of roses.
A land fit for heroes
The guns, now silent, the moans of the near dead,
Like dark and pained whispers, fill up my head.
What is it for? Why are we here?
So far away in this hell of a place,
The smell, the mud, the fear on my face.
No tears left to cry, old before my time,
Me, a boy soldier, holding the line,
For King and for country, for England, for freedom,
For our way of life and our beautiful children,
For my people, my wife, so long since I've seen them.
I miss you, Dolly, I miss London town,
I hope you are safe as the bombs rain down,
Rain down and down on old London town.
We are doing our best, love, in this terrible war,
Doing our best on this strange foreign shore.
Keep safe now, my darling, and don't worry about me.
When this madness is over and England is free,
We will dance to the music, we will live life and then,
Catch up on lost time, all over again.
We will walk, gal, together, just us, hand in hand,
You and me, Dolly, and our little man.
How is he doing, is he missing his dad?
Please tell him I love him and not to be sad.
This can't last forever, one day, love, you'll see,
We will be together, you, David and me.
In your last letter, I remember you said,
You'd be leaving London for a much safer bed,
Evacuated somewhere, catching a train,
You wasn't sure where, though, a town with no name,
Somewhere better, safe, away from the Blitz,
Away from the madness, with the women and kids.
It's started again, the guns and the smoke,
But I've got my mates with me, a great bunch of blokes.
We will win this war, darling, I believe that we will,
When Jerry surrenders, when he's had his fill,
We'll return to old Blighty and one day I know,
I'll be home, back in England, in a land for heroes.
Mods and Rockers
Mods and Rockers, Tamla, Ska, Jerry Lee, don't need a car,
Lambretta, Vespa and Bonneville, those Brylcream boys remember still.
Southend, Brighton set the scene for battles like you've never seen.
Fighting on the beaches there and fighting in the town,
Rock the Mod, Mod the Rock, who will win the crown?
Dirty greaser, poofy Mod, so, which tribe were you?
Leather jacket, or anorak and Hush Puppy shoes,
The girls would scream, the town would shake as we stormed the beach.
Two armies from a different world, lessons now to teach.
You're yesterday, you must be gay, two tribes set to collide,
Battles won, we count the cost, as out of town we ride.
Pink jeans torn, leather jackets ripped, Bank Holiday seaside,
We did good, we won the day, they had nowhere to hide.
Sorry about your holiday, but you see it had to be done,
Cos they're not like us, they're a different breed, under the Brighton sun.
The clothes they wear are really square, born in the Fifties style,
Yeah, well look at you, Mr Fancy Pants, with your pansy rank and file.
I'm an old-style Rocker, I'm a New Age Mod and never the two shall meet,
A clash of style, a clash of look, we're fighting in the street.
Those days have gone, it's for the best, fashions ebb and flow.
What comes next I couldn't care less, as on and on we go.
Now binge my drink, no need to think, legless Friday nights,
Idiots without a brain, just looking for a fight.
Girls like blokes stand and choke on the city centre street,
A and E just waits for me, they'll fix me up a treat.
Fairground attraction
Billy the Whizz, Jack the Dipper, hot dogs these dagoes, do you up like a kipper.
Little Richard, the lord of the ring, rattles the whip, with songs from the crypt,
Knuckledusters in a cluster, flick knives, greased-up Teddy Boys.
Roller coaster, win it for her, hit the target, cuddly toys.
Showmen, attractions, full of action, building nightmares, building dreams,
Screams of pleasure, hidden treasure, in a pirate's cove, by a ghostly train.
Spin my waltzer, bump my bumper, let me ride that ride again,
Teddy Boy, Teddy Girl, lost inside another world.
Noise and wonder, generator thunder, jive me, Teddy, make me twirl,
Roll on up, this ride is leaving, Hayley's comet, Bill's kiss curl.
Helter skelter, tell your fortune, let's all dance to a different tune,
Rock 'n' Roll me why not hold me, underneath this gypsy moon?
Fairground attraction, full of action, here tonight, but gone too soon.
The Royal Docks
I remember the docks, Dad took me to see the ships,
Just like buildings, sailing in from the sea,
The smell of the spices, the sweat of the men,
The Royal Docks was working, way back then.
From India and China, Australasia too,
With cargo aplenty for me and for you.
