Sunday 7 October 2007

Wind in the willows...

When the Daughts were very small, Sunday afternoons were often a bit dull for them, and with the evenings drawing in, the television was usually on, fire lit, curtains drawn.

The Girls would sit and watch the early evening programmes, often with Mrs S, and I would be mucking about somewhere in the house, but usually within earshot. One particular theme song from that time has always stayed with me, and thanks to Lilith's ability to find bits on 'Youtube', and a long discussion over several pre-Sunday lunch tinctures, we've had some real success today!

Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame starred Michael Hordern, David Jason, Peter Sallis and even a name from my own kid-hood, Daphne Oxenford!

I always loved the theme music, beautifully sung by Ralph McTell, and I rated it probably my number one theme ever! Until today, I've never heard it in twenty five years or so. I couldn't find a copy anywhere, but, within seconds, after instructions from Mrs S, 'Youtube' hit the spot!

Here's the link - just enjoy, and especially linger on the final few words and notes; they are absolute magic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQsViELwLUk

11 comments:

Modo said...

Fil (فيل) means "elephant" in Arabic.

I thank you

lilith said...

Nooo, nooo, not Ratty and Mole et al? Noooo! (its ok, call me a philistine)

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

I don't think there were any elephants in 'Wind in the willows' Modo; maybe, but probably not...

Lilith; just listen to the blasted music, it's absolutely mind wrenching!

I took me years to find, mainly because I thought it was Tom Paxton singing it!

lilith said...

Yes, I can safely say my mind has been wrenched. I hope you are satisfied. I wouldn't do it for anyone else. Boyfriend has just run from the room screaming, in spite of his love for Wind in the Willows....

Hercules said...

Ah another great blast from the past! I loved Wind in the Willows. Scroblene you speak so fondly of your children and spending time with them, including the post with picture a few months ago of you and your daughter "mowing" the grass. That is so different to most modern day families, isn't it?

Good job!

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Lilith,

I can only offer a plea for un-wrenchment...I'm so sorry!

I'm still not sure if all this means that you like the song or hate it though; it's that final chord which really gets me right there. Or didn't you like W in the W?

Also, Heidi's theme is there somewhere and that one does something similar!

My sister had all the Little Grey Rabbit books, and Hare was a skater in one of them!

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Herc; you're very kind!

We've all had the usual ups and downs, but they really can fend for themselves now, and they've always made us pretty proud! I suppose you never stop missing them all the time, even though there's always email, phones, visits etc. Also, kids easily get fed up with their parents as well, and want to get on.

That mower pic was taken by Mrs S and it's a shame that the camera was so cheap, as it really didn't show very much, which is just as well (for me) as it was taken well over 20 years ago!

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Lilith;

'Heidi'; just for you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYZL0esEhTI

lilith said...

"Scroblene, Scroblene, Scroblene!

Please don't take my mind, just because you can..."

Apologies to Dolly Parton.

Electro-Kevin said...

How do I put this ?

I'm really quite embarassed about it but I think a confession here and now would be cathartic. You started it Scrobs ... don't blame me now.

I loved the theme tune to Postman Pat so much that I learned the full solo guitar version of it - including the tap on the guitar top (knock knock 'letters through your door ...' ) No mean feat I can tell you.

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Elecs;

Don't worry old chap!

One of our family chorus lines was always the theme from Chigley...

'Time flys by when you're the driver of a train,
And I ride on the footplate there and back again,
Under bridges, over bridges, to our destination...'

At that point, we'd all make up stupid lines, and the older the girls got, the more crude they were!

I love your guitar story, which seems quite reasonable to me; especially as you remember the 'knock knock' bit - Clapton needs to know this of course...

It's Lilith I'm worried about, because if she has a Dolly Parton complex, well, we've all got to look forward to the next post...