By English Outlaw
One, two, here's the first few:
Green Gravel and Beautiful Pea Green Boat
Those of us in the northern hemisphere will soon be emerging into spring when the first shoots of life will emerge. The children will play outside once more (that is, when not on their smartphones and iPads), singing their rhymes, and what better way to begin than moving on from the deaths and graves of winter and revelling in the green.
Three, four, and a couple more:
The Lament of the Black Sheep and Rain
That's not to say sadness does not lie ahead, nor indeed have we left behind bad weather. In years past two features which defined the British were deference and poor climate. So I've paired rain with sorrow of where we've been led by “Yes, sir. No, sir. Three bags full, sir.”.
Five, six, will these do the trick?
I'm a Hog for You Baby and Here We Go Round the Lemon Tree
Now we're coming of age, and those childish rhymes don't seem so innocent. All it takes is a little swagger and attitude and the games of our youth take on a new dimension.
Seven, eight, are they worth the wait?
Throwing Stones and Dan is the Man (In the Van)
A little older still and we start to question things that little more deeply. We realise those lessons we were taught as kids are a mere guise for an establishment that don't want us to question. They just keep playing their power-games.
Nine, ten, is that all, Ben?
Rockabye and Mockingbird
And so we finish with those people who are put into unfortunate positions to try and keep their heads above water. No matter what it takes.
The A-List Playlist:
Green Gravel – Fay Hield (Suzi)
Beautiful Pea Green Boat – Laurie Anderson (IsabelleForshaw)
The Lament of the Black Sheep – Ange Hardy (Suzi)
Rain – Jose Feliciano (pejepeine)
I'm a Hog for You Baby – Dr Feelgood (MussoliniHeadkick)
Here We Go Round the Lemon Tree – The Move (severin)
Throwing Stones – The Grateful Dead (Chris 7572)
Dan is the Man (in the Van) – The Mighty Sparrow (Uncleben)
Rockabye – Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul and Anne-Marie (pwgb)
Mockingbird – Eminem (MussoliniHeadkick)
The B-List Playlist:
Mary Had a Little Boy – Snap! (swawilg)
Peter Piper – Run-DMC (Maki)
Man in the Moon – Grinderman (happyclapper)
The Bear Song – Green Jelly (Suzi)
Wolf in Sheeps' Clothing – Set it Off (Ravi)
Welcome to the Void – Morgen (Nicko)
Little Girl Lost and Found – Peter and the Wolves (ShivSidecar)
Humpty Dumpty – Aimee Mann (ShivSidecar)
Cockle Shell – King Creosote & Jon Hopkins (magicman)
Cat's in the Cradle – Ugly Kid Joe (Ravi)
All the King's Horses – Dusty Springfield (megadom)
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Earth – Leonard Nimoy (George Boyland)
Big Seven – Judge Dread (MussoliniHeadkick)
Guru's Wildcard Pick:
Little Boy You – Dogs D'Amour
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Rockabye Baby to Pop Goes the Weasel: songs that reference nursery rhymes. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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