Stevedores, dockers, plundering cranes,
Ships from the world with wonderful names.
Banter, whistling, holds to unload
And on to the lorries and off down the road.
Strangers from strange lands, leaving the ship
And going to shore before the next trip.
Their colourful language and different face,
Men from the sea of every race,
Sheds full of cases of everything,
Imported and waiting, for country and King.
Flat caps on the stones waiting for work,
The lucky ones picked, the other ones hurt,
Brothers in dockland, mates to a man,
Doing their best, the best that they can.
This place was for men, this place was for muscle,
As I sat on Dad's shoulders in the hustle and bustle,
I wondered and thought of worlds far away,
Across tempest and storm, then the ships seem to say,
We ride out the storm and towering waves,
Steel mountains we are, no watery grave.
No SOS, no lost at sea,
We deliver our crew and dock safely.
The Royal Docks have gone now, the severance paid,
The dockers long gone, into that watery grave.
Theatre of dreams
Is there magic here, in these four walls?
Where actors have trod for history,
Where journeys have taken surprising turns,
Where moments are frozen in mystery.
Tears, laughter, comedy, the tragic,
The star and spear holder, the drama, the magic,
Still here in this room, this theatre of dreams,
A shrine to the arts and the changes of scene,
The opening, the closing, the tears of goodbye,
Shine just like diamonds in the past actor's eye.
There was once the poet, the King and the Queen,
The finest performance that you'd ever seen,
Bow upon bow, applause just like thunder,
Resonate in these walls and split them asunder,
With laughter and sighs, with truth and with lies,
The skeletons of the past, the original cast.
They were here for your pleasure, here for your joy,
Waiting for Godot, the Nutcracker's toys,
Costumes of fire, make up of gold,
Gone not forgotten, your torch I still hold.
The ghosts of your troubadours, the harlequins spin,
Matinee idols that made ladies' hearts sing.
Pantomime horses and men dressed as dames,
Clowns of the footlights cry out in pain.
Remember me, I was here, here before you,
I watch from the gods, I see what you do.
As you take to the stage in a glow of limelight,
Another adventure, another first night.
Looking back
What's your favourite colour, mate? Bill said to Ted.
Dunno, said Ted, could be blue, or it could be red.
I don't like yellow, mate, at all and orange, Bill, is horrible.
I saw an orange motor once, did that look bloody terrible.
Green is nice, restful and serene.
Remember those avocado toilets and those lovely matching sinks?
Funny how taste changes, Bill, it makes you really think.
I had a Perry Como cut, when I was just thirteen,
Thought it was the bees' knees; I was with it as a teen.
Italian suit, a knitted tie, Italian shoes as well,
An East End Mod, born really close to the famous old Bow Bells.
Lambretta or a Vespa was a serious choice to make,
Ska and R & B, Ted would always take the cake.
The Sixties, mate, were special; we thought we owned the world.
In lots of ways, I guess we did, every boy and girl.
Fashion, music, everything seemed to come from here.
Yeah, England was the place to be. D'ya want another beer?
Ships that pass in the night
You sail your memories across my seven seas,
Talking in shadows black, you reach to talk to me.
But how can I move to touch you,
When my body is far below you
And my spirit moves to get to you?
Oh, those ships that pass in the night,
Sail on, sweet mystery's flight.
Dreams, burned by the morning light,
So near, yet so far from home,
Too close to touch,
And all alone.
The burned-out bridges of the past are still in flame,
All battles won and lost, they end, to begin again.
Your banners fly so high, into the darkened sky.
My spirit moves on up to you,
Yeah, those ships that pass in the night,
Sail on, sweet mystery's flight.
Dreams, burned by the morning light,
So near, yet so far from home,
Too close to touch,
I'm on my own.
Music
Music is a wonderful thing, from the Classics to the songs we sing.
Moods enhanced, drama heightened, the darkest days can be lightened.
Majestic Wagner, Elgar, Mozart, so many more; where do I start
To thank you for your inspired gift? Your work the savage beast does lift.
Melodies soar into the sky, kissed by angels as they fly.
Tunes that bring you a memory, when you were young, footloose and free;
A song takes you back again, to a place or time with a distant friend.
Maybe you danced in a lover's arms; perhaps you fell beneath their charms
As the music played on that special day, a perfect time, I hear you say.
