DAE YE REMEMBER

Ye might no’ know what I’m talkin’ aboot
If yer 50 or 60 or aulder tae boot
Sit back in yer chair if ye’ll just hear me oot
But ye might no remember?”

The steamie the washoose that wis roon the back
Boilers, wally sinks that aye had a crack.
A board that ye scrubbed claiths that were grey,
They were used in skiffle groups
Where teenagers would sway.
Dae ye remember?

Wally closes that were scrubbed till they shone.
The leerie who lit the gas lamps until dawn,
Oot playing in the street till ye needed a wee
When ye didn’ae want tae go hame fur yer tea.

The sunshine that lasted all through the day.
Glauber mud pies made wae watter and clay,
Peever, ropes and hunch cuddy hunch
A puddy up, but there was nae lunch.
‘Cause there were pieces thrown from above,
Wae suger, jam and jeely and a whole lot of love.

We went tae the pictures on a Saturday
Where Roy Rodgers and Trigger were in the matinee.
We sat in oor seats and shouted so loud,
Thrown sweeties and caramels into the crowd.
Comin’ oot like cowboys slappin’ oor bums,
With pretend horses, oor fingers were guns.

The shoap that sold ye sweets fur a penny,
Way back then there must have been many.
Fish and chips oan a Friday a must
A wee swally fur daddy tae quench his thirst.
A pokey hat fur the weans and nugget for mammy,
Ye would get them from the café
That was owned by the Tally.

We played wee shoaps broken glass for the money,
Sellin’ sweeties and crisps and the odd jar of honey.
Awe made wae mud and paper in bits
That was torn up fur the fish and the chips.

The man wae the barra would always come roon.
Blawin’ his bugle that was aye oot o’ tune,
Fur some smelly claiths ye got a balloon.
Then ye would listen tae awe his auld gags,
And he’d go on his way shoutin TOYS FOR RAGS.

The back court talent they sang their hearts oot
For some scalding hot pennies as they bellowed for loot.
Objects would come from some flats on the top
Dishes, wet cloots and the occasional mop.
They ducked and they dived but they wouldn’t stop.

We made oor ain fun, I would have to say.
Nae computers or lap tops were there fur tae play.
Nae telly at night tae sit doon and watch,
We’d rether be oot playing hopscotch.
The wireless, piano were there at oor back
But we’d sit roon the table enjoying the craic.

Wee rooms and kitchens nae lavvies inside,
Single ends and lobbies where people did bide.
Big grey tenements reaching up to the sky,
Horrible buildings where people would die.

It was so glowing when you were wee,
Glasgow the green place was ever so twee.
But would you really like to go back?
Tae nae telly or mod cons that oor grannies did lack.

I really don’t know if I could live like that noo,
Where always the sky was so bright and blue.
When summers would last from June till September
But I am so pleased that I can remember.

 

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