Anxious times … so many devastating happenings yet we have wonderful volunteers,
helpers, people who go over and beyond … that I was swamped with ideas – yet …
which were most relevant in today’s ‘erratic’ world of fires, floods, disputes,
horrors …
I was going to write about rural communities reviving
their villages – bringing hope to their dwellers … but with the extremes that
are happening now … peoples will always pull together – thankfully …
But out of this … a song came to the fore … for someone
as unmusical as I am – it always surprises me what the brain manages to
remember … which brought a smile – a pertinent smile with relevant thoughts for
us in Britain …
… while also translatable / adaptable to places around the
world … each country has communities
… where people help and support others …
 |
| Comberton, Cambridgeshire |
Very British
lyrics … the Kinks’ Village Green Preservation Society words seem to be worth remembering and thinking about - for all their apparent irrelevance …
The lyrics can be found by looking - mine came up via LyricFind, but no link per se … and the Youtube link … for the song ...
 |
| The Kinks - studio album |
We need to laugh, to keep our values … yes to think
forward, but help others who do not have that capacity …
I read a note from the Migration Museum reminding us
that wherever we live and work … we are alongside others and are always forming
relationships – every country does the same …
… we integrate, we absorb … we are only one
generation: our history must show we care -
we should leave a world ready for generations to come …
We are the World Blogfest
“In Darkness, Be Light”
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
41 comments:
I know The Kinks, but never heard that song before.
A positive inspirational letter indeed Hilary.
Thanks for the Kinks link, like Alex I had never heard of this song before, but when clicking said link, I was immediately reminded of Sunny Afternoon and listened to that too, and song along remembering every word. Joyful happy stuff - maybe not the songs content, but remembering happy times!
Anna :o]
Music is magical, thankfully :)
Even if you can't remember what you ate for breakfast this morning, you will remember every song you learned in primary school. Even dementing relatives join in at concerts!
Music can heal and can bring us together too - just a jaunty springy lilt. And yes, we have to keep reminding ourselves that individuals face to face tend to be helpful and kind. Communities do unite. It's the remote internet that fuels hate and ugliness. Best to unplug and get outside. As always, your post does bring light and awareness. Thanks and have a good weekend.
I do think music is one of the best things in the world - it can make one feel so much better and alive. We do need awareness now for many things. It is very hard here in America with all the political issues - it is like a civil war. Wish everyone would just get along...
When things go wrong, it's good to pull together.
Ah, Ray Davies, one of the great songwriters of my youth. And I recognise your picture of Comberton village green; I used to pass it on my way to work and my brother went to school in Comberton.
@ Alex - oh so I'm glad I remembered the song - while where on earth would you ever come across a line "We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium" ... so very English ...
@ Anna - good to see you here and so pleased you enjoyed the positive take for our #WATWB monthly postings ...
Yes - the Kinks had some fascinating lyric songs ... but this particular song about 'Preservation Societies ... " just seemed to match my thoughts for this post. Such an interesting take on life 50 years ago, yet some which is so relevant and important to be remembered today ...
@ Hels - I would like to be musical ... sadly to a point missing in my life - obviously not completely. Do you know I can't remember anything I learnt in primary school - a few scenes, and happenings ... but I do remember my father reading Edward Lear ... and other songs/poems ...
@ Joanne - music, I realise, is very healing and so important to us all ... communities are being outed more and more - so if we didn't have the internet or the radio - as I'm listening to now ... but it's the selfish attitude and wanting to be better than 'the Jones' as the idiom goes ...
I'm glad this post brings some light and awareness to our world ...
@ Sandie - I know if only we could live happily ... and you're right music brings us together ... we just need to set a positive light ...
@ Liz - isn't it always good to pull together and help each other ...
@ John - when I saw the village green image (from Wiki) was from Comerton I thought of you so ... how interesting to have your brief memories ...
Thanks so much to you all ... where else would we get a Custard Pie Appreciation Society but here in this funny little island ...
Happy song ... take care and all the best for everyone in distress - cheers Hilary
I haven't heard this song in decades. That's a great choice for what's going on today. Through all the strife and disasters, people are rising up to help each other. An encouraging message, for sure.
Another uplifting inspirational post. Thank you.
I do slip into despair from time to time and it is wonderful to be reminded of the good people.
And, how nice to come across someone else who isn't musical.
