LIVERPOOL ON FILM
Nine animations in response to the poem ‘The Liverpool Saga’
Up from the docks into the town
a fire watcher’s running.
An unexploded bomb is down,
“Tell the ARP help’s coming.”
Stirrup pump heroes
extinguish the flame,
“Keep those fire buckets to hand, lady –
Christ, here they come again.”
a fire watcher’s running.
An unexploded bomb is down,
“Tell the ARP help’s coming.”
Stirrup pump heroes
extinguish the flame,
“Keep those fire buckets to hand, lady –
Christ, here they come again.”
As kids in summer we could travel anywhere
On Green Goddesses for a penny return fare.
No doors closing at the front or back -
And you could run and jump aboard
As they moved off along the track.
The spirits of gilded dragons circle the Chinese Arch
To guard the misty streets around
As the shells of a million red firecrackers
Shower poppies to the ground.
In this city of music and seamen,It’s fitting the Phil took a standIn honouring the Titanic courageOf the men who played on in the band.They played on as the great ship was sinking,Played over that terrible din,
Then the music died along with themAs the Atlantic gathered in.
Has anyone heard the Liver Bird -
a song,
a shout,
a single word?
An “alright,” a “hiya”?
from up there on high
Nah, me neither
– maybe it’s shy.
Atop Beetham Plaza,
binoculars in hand,
watching kids in New Brighton
catching crabs in the sand.
City skylines a changin’,
and morphing so fast -
let’s embrace the new culture,
not forgetting our past
Frank Hornby lived in Liverpool,
With his wife, one girl and two boys.
In an effort to try and amuse his kids
He started to make his own toys.
The toys went down well,
He developed his skills,
And to cut a long story short,
“Meccano Sets”, “Hornby” and “Dinky” were born –
Thanks Frank for the pleasures you’ve brought.
The first shook the world; the other’s a stew.
Down in the pubs, clubs
And alleyways
The poets were singing their songs
…”It won’t be long now.”
We bred four lads with warblin’ gifts,
Their talents were so rare.
They put this city on the map -
No quartet could compare.