FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO WORK
©Trev Teasdel Coventry June 1976

Couldn’t afford to pay the telly licence,
Telly man took the telly away.
The Gasman knocked, tried to get in.
We wouldn’t let him in, said he’d have to break in.
He’d fetch in the police if we cause a breach of the peace.
“You can’t go using Gas if you can’t pay your bill,
What does the boss care if you are unemployed or you’re ill”.

Chorus
We’ve got no rights, no job and the prices are high.
It’s fight just to live, something’s got to give.
Out of work people fighting for their rights
Fighting for the rights of black and white.
Fighting for the right to work.

When your dole runs out and related supplements cease.
It’s on the SS that your living standards decrease.
Carpets worn thin, television gone,
The kids have got next to nothing on.
No prospects of work, you’re treated like dirt.
The tension and humility break the family up.
You’re nobody’s favourite, even hate yourself.

SO QUIETLY BESIDE YOU
©Trev Teasdel Coventry November 1970


Here I am, sitting so quietly beside you.
Uncertainty clouds my mind.
I like you, I like the gentle warmth
of your form beside me.
The chilling whisper of your voice in my ear.
But I can’t think what to say.
My mind’s become a blank.
The thought of you fills my mind,
and I throw dead end questions
that you answer then forget.
You seem to do the same.
How can conversation
hope to burst forth.


It’s so silly sitting here like silent waters.
We could flow together if we tried.
But it’s so hard to draw back the veils
of shyness and let the warmth of love flow forth.
And still the trickle of nothing,
from two tongues that are tied.
We mention things that have no scope for conversation
Personal questions that sound like prying.
An hour of nervous coughs
and polite laughter to ‘Break the silence jokes’
which have no significance at all.
The odd glances and smiles which say
“I’d like to get to know you better but it’s so hard to think of things to say.“


So then I asked you to accompany me,
down through the corridors to the concert hall,
where the group was exploding in a maze of freaking hair,
a darkened hall with flashing lights and sounds
that leaves you senseless in a world of inhibitions.


I put my arms around,
like a cushion soft and warm.
The barriers still trembling
but slowly yielded to our desires.
We kiss away our nervousness
and dance ’til shattered we become
I walked you home that night
and we danced our dreams on ice.

LIKE HESKETH’S LIBRARY
(ALL OUTSIDE)
©Trev Teasdel Coventry August 1970


You let me be
who I wanted to be
Though I wasn’t really him
And I know it.
I thought I was a poet.


I took you round the streets that were kissed by the grey
and with the blast of my breath, I blew off the dust.,
to reveal a colourful city.
The way that I spoke, looking back it’s a joke
brought the lifeless to life.
The cars all had smiles on their faces
and the buildings were dressed in party best.
And the cobblestones all kissed our feet and sang of summer loves.


Statues were riding on see through beasts
and the trees were all dancing at a barbecue feast.
and the local coat of arms displayed her charms
walking in the nude at the swimming pool.
whilst the cropped haired broomsticks were standing erect on the stairs.


I tried to be
who I wanted to be
But I just couldn’t keep it up.
And now I know it
so I just had to throw it.


When I first saw you, you were crouched in a pot hole of dejection
I approached you carefully and sought to bring about your resurrection.
So I went to the trouble of oiling the cogs of my imagination.
later that day we made a date but by the time
it was half past eight, you knew I had stood you up
for reasons sense couldn’t make to you.
I tell you it’s because though you thought I was great
I wasn’t anything but fake
I’m just one of the drab nest you heard me slate
but thanks for


Letting me be
who I wanted to be
Although I couldn’t keep it up
and now I show it.
It hurt to have to throw it.
Like Hesketh’s library all outside,
I suppose you might say I took myself for a ride.

THE EBB AND THE FLOW
©Trev Teasdel Coventry Sept / Oct 1973


She came in on the ebb and the flow,
As I stood alone, cold on the sand.
When I least expected this gift
She came and took my hand.
She melted the shell of my heart,
Freedom’s child, seagulled winged, so loving.
I respected her freedom from the start.
Now it seems to be the way, she’s gone.
She’s gone to the ebb and the flow.


She came in on the ebb and the flow
Standing alone, cold on the sand.
My heart was glad, but then without
warning a strange vibration made it’s stand.
her time it was harder to find
and her kisses they grew less.
Deep in my heart of hearts i still need her.
This I must confess.
But it seems her time has come to go.
with the ebb and the flow.


She came in on the ebb and the flow.
Standing alone, cold on the sand.
Sorrow is filling my heart with stone
Wishing i could take her hand.
Trying my best, I must have gone wrong,
I didn’t try to make demands.
But something is wrong when we no longer smile.
I wish we could talk it all out
but it’s the way, I’m sorry to say.
It seems like it’s back to the ebb and the flow.

MY AUNTY GLADIOLA
©Trev Teasdel Middlesbrough Feb 1982


Chorus
Oh my Aunty Gladiola never played the Viola
She sang in a choir in the strangest attire.
Apparently saintly and prim
With a secret liking for sin.


At school she was never in the teacher’s good books
She learnt the three ‘s’es always pushing her luck.
Always skiving, scrumping and screwing.
They said it would lead to her ruin.