Carried off by magic wings, wings of music, notes that sing,
Of a time and place, back there and then, remembering, remembering.
Music plays in our strange world, Rock 'n' Roll and boy meets girl.
Buddy Holly, Beatles tunes, underneath that true blue moon.
A constant mistress, my life, my love, good vibrations from above.
Thank you, music, you saved my soul, with your Classics, Blues and Rock 'n' Roll.
Travelling tinker man
I never met you, my grandad, Tom – only faded photos of you in the drom.
I loved your wife and knew her well, sweet Nanny Kemp, Olive, Nell.
I wonder what you would think of me, of what I've done, of what I've been.
I feel your blood runs in my veins, blue eyes like mine, they look the same.
What did you see, what stories untold? A travelling man, big and bold.
How I wish, as a chav, I'd sat on your knee, as you told me of a land that was free.
The open road, a horse, a wagon. Another time when dreams could happen.
What would you think of this land, this time, when to live like you has become a crime?
Don't you worry, Tom, for in my sons, your spirit lives, you travel on.
I thank you for what I am, Grandad Tom. A travelling man from a distant drom.
Religion
Fires burning in the east, religion, God, philosophy,
From ages past they rear their heads, like ghosts arising from the dead.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. This can't be right, where is the truth?
A holy mess of Man's making, where is this God,
When will he come to remedy what Man has done?
To right the wrongs, to bring the peace, a flight of angels to release.
Put out this fire, stop this hate. Stop hatred now, before it's too late.
Where is compassion, kindness, love? I thought that good came from God above,
So why does the fire still burn in your soul, God-fearing man, as death takes its toll?
Why no answer to your cries and needs?
As the women and children, like fugitives, flee,
As your brothers lie dying. For religion, you say.
It doesn't make sense, as you kneel and you pray.
Like moths to a flame
Look, that's him, look, over there,
I recognise him, with that long curly hair.
How I've waited for this; I'm gonna ask for a kiss.
You coming or not? Oh my God, he's so hot.
They said that he'd stay here, it's him, crystal clear.
I know that he'll like me, I'm his number one fan;
He'll remember me, won't he? He'll know who I am.
Are you coming, or not? Cos I'll go on my own.
Look! He's about to go in and he's there all alone.
Now is the moment, now is our chance,
What's wrong with you, girl, are you stuck in a trance?
Right now, that's it. Hello, over here.
Look, he's turning around, my God, he's so near.
My knees are a-shaking, what shall I say?
Oh no, it ain't him! Shall we go? No, let's stay.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Travelling Tinker Man & Other Rhymes by David Essex, Carlotta Christy. Copyright © 2015 David Essex. Excerpted by permission of Head of Zeus Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
Cover,Welcome Page,
Display Options Notice,
Foreword,
John Lennon,
Destiny,
A land fit for heroes,
Mods and Rockers,
Fairground attraction,
The Royal Docks,
Theatre of dreams,
Looking back,
Ships that pass in the night,
Music,
Travelling tinker man,
Religion,
Like moths to a flame,
Dad,
Firework night,
All along the watch tower,
It's gonna be all right,
Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner,
The pavilion,
All the pennies in the world,
Shining stars,
Silver bird,
Remembrance,
Beano day,
The boxer,
Celebrity,
Rock on,
Over the rainbow,
The boy,
Upton Park,
The sea,
Cowboy,
Are you still my true love?,
My three sons,
Love after love,
Oh suburbia!,
Opening night,
Painted clown,
On and on,
Flamingo,
Shooting star,
Into the woods,
Bankers,
Ricky and Carol,
Working men's club,
Goodbye first love,
Levi,
Autumn,
Artisans,
City boy,
Fairies in the garden,
Troubadours,
Like a rolling stone,
La la land,
Time machine,
R.S.V.P.,
If I could,
Be happy,
Providence,
Milk and honey,
Mother nature,
Today is my birthday,
Wales,
Imperial wizard,
Sonny Rae,
Hearts turn to stone,
America,
Stardust,
The sprite,
Verity,
Heart beats like a drum,
Dangerous,
Sweet dreams,
All together,
At the end of the day,
About this Book,
About the Author,
An Invitation from the Publisher,
Copyright,