Warning: You'll Want to Hum These Catchy British Tunes All Day!

Dear Anglophiles: I discovered a songwriter within our midst!  George Peter Block, Jr. has written two songs that I'm thoroughly keen on, and I must share them with you.  He has roots from Kent and Glasgow, and his dedication to his ancestral homeland shines through in his music.  The first song, "Great Britain," is very witty, in a Monty Python kind of way.  The second, "Medieval Song," is a lovely ballad.  I've included the lyrics for those who are inclined to sing along.  Let's give George a big round of applause, I say!

GREAT BRITAIN
Lyrics and music by George Peter Block, Jr.
Performed by William Sherry, Jr. and Sandi Kight

“Great Britain” © George Peter Block, Jr. 2016     
   
We are Great Britain,
Our empire started splittin’,
About two hundred years ago (thanks America),
We are Great Britain,
 Civilization we’ve been pitchin’,
To a world so full of woe (how bout India?),
We live in a world of irony,
Stop during a war to have a cup of tea,
Our soccer fans go on a deadly spree,
While we sing God Save The Queen,
We are Great Britain,
With Churchill the whole world’s smitten,
Gilbert and Sullivan put on a great show (HMS Pinafore),
We are Great Britain,
Our Spitfires sure were spittin’,
Hot lead at our Nazi Luftwaffe foes (Royal Air Force Planes),
Notorious for our absurdities,
Never too many sincere apologies,
Love to say “bloody,” “awful,” “rubbish” constantly,
Robin Hood hid in Sherwood Forest trees,
We are Great Britain,
 All the plays that Shakespeare’s written,
Stonehenge’s rocks all lined up in a row (Ancient calendar),
We are Great Britain,
And it’s only fittin’,
That we tell of King Arthur’s stories of old (Tales of Camelot),
British Invasion music ruled the 60s and 70s,
Scotland, Ireland, and Wales always want to break free,
The empire sure isn’t what it used to be,
The sun sets upon it quickly,
We are Great Britain,
The prime minister’s always quittin’,
Our politics are something to behold (Still wear powdered wigs),
We are Great Britain,
Our teeth we will be grittin’,
If we get bronze and the French get the gold (so many wars we fought),
Prudish in our sensibilities,
Queen Victoria still has her constituency,
Jane Austin has a lot of devotees,
Fish and chips with vinegar, if you please,
We are Great Britain.

---

Medieval Song
Lyrics by George Peter Block, Jr.
Performed by William Sherry, Jr. and Sandi Kight

“Medieval Song” © George Peter Block, Jr. 2016       Capo 5
 
If I had a kingdom,
Would you be my lady?
If I had a castle,
Would you sit upon my throne?
If I had an army,
Would you lead them into Hades?
If I died in battle,
Would you make my house your own?
Make with me a fable,
That stands the test off time,
Gather at my table,
A chalice filled with wine,
Dance if you are able,
In my court of pantomime,
In long robes made of sable,
And linen oh so fine,
If I were a knight,
Would you be my lady?
If I had a court,
Would you set my sword in stone?
If my reign was long,
Can you serve until we’re eighty?
Will you go to war with me,
As the bagpipes drone?
Our fortress will have gables,
And ramparts with thick vines,
A drawbridge with strong cables,
A sanctuary divine,
Chant the ancient playbills,
Sonnets that do rhyme,
Boats for all things Naval,
Cast off the mooring lines,      
If I had a kingdom,
Would you be my lady?

---

SONGWRITER'S BIO

George Peter Block, Jr. is a (self-described) neurotic American songwriter who has wallowed away in anonymity and obscurity his entire life.

An enthusiastic Anglophile, his maternal grandfather, Bertrand Goodwin, was from Kent, England, and served in the English army in World War War I. His maternal grandmother, Lillian Russell, hailed from Glasgow, Scotland. Both of his maternal grandparents immigrated to Canada and then to Detroit.

Block says he is not as passionate about his paternal German ancestry.

---

---

GO TO BRITISH MUSIC
GO TO BRITISH CARS
GO TO BRITISH DRINKS
GO TO HOMEPAGE