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Exercise in Song Telegraphic

TRYING TO FIND WAY HOME STOP EXHAUSTED AND NEED GO TO BED STOP WAS IN TOWN CENTRE KILLING TIME FOUND SELF IN PUB ACCEPT BAD IDEA STOP LONG JOURNEY MADE WEARY ALSO NIGHTLIFE V DREARY WIRED YOU ALL FOR HELP IN GETTING HOME STOP CAN YOU REPLY PLS QUERY

Exercise in Song Metaphorically

O, compass, guide me ashore
To dunes, vales and rolling hills of rest!
I had to splice the mainbrace with a peg or two
Which unsettled my crow's nest.

While travelling I restocked
All my sherry, port and hock.
So there'll always be a welcome for you:
Just tow my ship to dry dock!

Exercise in Song Passive

Be my way home shown to me!
I’m tired by the drinks that have been bought,
My judgment clouded; whenever beds are discussed
I am tempted by the thought!

Though hills might be marched on,
Oceans crossed, shores walked along,
Yet your ears will be beset by the words
Which are contained in this song.

#60

9 Nov 2008

"Guys: check it out!" the kid shoulted over the roar of the open window. Tinny hip-hop clattered down the bus towards the driver.

Another kid snatched the phone from the outstretched hand of the first, faster than you could blink. "Robbish, Mickey! Fockin robbish!" he laughed, and feinted away from his mate's attempts to get the phone back.

Exercise in Song A note on the original song

In the culture in which I grew up, Show Me The Way To Go Home was considered a folk song. Indeed, its melody is likely to be an English or Irish folk tune. My family sang it in this spirit, with little care for accuracy of words or—depending on who was singing—pitch.

When I began this project in 2007–8, I therefore consulted online commentators (I confess: Wikipedia) and found my original suspicions confirmed: the song as a whole was considered as folk. I felt this gave me carte blanche to continue working, happy and carefree.