Untrue Blue

FOR BLUE MONDAY

UNTRUE BLUE

"The quintessential British bird"
Do I hear you say,
"Fluttering over the white cliffs
in a memorable way".
Who hasn't heard the famous song
That was written in the war
When the British were suffering
And couldn't take much more?
It was sung by Vera Lynn,
A songstress of the time,
Whose voice had a certain timbre

Considered quite sublime.

I remember singing it

When I was only young.

People were really moved by it

Whenever it was sung.

And yet and yet, oh dearie me,

How we were misled!

A bluebird isn't British,

It's American instead!

And the song wasn't even home-grown,

It was written in the USA

So all in all it's a ditty
That has terrible feet of clay.
How many patriotic Britons
Have gone all misty-eyed
Over a song which in a way
Looked at us and lied!
But I bet if you played it to me now
Truth wouldn't be the issue.
I'd still feel patriotic
And probably need a tissue.

A recent picture of Vera Lynn near 'The White Cliffs of Dover."

*

----------------------------------------------------------------------

THE REWARD

'Virtue is its own reward'!

What a Victorian saying!

I hear the words of a stern Mama

When offspring suggest straying.

What a very different age it was!

And, oh, how times have changed!

Say it to anyone young today

And they'll think you are deranged!

*