Oh my Aunty Gladiola bit the heads of live rabbits
and had in addition lots of other bad habits.
They called her the angel from hell
with her Swastika’s, leathers and smell.


Chorus.


Oh my aunty Gladiola had a friend she called Lola
who came round everyday with another friend Faye.
It was rumoured they had it away.
in a manner delightful and gay.


The neighbours took exception to this activity
They called it an outrage, a crime and a pity.
But she just did what she always did.
Stuck up her fingers just like a kid.


Instrumental break


One day they burst in and shaved her all over
after hearing what she did with a dog called Rover.
They battered and bruised her so bad.
Just like a a dog that’s gone mad.


My Aunty Gladiola she married a man
who was handsome and wealthy and wise with a tan
but after the first night, all night,
he was looking so white, alight.


My aunty Gladiola, she put on some weight
and invited the vicar round for some tea and some cake
But that wasn’t all that he got – oh no!
When the dog in his collar got hot.

THE RUBBER FROGG, SPOTTY HOGG BLEWS
By Trev Teasdel with Steve Brimson and Pete Webb, Shilton 1972


Woke up dis morning
Dust my Rubber Frogg
Yeah, Woke up dis morning
Dusted my Rubber Frogg.
Goin’ down de railroad
Me an’ my Spotty Hogg.


Went past de church yard
Turd turned in it’s grave
Yeah, went past de churchyard
Turd turned in it’s grave.
You know I should have known better
that to stand right by and wave.


(Oh Mop my Sweaty brow mama)


I went out dis evening
Shot my derringer dogg
Yeah, went out dis morning
shot my Derringer Dogg.
I sped down the highway,
Me and my Potty Trogg.


I went past de supermarket
Saw the custard curdle in it’s pan
Yeah, went past de supermarket
saw that custard curdle in it’s pan.
You know I should’ve known better
but you know just what I am.


(Oh Rock on Rubber Frogg)


I woke up this morning,
shaved my hairy tongue.
Yeah, woke up this morning
Shaved my hairy tongue.
I slid down the staircase
with my bald-headed tongue.


I went to the bathroom
a wart wilted on my nose
i went to the bathroom
wart wilted on my nose
You know I could’ve done better
but you know how the story goes.


Oh take it to the dry cleaners.


My fairy godmom saw me
a star topped wavin’ wand
yeah my fairy godmom saw me
her hair was filthy and was blond.
Den I woke my eyes to morning light
An seen I musta been conned.

SANDRA SANDRA
©Trev Teasdel Middlesbrough 1980


Chorus
Sandra Sandra, now that you’ve found someone
who thinks the world of you.
There’s a welcome change in all you say or do.
There’s a welcome change in you
Sandra Sandra, you’ve found someone to love and care for you.


Once you walked with your head held down
to the ground,
Your body crouched as if you were afraid
to face the world.
Your eyes looked bleary
Your face looked dreary
Your cheeks were teary.
You were a weary kind of girl.
Sandra Sandra, I’m glad you’ve found someone
to love and care for you.


You used to lie awake at night
like one does when things aren’t right.
The only warmth came from the bedroom light.
You’re eyes looked bleary
Your face looked dreary
Your cheeks were teary.
You were a weary kind of girl.
Sandra Sandra, I’m glad you’ve found someone
to love and care for you.

EARLY IN THE MORNING
Lyric Sue Lacy – Music Trev Teasdel – Bideford September 1981


When it’s early in the morning time
So early in the dawn.
I’m sleepy, but it’s waking time.
A new day, a new day is born.


And the sun warms my soul
and it makes me whole,
Whole again
Then the day passes
it’s night again.


One more night to get through
It’s long night when you’re feeling blue.
I’m wakeful but its sleeping time
It’s a lonely night without you.

IN THE AUTUMN
©Trev Teasdel, Cleobury Mortimer, May 1967
Revisions 68 / 69/ 70/71 Coventry.


When the summer comes to an end
and the autumn showers descend.
The pretty trees lose their leaves
And the flowers no longer blend.


Chorus
In the autumn, a truly remarkable sight
In the autumn, summer’s taken flight.
Oh yes, in the autumn, the autumn, the autumn.


There’s a vivid tint of russet over the landscape
like a single coloured lined drape it hangs.
The autumn leaves invade the fields
Like a battalion of bronze coloured shields.


The things of beauty are despised
because some people don’t realise
the pleasure that can be derived
from the beauty of the autumn.


Although the cold winds make me shiver
As I wander along the banks of the quivering river.
I still long for the autumn
How I love the autumn.
The best time of the year.

BREAKTHROUGH
©Trev Teasdel, Coventry, May 1969


Chorus
I’m gonna make a breakthrough
I’m gonna make a breakthrough
Don’t stop me now
Don’t stop me now
No no don’t stop me now.


You say that my hair is getting long,
You tell me that that is wrong.
It’s wrong for you, the way I do
but it’s right for me, you gotta see.


You moan at my clothes
but it’s my mind that goes.
I’ll wear what I please
You can moan, you can tease.


I’m a man of my own decisions now
I’m gonna make a mass revision now
If I make a mistake, then I’ll know I’m to blame
But if i don’t try at all, then I’ll never grow tall.


If I wanna walk upside down, I will
or dress like a clown, I will
portray an Apache or look very catchy.
I will if it’s where I’m at.