h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When a piece called 'Variations on a Scottish Air' comes on the radio, and you start singing the Rambling Syd Rumpo lyrics.


We bogled and grundled, and grundled and bogled,
I grotted my muckles for bonny wee Joan.
But now she's run off with a plumber from Sidcup,
So I lurk in the forest and whirdle alone.

It's the Lincolnshire Poacher for me:

O, 'tis my delight on a shiny night,
On a foggy night as well.

That's one of my favourites too

O, 'tis my delight on a shiny night,
When the coppers aren't about.

One's the grunge upon my splod, masking my cordwangle.

I've heard many many Syd Rumpo songs*, but for some reason, that's the only one that stays with me.

TRiG.

* I was brought up on BBC Radio 4 and then on BBC 7** when it arrived.

** Later renamed BBC Radio 7, now renamed BBC Radio 4 Extra, but you knew that.

That's Green Grow My Nadgers O

The thing is I always thought there was a line in it that goes

"I'll give you one-O"
"Oh no you won't you know"

Which fits perfectly with the metre, and I swear I hear it in Kenneth Williams' voice, but it's not in that song, and now I haven't the foggiest idea where I know it from

I'm pretty sure it's not Jake Thackray.

Different versions? I know that most of the Rumpo songs were re-recorded for release on LP; maybe they were extended.

It could be, but I have the LP and you'd reckon that's where that version would be... or maybe not.