'Right Said Fred!'

Having a blog with 'nostalgia' in its title, regularly has me reminiscing back to my childhood and to thinking what else I can possibly write, to bore you with next!
;-))

Small everyday things get me thinking too, when I'm least expecting it... For example, I am often heard exclaiming 'Right said Fred!', as I jump up ready to get on with something, rather than sitting doing nothing... My youngest asked me the other day - 'Why do you always say that Mum? -Who's Fred?' Well this got me reflecting on where this expression came from, which seems to have been with me since I was a little girl.

Now if you are of a certain age, I'm sure you'll know what I'm talking about...and its not that dodgy pop band from the 1980's...its before that, when music was of a far different class! ;-))
Do you remember Ed (Stu Pot) Stewart, who was a DJ at Radio 1 with a show called 'Junior Choice', on every Saturday and Sunday morning during the late 60's and 70's? With his jingle of 'Hello Darling'!

It was a programme for the whole family to enjoy together over a leisurely breakfast. He'd play such classics (week in, week out!) as: 'Two Little Boys' and 'Jake the Peg' by Rolf Harris, 'Nelly the Elephant' by Mandy Miller, 'My Bruvver' by Terry Scott (always a favourite!), 'My Boomerang Won't Come Back' -Charlie Drake, and 'Ole in the Ground' by Bernard Cribbins.

And it's another song by Mr. Cribbins where the expression 'Right Said Fred' (we'll have a cuppa tea) comes from. It obviously made a lasting impression on me, as those three words have always stuck, and who can blame me, (giggle,) with outstanding lyrics such as these:

"Right," said Fred, "Both of us together
One on each end and steady as we go."
Tried to shift it, couldn't even lift it
We was getting nowhere
And so we had a cuppa tea and

"Right," said Fred, "Give a shout for Charlie."
Up comes Charlie from the floor below.
After strainin', heavin' and complainin'
We was getting nowhere
And so we had a cuppa tea.

And Charlie had a think, and he thought we ought to take off all the handles
And the things wot held the candles.
But it did no good, well I never thought it would
"All right," said Fred, "Have to take the feet off
To get them feet off wouldn't take a mo."

Took its feet off, even took the seat off
Should have got us somewhere but no!
So Fred said, "Let's have a cuppa tea."
And we said, "right-o."

"Right," said Fred, "Have to take the door off
Need more space to shift the so-and-so."
Had bad twinges taking off the hinges
And it got us nowhere
And so we had a cuppa tea and

"Right," said Fred, " Have to take the wall down,
That there wall is gonna have to go."
Took the wall down, even with it all down
We was getting nowhere
And so we had a cuppa tea.

And Charlie had a think, and he said, "Look, Fred,
I get a sort of feelin'
If we remove the ceilin'
With a rope or two we could drop the blighter through."

"All right," said Fred, climbing up a ladder
With his crowbar gave a mighty blow.
Was he in trouble, half a ton of rubble landed on the top of his dome.
So Charlie and me had another cuppa tea
And then we went home.

(I said to Charlie, "We'll just have to leave it
Standing on the landing, that's all
Trouble with Fred is, he's too hasty
Never get nowhere if you're too hasty.")

(c)1962, by Myles Rudge (lyrics) & Ted Dicks (music)Recorded by Gordon Bok & Cindy Kalletand by Cindy Mangsen and Steve Gilletteearly recording by Bernard Cribbens
OK, so this post was just a bit of fun, and if you're still none the wiser, (what is this woman talking about?!) then have a listen to the classic track here! (And tell me that, that 'boing' sound in every verse wouldn't have made you chuckle when you were a little one!) I must warn you though, you'll probably end up singing it all day afterwards, and you may even hear yourself quoting 'right said Fred' when its time for a cuppa!

And all the pretty tea cups today? Well, I can't really imagine Bernard sipping tea from any of these, but I love them, and I do drink just about as much of the stuff as him ;-))

Wouldn't it be great to flick on the radio just now and listen to good ol' Stu Pot again? (Except you can keep 'Sparky's Magic Piano' by Sparky, I always found that one a bit creepy!) - They just don't write innocent songs like those Junior Choice tunes any more though....hmmm...never thought I'd hear myself saying that...but guess I am of that certain age now...but of an age to enjoy a bit of nostalgia too!

Have a great weekend,

Niki x