During the Depression in Glasgow, Jimmy organised unemployed young men into harmonica bands. They would busk around seaside resorts and collect enough to get by. Some made it into the theatres. Jimmy was the funniest man I ever met.
rock
songwriter
harmony
soul
country
americana
singersongwriter
melody
alt country
rhythm
sahb
alex harvey
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Story behind the song
Sitting down, Jimmy looked like a big strong man about 6'4". Childhood malnutrition, however, had left him short but very serviceable legs - he was a keen footballer. I only met him late in his life at my grandmother's funeral and I wish I'd known him earlier. He had a fund of stories a mile long and, listening to them, you would laugh till you wept. I'd had it in my mind to write something about Jimmy for a while. Wednesday 13th October, at dinnertime, the hookline popped into my head. I went hungry that night!
Lyrics
When he sat down he was a big man
And he was that and more
He could make you laugh till it hurt so bad
You had to crawl out of the door
But when he stood up
He stood about 5-9
‘Cause he’d lived through the Hungry Years
And the things he’d seen
And the things he’d been
Would drive a lesser man to tears
He would start a game with an old tin can
He’d kick that thing a mile
And he worked at anything there was
And he did it with a smile
And he showed the kids how to run a ball
And he kept them off the streets
And he taught them the harmonica
And he played it pure and sweet
And some would go for soldiers
And some would work the land
But they all survived the Hungry Years
Because he took a stand
Underneath Depression skies
Playing on the sand
There was Jimmy Fletcher
And the Star Harmonica Band
(last time:
My great-uncle Jimmy Fletcher
And the Star Harmonica Band)
So many men were unemployed
Their only hope was war
So Jimmy organised the band
Just like an army corps
He drilled them hard and wrote the parts
That they would harmonise
And they travelled round the seaside towns
Playing for their lives
From the money they collected
He scrimped and saved to buy
16 white suits in a warehouse sale
And he cut them all to size
Though the smallest guy had to belt his pants
Right around his chest
The Pavilion Theatre booked them
And they played there with the best
When war had come and gone
He kept on working with the kids
Ran a weekend football league
Till he was nearly 86
He had a lion’s spirit
I was proud to shake his hand
And now he’s gone to play his harp
In someone else’s band