Locked down with my Ukulele 1

These are strange times and to be left “locked in” is stranger than most. I had been meaning to take regular walks around the estate for quite a while, but it wasn’t until Boris gave me permission I actually got around to it. It’s strange but when someone crossed the road deliberately to avoid me I used to take offence! Now I’m grateful when I’m given a wide berth.

It was on one of these walks, after seeing Bills version of the Kinks “Dedicated Follower of Fashion”, I had my earphones on and was listening to my music and a song came on that transported me to a moment in my past in an instant. Bill gave some dialog to his selection of the song and mused at it being fun and when he became aware of the tune. Bill‘s version of the song is available on the group’s Facebook page.

It occurred to me that it is the same for most people. The first few notes or the lyrics of a particular song can bring joy or sweep you with emotion. Memories and feelings come crashing in. Lockdown has made me think of the stories in the songs in our songbook and my own personal history with some of the melodies.

Always Look on The Bright Side of Life

I always liked the irreverence of this song. As a child Monty Python was on the “discourage viewing” list so I caught up with the song away from the film Life of Brian. So the lyrics and jaunty melody have a stand alone quality.

I was best man to a friend and sang this as part of my speech. I explained in the speech that when we met he was effectively homeless. He had a job so this seemed strange but he was in the middle of his marriage breakdown and things were quite messy. He was definitely chewing on life’s gristle, for quite a while. However, he met his new wife and his whole demeanour changed. He looked at life a lot more positively. In the speech I told his story as I saw it. Trying not to embarrass him. The ultimate moral of the story was no matter how bleak and low things get there is a bright side.

I encouraged the guests at the wedding to sing along with the chorus. So now my abiding memory of this tune is about a hundred or more people singing always look on the bright side of life at the top of their lungs and the smile of joy on my mates and his wife’s face. We spoke recently and he said they often sing the song together in memory of the day and remember the joy of the moment. I e-mailed him a version I have recorded and he’s passed it around the family as they still talk about the speech.

To me this song says no matter how bad things get there is humour to found in every situation. You may need a warped and twisted sense of humour like mine but it can be seen if you look hard enough for it. As long as you don’t let life kick you in the teeth until you give up, things do look better eventually. No trouble lasts forever and you will see an end to difficult times.

In lock down with my ukulele I have been down and even, at times, in tears. But I play this a few times and with the memories I have I can’t help but smile. If you have a few “down moments”, and its ok to have them, try playing this and sing it at the top of your lungs (I don’t because I try to think of the neighbours because I’m not quiet, you might have noticed, a bit), I wouldn’t mind betting that you will feel better.

Stay safe.