Bella Ciao

Bella Ciao is a folk song originating in World War II resistance movements in Italy. It continues to be a part of anti-fascist protests throughout the world. I came across it in the wonderful TV series Money Heist, which glorifies anti-establishment themes and in which Bella Ciao occurs as a leitmotif to characterise the robbers' anti-authoritarian instincts. Freedom for the people! Of course, they also set out to steal billions of euros' worth of currency and gold bars. The song provides moments of joyous celebration when things go well - which they don't always. Absolutely no spoilers, though, because you'll want to watch this.

You can sing along:

One morning I awakened,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao!
One morning I awakened
And I found the invader.

Oh partisan carry me away,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
oh partisan carry me away
Because I feel death approaching.

And if I die as a partisan,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
and if I die as a partisan
then you must bury me.

Bury me up in the mountain,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
bury me up in the mountain
under the shade of a beautiful flower.

And all those who shall pass,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
and all those who shall pass
will tell me "what a beautiful flower."

This is the flower of the partisan,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
this is the flower of the partisan
who died for freedom

Blue sky

Not a cloud in the sky.

I feel as though I have been let out of jail. All those dreary winter afternoons, getting dark at 4:30, have been put behind us. Coinciding with gradual release from (also dreary) lockdown, the temperature in Charlestown, Cornwall, UK rose to a massive 13°!

I went out in a boat 

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea

In a beautiful pea-green boat

but a storm brewed up and we had a bit of a problem:

Don't worry - just kidding. I suppose I should be able to tell you what ship this is - was - but all I know is that it is publicising the Shipwreck Museum.

Anyway the sky is blue and I invite you to sing along with the Electric Light Orchestra. Let's hear you!

Sun is shinin' in the sky

There ain't a cloud in sight

It's stopped rainin' everybody's in the play

And don't you know

It's a beautiful new day, hey hey

[♭♮♯♭♮♯]

Mr. Blue Sky please tell us why

You had to hide away for so long (so long)

Where did we go wrong?

When the year ends in one

Remember Chas & Dave? You'd have to be of a certain age. Purveyors of a musical style called rockney - cockney rock. You can imagine. In the late 70s and early 80s. According to Mr W Pedia "their major breakthrough being "Gertcha" in 1979, which peaked at No. 20 in the UK Singles Chart". So not rock royalty.

Anyway, they are perhaps best known for their football music. As supporters of Tottenham Hotspur, they were the backing musicians on When the Year Ends in One, a single featuring the Spurs football team, celebrating their success in winning the 1991 FA Cup, which reached number 44 in the charts:

It was nineteen hundred and one when Tot'nam first got there
They were in the final, it was a grand affair
Sheffield United scored a goal but finished runners up
Cameron, Smith and Brown scored three as Spurs took home the Cup

It's lucky for Spurs when the year ends in one
They first won the Cup when the century begun
It's lucky for Spurs when the year ends in one
So this is the year for Spurs

Then in nineteen twenty one again was Tot'nam's year
Jinkin' Jimmy Dimmock scored the winner 'ere
Wolver'ampton Wanderers never scored at all
Spurs 'ad won the Cup again by playin' good football

It's lucky for Spurs when the year ends in one
They first won the Cup when the century begun
It's lucky for Spurs when the year ends in one
So this is the year for Spurs

In the sixty one Cup Final, first time on Wembley turf
Damn near proved to ev'ryone they were the best team on Earth
They won the Wembley final, and they were the first to do
the Double, 'cos they ended up League Champions too

It's lucky for Spurs when the year ends in one
They first won the Cup when the century begun
It's lucky for Spurs when the year ends in one
So this is the year for Spurs

Now it's nineteen ninety one but let us not forget
ten years ago, who won the Cup in eighty one, you bet
It was Tot'nam 'otspur, when Ossie's dream come true
Now it's nineteen ninety one the Spurs know what to do

It's lucky for Spurs when the year ends in one
They first won the Cup when the century begun
It's lucky for Spurs when the year ends in one
So this is the year for Spurs

Altogether now,

It's lucky for Spurs when the year ends in one
They first won the Cup when the century begun
It's lucky for Spurs when the year ends in one
So this is the year for Spurs

Now there are some flaws in this notion. Tottenham also won the Cup in 1962, 1967 and 1982. And they didn't win it in a number of "ending in one" years, including most recently 2001 and 2011. But nothing will stop their fans living in hope every ten years. So I invite all my readers to sing along with Chas & Dave at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ddjdlqf7vo&ab_channel=sunderlandspur

Art it's not, but it's a jolly song.

UPDATE: I tried embedding the video; hope it works:

Spurs start their campaign to win the 2021 FA Cup on 10 January, away to the lowest ranked team left in the tournament - Marine, a Merseyside club that currently plays in the Northern Premier League Division One North West. I think that's six leagues below Tottenham. Will it be the year ending in one, or January ending in the biggest shock of all time?

I feel a Zoom singalong comin' on...

Singalong to Brexit

Where has all the Brexit gone, long time passing?
Where has all the Brexit gone, long time ago?
Where has all the Brexit gone?
Old white men have chosen it
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the young hopes gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young hopes gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young hopes gone?
Gone for young guys everyone
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the Germans gone, long time passing?
Where have all the Spanish gone, long time ago?
Where have all the Polish gone?
Gone with Belgians everyone
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the Blairites gone, long time passing?
Where have all the Cam'rons gone, long time ago?
Where have all the LibDems gone?
Gone to Europe, everyone
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where has Nigel Farage gone, long time passing?
Where has Boris Johnson gone, long time ago?
Where has Dom'nic Cummings gone?
Celebrating, everyone
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Acknowledgements to Dan, who reminded me Brexit still exists, and apologies to the late Pete Seeger. And not wishing to demean the spirit of the original.