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 hussy
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

Oh Fortis Green
Memories
Of days when I was young
It can only be
A memory
A time that now has gone

'Ere!
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 forties when variety
Max Miller was going strong
All the characters are gone
Oh what a bleedin' shame

I wish that it could be
Like it was
In the old days
Sat on Auntie's knee
Toasting bread
In the fireplace

Oh Fortis Green
Memories
Of days when I was young
Oh it can only be
A memory
A time that now has gone

Oh Fortis Green
Memories
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 her off her 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

Oh Fortis Green
Memories
Of days when I was young
Oh it can only be
A memory
A time that now has gone

Oh Fortis Green
Memories
When I was just a lad
Collecting bottle tops
Threepenny bits
Fishing with my Dad

Oh it can only be
A memory
A time that now has gone

Oh Fortis Green
Memories
When I was just a lad
Collecting bottle tops
Threepenny bits
A year that's just been gone

Oh

Going down
That's it