Kate Rusby
kate rusby, “village green preservation Society,”
from: awkward Annie, 2007
“We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, Vaudeville and Variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways for me and for you
What more can we do
We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society
God save Mrs. Mopp and good Old Mother Riley
We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium
God save the George Cross and all those who were awarded them
We are the Sherlock Holmes English Speaking Vernacular
Help save Fu Manchu, Moriarty and Dracula
We are the Office Block Persecution Affinity
God save little shops, china cups and virginity
We are the Skyscraper condemnation Affiliate
God save tudor houses, antique tables and billiards
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways for me and for you
What more can we do
God save the Village Green”
A friend of mine made a profound distinction about the direction a song can take. He had just been present at an evening that featured a number of songs of self-examination and personal difficulty. He found it to be downerville. So he mentioned that he preferred less navel- gazing and more savoring of our existence in his music. Either way, songs usually go one place or the other quickly. So is it trance or dance or both at once? Against this backdrop, it occurred to me to trot out Ms. Rusby’s cover of this Kinks number in which they enlist historic preservation as an antidote for contemporary conundrums! And Savor the savior.
Kinks @ the BBC, 1973.
