Music has the ability to completely immerse you and put you right back in the moment doesn’t it? I heard a song on the radio the other day and it really brought back memories of hot summery days when Mum used to sunbathe in the garden on her sun lounger and my younger sister and I would play in the paddling pool in the back garden. Our pool was a fairly simple rectangle one with triangular plastic seats on the corners. We used to have water fights with empty fairy liquid bottles, refilling from the pool and it would keep us amused for ages. I don’t think we, or any of our friends, owned proper water pistols. Actually perhaps we did. I recall some tiny water pistols with a small hole in the end and a little white trigger – I think you would manage to slightly dampen someone if they were standing within about three feet of you! They were nothing like the huge, turbo powered, super soakers that you can buy nowadays that saturate someone from about fifty feet away, but we had great fun nevertheless – plenty of giggles in the garden!
I think Mum may have had a small radio in the kitchen or dining room and the sound must have reverberated into the garden. Songs I remember from those summery days are:
I’d like to teach the world to sing by the New Seekers (1971.)
Just look at the lyrics:
I’d like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company
I’d like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace through out the land
(That’s the song I hear)
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company
I’d like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace through out the land
(That’s the song I hear)
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony, that’s the song I hear…
I just love this song, it’s so happy and innocent and makes you feel good!
If you happen to see the most beautiful girl in the world by Charlie Rich (1974)
Another lovely song, what a fantastic rich voice (no pun intended!)
AHey, did you happen to see the most beautiful girl in the world?
And if you did, was she crying, crying? Hey, if you happen to see the most beautiful girl that walked out on me Tell her I'm sorry Tell her I need my baby Oh, won't you tell her that I love her I woke up this morning, realized what I had done I stood alone in the cold gray dawn I knew I'd lost my morning sun I lost my head and I said some things Now comes the heartaches that the morning brings I know I'm wrong and I couldn't see I let my world slip away from me So, hey, did you happen to see the most beautiful girl in the world? And if you did, was she crying, crying? Hey, if you happen to see the most beautiful girl that walked out on me Tell her I'm sorry Tell her I need my baby Oh, won't you tell her that I love her If you happen to see the most beautiful girl that walked out on me Tell her I'm sorry Tell her I need my baby Oh, won't you tell her that I love her
I was born with a smile on my face by Stephanie de Sykes with Rain (1974)
Another blast from the past. My sister reminded me yesterday that we actually went up on stage to join in the chorus of this when we went to watch a pantomime in Worthing. I can’t remember the name of the pantomime but it had Arthur and Jane Askey in it. I think they used to sing this song when the pantomimes finished as a kind of finale thing. That’s probably why I remember this song so fondly because of the camaraderie of us all singing the song together.
I was born with a smile on my face
the whole of my life’s been a pantomime
born with the need to embrace
the life of a clown telling rhymes
La la la la la la la
la la la la la la la
la la la la
I’m here to help you leisure
give you pleasure
practise to please you
try to tease you
make you feel fine
inject some sunshine
make you feel good
I knew it would
I was born with a smile on my face
the whole of my life’s been a pantomime
born with the need to embrace
the life of a clown telling rhymes
la la la la la la la
la la la la la la
la la la la la
forget the politician
nuclear visions
the gloomy headlines
official deadlines
let it all go now
let me show how
it’s oh so easy to stay with me
I was born with a smile on my face
the whole of my life’s been a pantomime
born with the need to embrace
the life of a clown telling rhymes
This song was from 1965, so before I was born, I wonder if I especially remember it because my best friend was called Michelle.
Seasons in the sun by Terry Jacks (1974)
I think everyone remembers this one…
Isn’t it funny how I – and probably you – can remember the words to these songs when I hear them, or is it just me who likes to sing along?!
We’ve known each other since we were nine or ten
Together we’ve climbed hills and trees
Learned of love and ABC’s
Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees
Goodbye my friend it’s hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that spring is in the air
Pretty girls are everywhere
Think of me and I’ll be there
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of time
I was the black sheep of the family
You tried to teach me right from wrong
Too much wine and too much song
Wonder how I got along
Goodbye Papa it’s hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
Little children everywhere
(Links to YouTube)
There are so many other songs that make me reminisce but these are the particular ones that jolt my memory back to those carefree times spent in the summer sun.
What songs make you think of childhood summers?
COUNTRY RAMBLES 
I might not have a song title on the tip of my tongue, but I’ve still got my collection of 45s to look through!
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It is so nice to find the time to look back on fond memories isn’t it?
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I was a teen in the 70’s too — so it was fun to hear these again.
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Oh yes, yes, yes to your list! I recall the very first song I was ever obsessed with was “Billy don’t be a Hero” 1974 by Paper Lace. Wow; I haven’t thought about that song for some time. Such an innocent time in my growing up. Thanks for stirring up memories! x
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It’s great to reminisce sometimes isn’t it 😊
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