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The Holiday of the First Bell
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Sept. 1, the first day of school, known as the Holiday of the First Bell. In 2004 this became a day for everyone to remember
folk penny black comedy l
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Penny Black - Lancashire Fun Folk Duo - Funny (and not so Funny songs and Poems)
Penny Black combines the talents of Lancashire "lads" - John Bond (Vocals and Guitar ) and Pete Skinner (5 String electric and Acoustic Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Variax, Roland GR-20/Switch Midi Guitar, Q-Chord etc. and Vocals) supplemented on occasions by one or more of their musical friends or family . Having spent many years honing their musical abilities (they've been honed so much they're just about worn away!) they decided to form a fun group for their own amazement! playing Lancashire songs and dialect poems, comic (some might say risqué) songs plus various serious and not so serious instrumentals, the most important aspect of the group had to be to enjoy what they were doing and to spread this enjoyment to their audiences - this they have succeeded in doing in fact a local report on one of their gigs stated "when Penny Black had finished their set, there wasn't a dry seat in the house!" The lads, like the Penny Black, are getting on a bit (and think they're worth a bob or two) and have been working clubs pubs and festivals in various groups and solo since the 60's, John was a long time member of the madcap group Distressed Gentlefolk, Pete has played (and still does) with several "line-ups" ranging from Shanty groups to Rock and Roll Some people might say that philately will get you no where but this group of rare old oddities is definitely a "First Class Collection"
Song Info
Genre
Acoustic • Acoustic Folk
Charts
#16,549 today Peak #137
#3,651 in subgenre Peak #25
Author
Pete Skinner
Rights
P. J. Skinner
Uploaded
April 21, 2005
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.0 MB • 128 kbps • 0:00
Story behind the song
Sept. 1, the first day of school, is known here as the Holiday of the First Bell. In the schoolyard, students were lined up by grade just before 9 a.m., as parents and townspeople waited for the school's youngest pupils to march into the assembly. Music was playing. The first graders carried flowers for their teachers, a Russian tradition. In 2004 this became a day for everyone to remember with the slaughter on innocent Children, Women and Men. The news came through to me whilst playing Fylde Folk Festival, I was so stunned, shocked and upset that I had to get it out of my system by putting my feelings on paper - and the result was this song "The Holiday of the First Bell". A CD will be released in time for Fylde Folk Festival 2005, with all profits from the sale being given to "War Child UK" http://www.warchild.org.uk I am happy for anyone to record or play or download the song - but please consider making a donation to the above charity in exchange.
Lyrics
The Holiday of the first bell Words & Music © P. J. Skinner 07.09.04 The music played, as parents stood, the children they marched in With flowers for the teachers, the school year to begin A speech and dancing all were planned a day they would remember The “Holiday of the first Bell”, on the first day of September Then came the uninvited, with guns and bombs in store They herded them into the school, all crowded on the floor Some tried to flee, but were shot down, as screams they filled the air Babies cried and children begged, but their captors didn’t care In days and nights they passed the time, in sickness fear and pain Explosions next, so many more, would never see their homes again The guns screamed out and bullets ripped into the bodies young and old A few escaped into the streets “the rest will die” they told Then troops stormed in, to try and save the few that were not dead With helping hands and tear filled eyes, into the streets were led When made secure, the time then came to count the cost in all Of women children and the men, who in total there did fall New shoes and books of learning lay scattered on the floor They asked us for so little, we should have given more A chance to see the future, to laugh and sing and play But assassins came, and took young lives upon that bloody day There is no cause, no reason, no one can justify Or can explain the reasons why, so many had to die By torturing the children what did they seek to gain? The injured and the grieving, all suffered with the slain What thoughts were going round your head, what doctrines what lies? As you, looked down and into, those young and frightened eyes Did you think you’d be remembered as brave and strong or right? For slaughtering young children and those that could not fight The music played, as parents stood, the children they marched in With flowers for the teachers, the school year to begin A speech and dancing all were planned on the first day of September The “Holiday of the first Bell” and the last they would remember The “Holiday of the first Bell” and the last they would remember
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