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BOC 09 Buses (1969)
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a jolly Cockney ditty - the first of my London songs, I guess
love humour
Artist picture
Singer-songwriter, arranger and producer: acoustic contemporary folk but ranging into rock/blues/country/jazz/humour...all very eclectic, I'm afraid!
Martin Stirrup Singer/songwriter An old folkie who got back into it... These days I sing and play guitar(s) and other stringed instruments, then score and orchestrate where appropriate. My taste becomes increasingly eclectic ranging from finger-picked folk through country to soft rock mixed in with a few more alternative and eccentric numbers, including the odd novelty foxtrot...
Song Info
Genre
Acoustic • Acoustic General
Author
Martin Stirrup
Rights
Martin Stirrup
Uploaded
January 06, 2026
Track Files
MP3
MP3 6.5 MB • 320 kbps • 2:51
Lossless
WAV 28.8 MB
Story behind the song
A jolly Cockney ditty from East Ham just before going up to Cambridge. Always very popular at the Red Cow, but probably the song I’ve played in the most places East Ham/Ilford folk clubs, Dulwich poetry club, Cambridge balls, the varsity’ folk club match at Oxford, Goldsmiths’ College club, assorted youth hostels across France Once requested by a Cambridge fan who’d brought her short-sighted friend Claire along especially
Lyrics
Well I woke up this morning and in between me yawning Got out of bed and fell downstairs Surprise surprise a letter and what’s even better It said right on the back from Claire I thought it was all over and she’d moved to Dover But the postmark on the stamp said Bow But as sleep my mind released I tore it into pieces What that bitch said I didn’t want to know Later I repented although my mind resented this reminder of a painful night I stuck it back together and found sh’d asked me whether we could meet again and put things right And so I wrote a letter first class post and then thought better So I stuck a fourpenny stamp on top I mustn’t look to keen though she’s the best I’ve ever seen Or else she’ll call the whole thing off I said I’d see he Monday but I arrived on Sunday And pitched me tent there in the park All day long I waited sat and contemplated till she arrived just after dark And there among the grass roots bovver boys and tuff boots We stayed for several months till fall When after sleeping all one night I saw her by daylight And found it wasn’t Claire at all And so I thought I’d better write another letter To find out what she did that night I thought there might have been another tent out on the green I knew that she had poor eyesight But no she had been joking at her letter I was choking And the PS just said Ha Ha!’ So I went to the park back to the girl ther in the dark She’s the second best girl by far
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