Random reminder

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 22

Random reminder

MOUTHS Ol BABES

Potential i alcoholics and drunken drivers beware. Tender youth today has a special term for you!" In the cause of music, the authorities advise a return to the basics of ou» cultural heritage, namely to British traditional folk songs. Worthy and beneficial, swinging and full of verve though they certainly are, they present difficulties now and again by the use of archaic words. The song, “Elsie Marley,’’ was swinging along at a good pace, dynamics moderately loud, when there was a strange dip in volume and just as suddenly a return to the original intensity. There was no musical reason, either artistic or intellectual for it The accompanist was puzzled. There

i i was no mention of any words like y j “foggy dew” which would cause this I misting-over effect. The little girls tried again. f “Elsie Marley’s grown so-, fine. She - won’t get up to feed the . . . (swine)” d “Ah yes,” said the accompanist, e addressing the class of little girls, t “that word is swine. It’s an old-fash-e icned word. Does anyone know what it means?” s j Judging by the embarrassed exi- j pressions of some of the children they a i had inhibitions in answering this ques- .- ' tion. Words do have certain con- - | notations even to the very young, i, I However one little girl, a potential 1.1 women’s libber, had none such. ■e ' “Yes I know — a drunk man.”