Back In The Days Of Tanners And Bobs
Back in the days of tanners and bobs,
When Mothers had patience and Fathers had jobs.
When football team families wore hand me down shoes,
and T.V gave only two channels to choose.
Back in the days of threepenny bits,
when schools employed nurses to search for your nits.
When snowballs were harmless; ice slides were permitted
and all of your jumpers were warm and hand knitted.
Back in the days of hot ginger beers,
when children remained so for more than six years.
When children respected what older folks said,
and pot was a thing you kept under your bed.
Back in the days of Listen with Mother,
when neighbours were friendly and talked to each other.
When cars were so rare you could play in the street.
When Doctors made house calls; Police walked the beat.
Back in the days of Milligan’s Goons,
when butter was butter and songs all had tunes.
It was dumplings for dinner and trifle for tea,
and your annual break was a day by the sea.
Back in the days of Dixon’s Dock Green,
Crackerjack pens and Lyons ice cream.
When children could freely wear National Health glasses,
and teachers all stood at the FRONT of their classes.
Back in the days of rocking and reeling,
when mobiles were things that you hung from the ceiling.
When woodwork and pottery got taught in schools,
and everyone dreamt of a win on the pools.
Back in the days when I was a lad,
I can’t help but smile for the fun that I had.
Hopscotch and roller skates; snowballs to lob.
Back in the days of tanners and bobs.
Does anyone know who wrote ‘Back in the days of tanners and bobs’
Hi Brian my brother wrote tanners and Bob’s he writes under the name of A B Wyze now and you can find his books on Amazon
Back in the days of tanners and bobs,
When Mothers stayed home and weren’t allowed to have jobs
When families had rations and food deprivation,
And TV had only the choice of two stations.
Back in the days of three penny bits,
when schools employed nurses to search for your nits.
The pupils with dyslexia would go unsupported.
And signs of abuse ignored and unreported.
When wife beating was common and divorce not permitted
She took the abuse and just sat home and knitted.
Before contraception, or abortion as a choice.
Women had no rights, no vote and no voice.
Back in the days of hot ginger beers,
when children remained so for more than six years.
But then married as teens and mothers just after.
No uni days of learning and laughter.
When children respected what older folks said,
And took blows to the ears and clips round the head.
The teachers all stood at the FRONT of their classes,
Ah how we look back with our rose-tinted glasses.
When cars were so rare you could play in the street.
When Doctors made house calls and Police walked the beat.
But vaccines were rare and chemo unheard of
And now-treatable diseases, everyone was afraid of.
Your annual break was a day by the sea.
And fun as that was, much better to be
Able to take children to new countries and places
And experience their culture, new people, new faces.
Back in the days of racism and hate,
Colonial slaves, but Britain was “great”.
Before social mobility, the poor had no worth,
We all knew a mother who died giving birth.
Back in the days of rocking and reeling,
when mobiles were things that you hung from the ceiling.
No online bullying, that much it true
But with technology, how our lives grew.
When woodwork and pottery got taught in schools,
But if you’re not clever you’re labelled a fool.
And forced to wear dunce caps and stand up in shame
And scolded and whipped and given the cane.
Back in the days of Listen with Mother,
when neighbours were friendly and talked to each other.
Unless you were black, or gay, or queer,
Before we had pride, they just lived in fear.
Back in the days when I was a lad,
I can’t help but smile for the fun that I had.
But thank god my kids have a better situation,
Let’s continue to improve for our future generation.
Wow, and sooo very true!!
who wrote this version?
Here’s MY version. By Ruth Colledge
Back in the days of Tanners and Bobs,
When folk worked hard in low paid jobs.
When women earned far less than the men,
And childhood diseases came round again and again.
Back in the days of sixpenny bits
When kids were shamed if they caught the nits.
When damp in houses rose high up the walls,
And cockroaches scampered around kitchen floors.
If babies were born ”wrong side of the sheets”
Their mothers were kicked out into the streets.
When “Cathy come home” was “Play for today”
A homeless young mum had her kids snatched away.
And viewers sat up and pricked back their ears
For Cathy had brought the nation to tears.
Some would never have ‘ups’ but always have ‘downs’
Back in the days of florins and half-crowns.
Back in the days of tanners and bobs
Mothers couldn’t rest ‘cos always a job.
If a woman was raped “it was her fault” they said
“She was out late and her short dress was too red”
The accused was a pillar of the community,
He wouldn’t do such a thing, so let him go free.
Serial rapists weren’t heard of back in those days,
When thrupenny bits, tanners and bobs ruled the waves.
Back in the days of Dixons Dock Green,
When homosexuals would dare not be seen.
If such people were found out it was such a crime,
They would be tried in court and expect to serve time.
Years ago, when pound, shillings and pence paved the way,
And women at Fords went on strike to gain equal pay,
Barbara Castle agreed their wages was really unfair,
Most women workers of Britain soon gained equal share.
Would I want to return to those unequal days,
When times were hard and low was the pay.
Back in the days of L. S and D
Would I want to go back? Oh no, not me!