Fortis Green

Mum would shout and scream when dad would come home drunk

When she asked him where he'd been, he'd say "Up the Clissold Arms"

Chatting up some huzzy, but he didn't mean no harm

Sunday morning drives, just to get away

Ramsgate or Southend, it would always be a laugh

Paddling by the sea, trousers rolled up to the knees

Walking by the sea, full of dreams, eating ice cream

Grandma's burnt her cheeks getting brown, turn her over

Fortis Green, memories of days when I was young

It can only be a memory. A time that now has gone

There's Uncle Frank tellin' stories from the war

Frightening all the kids, yet we'd heard it all before

While the bombs were droppin' round, there were parties underground

Aunt Lil's at the gin, while Mum's singing songs

From the 40's when variety, Max Miller was going strong

All the characters are gone, oh, what a blooming shame

I wish that it could be like it was in the old days

Sat on Auntie's knee, toasting bread in the fire-place

Fortis Green, memories of days when I was young

It can only be a memory. A time that now has gone

Memories of Fortis Green, when I was just a lad

Collecting bottle tops, threepenny bits. Fishing with my Dad

Sister's in the doorway, snogging with her bloke

Scared to put the cat out 'case I put him off his stroke

But she wouldn't be denied, I got a shilling as a bribe

I used to do my courting on an old kitchen chair

The girls were all so sporting, but I only really cared for my little Katie-Sue

There was nothing she wouldn't do

Sunday after tea we would listen to the wireless

Hancock's half-hour, Luxembourg. We'd sit for hours

Fortis Green, memories of days when I was young

It can only be a memory. A time that now has gone

Fortis Green, memories of days when I was young

Collecting bottle tops, threepenny bits. Fishing with my Dad

That's it