London Pride

[poliphilo]

London Pride has been handed down to us.
London Pride is a flower that's free.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.
Woa, Liza,
See the coster barrows,
Vegetable marrows
And the fruit piled high.
Woa, Liza,
Little London sparrows,
Covent Garden Market where the costers cry.
Cockney feet
Mark the beat of history.
Every street
Pins a memory down.
Nothing ever can quite replace
The grace of London Town.

INTERLUDE
There's a little city flower every spring unfailing
Growing in the crevices by some London railing,
Though it has a Latin name, in town and country-side
We in England call it London Pride.

London Pride has been handed down to us.
London Pride is a flower that's free.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.
Hey, lady,
When the day is dawning
See the policeman yawning
On his lonely beat.
Gay lady,
Mayfair in the morning,
Hear your footsteps echo in the empty street.
Early rain
And the pavement's glistening.
All Park Lane
In a shimmering gown.
Nothing ever could break or harm
The charm of London Town.

INTERLUDE
In our city darkened now, street and square and crescent,
We can feel our living past in our shadowed present,
Ghosts beside our starlit Thames
Who lived and loved and died
Keep throughout the ages London Pride.

London Pride has been handed down to us.
London Pride is a flower that's free.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.
Grey city
Stubbornly implanted,
Taken so for granted
For a thousand years.
Stay, city,
Smokily enchanted,
Cradle of our memories and hopes and fears.
Every Blitz
Your resistance
Toughening,
From the Ritz
To the Anchor and Crown,
Nothing ever could override
The pride of London Town.

Noel Coward.

Comments

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

Nothing ever could override
The pride of London Town.

thank you for posting this...

you know what I remember? When the Twin Towers were destroyed, at the changing of the guard at the Palace, the Star Spangled Banner was played.

Bless you and your country, and London Pride.

[four-thorns.livejournal.com]

i'm so sorry for london. such things should not happen to such beautiful cities.

[(Anonymous)]

THank you. Our hearts are with you all.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

Sorry...didn't realize I wasn't logged in.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

It's a great song. No hatred, no militarism. And it was written during the London blitz.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you too.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's happened to London many times.....

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Ah, I wondered who it was :)

Thanks again.

[saskia139.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. London is a magical place for me--I've never visited in real life, but I've been there in so many wonderful stories. The city and its people are in my thoughts.

[cricketshay.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[silent-mouse.livejournal.com]

Great song. Indeed, no hate or militarism. I miss this attitude so much.
You are in my thoughts.

[isoldout.livejournal.com]

What a sad, sad thing.



fafaf

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

According to the latest reports, London is getting back on its feet. All but one of the mainline railway stations are open and the bus and underground services should be running again tomorrow

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

I don't live near London, but she's my birthplace and the city of my heart. it's been a shock.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, but as the wartime slogan ran- "London can take it!"

[isoldout.livejournal.com]

And, also, with a song like 'London Calling' I'm sure it will stand, regardless.



fafaff

[darlax.livejournal.com]

London is my favorite city. My second home. My heart breaks for those who are hurt and suffering.

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

Ha, snap! I've only just seen your post.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

London's a city that has risen from the ashes several times in its long history.

Tonight's news report suggests that things will be largely back to normal tomorrow.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

London is my favourite city too.

But, then, it would be- I was born there.

I'm proud of the way Londoners have handled things today. There's been a great deal of dignity and understated courage.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I had never heard this before.

I'm glad you posted earlier that your family members are all accounted for and safe.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

We're all a long way away from where the bombs went off.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Well I never....

It's a song that always brings tears to my eyes.

I love Noel Coward.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

And the tune is lovely too.

Yes, we're all safe. I was a little worried about my nephew- but needlessly as it turns out. He's nowhere near London; in fact he's off on holiday.

[choriamb.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're okay...thank you for keeping us all updated so we don't worry...been thinking of you today. -Tanya

[aftertorless.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting this today: a timely reminder of the pride, resilience, and strength of a people. I'm happy that you and your loved ones are safe.

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

Blessings for posting that, it was needed.

[sirwilliam.livejournal.com]

I found your journal through ajoyfulgirl. I hope you don't mind my comment. I lived in London in the mid nineties and took the tube to work every day. I couldn't help comparing these two images, taken sixty years apart (but how little have we changed):




Falling towers
Jerusalem Athens Alexandria
Vienna London
Unreal

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It's been a sad and sobering day.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

I have London Pride (the flower) growing in the front yard. It's a constant reminder of Coward's song- and what it stands for.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

London has a long, long history. The buildings rise and fall; the spirit remains.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Pleased to meet you.

Those two images sit together very eloquently.

[debbieth.livejournal.com]

I got to your journal through IdahoSwede

Thank you for posting that. It is a snapshot of sanity.

Now I am going to have to find the tune.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It ought to be possible to get hold of a CD with Coward singing it. I always think that Coward is the best interpreter of his own material.

[debbieth.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the recommendation. I will have to add it to my Amazon order.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Excellent!