Backburner

I have often walked down this street before
But the pavement never stuck to both my feet before.
All at once do I feel I’d rather die
Than be here on the street where I live.

Won’t you throw your eggs and flour on your mummy’s floor?
As you beg for sweets and money, do you think you’re poor?
Does enchantment pour out of every door?
Not right here, on the street where I live.

And oh, the sinking feeling,
Just to know the bleeding Scream masks must be near.
The over-powering feeling
When Hallowe’en comes round again … Continue Reading

Some people get nostalgic about old telly programmes. I’m one of those. Nothing too unhealthy (or, indeed, strange these days) about watching old Bagpuss or Mr Benn. Where an interest arguably becomes an obsession, though, is if you start getting interested in the bits on TV that aren’t the television programmes themselves.

I often wonder why I can sometimes be transfixed by a television trail, channel logo, or – for crying out loud – continuity announcement. It’s not just a reflection on Television Itself Not Being Quite As Good As It Used To Be. OK, so I do … Continue Reading

Ah, the unpopular world of folk music. Bands about half a dozen people have heard of. Songs about nineteenth-century railway accidents and failing to find jobs. Songs with vaguely pagan connections. Songs about the Burning Times. Beards. Chunky jumpers.

Well, some of those cliches are true. In spite of Neil (http://www.wiblog.com/neil/) and others’ best efforts, don’t expect Show of Hands (http://www.showofhands.co.uk/) to set the charts alight anytime soon. Don’t expect to see Maddy Prior (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/folk/artist_database/pages/priormaddy.shtml) gracing the stage of Top of the Pops.

But then, don’t expect anyone – least of all folk music fans – to actually … Continue Reading