You would think that lending a helping hand to people in need would be about as natural as breathing wouldn't you? But all too often it is not. I have seen scenes of terrible looting following disasters, and not just for food and essentials. I read the story recently of an unscrupulous roofing contractor who repeatedly charged an old woman with degenerative brain disease for a roofing job, which he never completed. So when we do see the good side of human nature we should rejoice and celebrate it in every way possible. The ditty is not to my liking, but that is entirely beside the point. Bravo for the sentiment expressed. Let us all do what we can every day to help our fellow creatures - human and non-human alike.
I love that song Hilary - even the thought of it brings a smile - Kate Rusby I think, did a great version of it as well. We need all the smiles we can get at the minute to keep communities together.
I had no idea that the Kinks had this side. Admittedly, I don't know much about them but they were popular in my youth. Lovely song, and meaningful.
Like pretty much everyone else here, I never heard this song before, either, but it's a keeper! LOTS of stuff worth preserving... and yes! I'd definitely include custard pie on the list. :)
I remember the Kinks but as I cannot play YouTube with our slow connection I am none the wiser. Take care, cheers Diane
Yeah I have heard of the Kinks some good music there
"we integrate, we absorb" and if most of look back a few generations, were the ones being absorbed.
Interesting lyrics Hilary, haven't yet found them on line but those I could hear made me laugh which is always a good thing.
Conservation and preservation are so important in this day and age.
Hi, Hilary - I love your WATWB posts...and this one is no exception. Fun lyrics that make you think. Gotta love The Kinks!
@ Debbie – I have to say I hadn’t paid attention to the words til I remembered the song and its title … but thanks it does seem to ‘match’ what’s happening today.
@ EC – honestly there’s so much happening right now – inflicted by ourselves, yet also via the elements over which we don’t have much control – but peoples do help each other … thankfully. Love music – it just doesn’t resonate with me … sorry you’re of the same ilk … we miss something I think – but now’t we can do!
@ David – in many instances reaching out to others does happen thankfully … but we do manage to hurt others too often: unthinking at times, or just ‘for the hell of it’ … Appreciate that the sentiment of the post comes over …
@ Fil – yes Kate Rusby also sang it … I’ve just listened to it – a wonderful rendering … gentle. I agree – we need the smiles within our communities …
@ Jacqui – I didn’t know anything about the song – just remembered the name and then the eclectic lyrics made sense for the post … we must preserve the good things and look after everyone …
@ Susan – it’s a funny old world … but one we can cross borders with the words now – bringing smiles to friends across the boundaries … custard pies are so British …
@ Diane – the song is worth hearing … the lyrics come up when googled without the song – but understand your limitations with a slow connection – a nuisance, but your locality is so worth it …
@ Jo-Anne – glad you’ve heard some of their music …
@ Dan – yes … we’re all a mix of earlier generations – we need to preserve each and everyone of us … glad you picked those words up …
@ Jo – google them – the lyrics will come up … then youtube for the song – they made me laugh … and took me back over the decades … reminding me there’s so much good around …
@ Donna – thank you … so pleased the song seems to have fitted the bill that I wanted it to … delighted it’s brought memories and that era back with some happy thoughts …
Thanks so much for accepting my ‘light’ take for our #WATWB post this month … I’ll now be humming happily for a few days and remembering our quirky Englishness – cheers Hilary
I am sure we do miss things, but as you say we can do nowt about it.
A lovely piece to read on a Sunny Sunday Afternoon! Out of devastation comes goodness.
Hilary, thank you for being part of the world community that cares about other people. If only all of humanity had this mindset. Thanks for sharing the song and lyrics for #WATWB.
Everybody will pull together, except, I'm afraid the leaders of my adopted country who now seem to be blaming the corona outbreak on their political opposition.
Hi Hilary!
"The Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium" - Ha! I love it! I also appreciate how you so often remind us there truly are still good people in the world ;-)
You are right, Hilary, people help and support each other around the world. We are only one generation living on one planet. The lyrics green lyrics are a great reminder on the truly important things that can be lost and we will not be able to go back again. Everything will have changed. Thank you for the hope in your post.
I haven't thought about this song in ages! Will have to listen again and pay attention to the lyrics. I'm actually listening to Amanda Palmer covering Midnight Oil at the moment, which is going to be put out as a charity fundraiser for Firesticks, a group that's working to help those affected by the bushfires in Australia.
Thanks for the YouTube link! I’ve never heard this song before.
@ EC – yes so much slips us by … but we can do ‘nowt’, except hope people have recorded the information somewhere …
@ Keith – yes they had some fun songs with pertinent messages … and as you say good things do return …
@ Mary – I enjoy #WATWB … makes me think, and I get to learn more via other bloggers’ entries … which hopefully encourages others …
@ Inger – sadly leaders so often don’t come with the same thought processes as us, who care about peoples … as you do we must carry on giving and caring …
@ Diedre – good to see you … and where on earth would custard pies feature in a song – but here. Fortunately I am of a positive nature … and am so glad those thoughts come over via the blog …
@ Erica – exactly we are only one generation here, and as we have children and grandchildren … we should be setting examples for others to follow; we will lose things – throughout the life of the planet that’s happened – so I hope we can all do what we can to keep life (human, flora and fauna) going … I have hope …
@ Deniz – glad you remembered the song – the Kinks had some wonderful music and lyrics.
Amanda Palmer – I hate to say I hadn’t heard of her … and now I see she’s married to Neil Gaiman … live and learn?!. Excellent she’s contributing to the Firesticks fund–raiser to help with those affected by the appalling fires in Australia these past few months … I see they had some events here.
@ Sue – oh great … you’ve got over to listen to it – it’s fun, but has some wise words …
Thanks everyone – it’s good to know we’re on the same wavelength re helping and hope … cheers Hilary
It's wonderful to see so many blogs about the positive things happening in the world. We need to hold onto that even more frequently now that chaos has taken hold. I'm not a musical person, in other words, I know what I like and love when a memory, a good memory rises due to an old tune, but to name one. No way, although I do recognize the Kinks! LOL What does that say?
A lovely positive song to share, Hilary - and yes we do need to pull together as things seem to be getting crazier by the day. A nice sentiment.
It certainly has been a crazy past couple of years. A children's show personality here used to say "look for the helpers" when things seemed bad because there were always people helping. That's helped me feel more cheerful.
Hi Hilary
I shall read up on "The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society". Music is a great healer, and it can bring people together.
You are so right... We need to live in harmony and help each other. Of what use is strife and animosities, when they can't heal but only make wounds deeper.
Love this! My husband is a musician and so was my Dad, music has an incredible ability to build communities and help heal. I love the Kinks but don't think I've heard this song...must check it out! Thanks so much for sharing and for being a part of #WATWB! Hope you have a fabulous week!
This is uplifting at such a bleak, in some places, time in the world. I'll take away - 'We need to laugh, to keep our values.' Yes!
Kind of like the old saying... "leave the place better than you found it". Solid words to live by, and leave behind for the next. :)
@ Yolanda – I know Damyanti and Belinda’s concept of this bloghop has been really inspiring … I thoroughly enjoy being a part of it. Well recognising the Kinks is pretty good – it’s about my level of musical remembrance … but the title came to the fore without me knowing who wrote it or sang it … it’s a great reminder of quirky times … so I hope you got to listen to it …
@ Nick – thanks … we need something cheery at the moment … as you say things get crazier by the day …
@ Elizabeth – children’s shows do so often put things simply and pertinently … but I’m glad this post has cheered you up … life goes on and we need to remember the good times …
@ Pradeep – that’s great … so pleased to know you’ll be checking out the song and words. Music is a great healer isn’t it – and as humans do we each approach it in different ways … enjoy. You are so right with your note on the strife etc abounding at the moment, doesn’t help anyone and sadly makes those wounds deeper.
@ Belinda – oh yes I remember your husband (and father) is a musician … and people always do gather when music is around – enjoy the song when you get across …
@ Denise – I’m just happy the post seems to have uplifted us all … the lyrics are so British … we need to laugh, yet laugh at ourselves and our quirky ways … thank you.
@ David – good to see you … yes we should leave the world a better place than we find it – bringing that positivity along with us …
Thanks so much everyone – I’m just delighted so many of you will be searching out the lyrics and the song … fun times of yore – but appropriate for cheering us up now … have good weeks – I’m swamped in rain down on the south coast … giving us plenty to wash our hands with! Take care and all the best - Hilary
Music can do so much for us- it has magical qualities. I know a lot of songs by The Kinks, but this one is new to me. Thanks for sharing. :)
~Jess
Thanks Jess ... music does do so much and I love it - just got no sense of rhythm ... and thus miss out a fair amount. But this title obviously registered in the memory bank ... it's a fun song - enjoy. Cheers Hilary
Music is so powerful. It is a shame that terrible things have to happen for humans to come together. But music is such a inspiring way to tell important stories.
Thanks Murees ... music is just wonderful to have around ... and inspiring to use to tell stories ... good to see you - cheers Hilary
Post a Comment