See them coming from the streets around
Said we’d meet at ten-o-clock
About fifteen of us outside the vine
More coming from around the block
Is that all of us now then Hildy
Has everybody got two shilling
Some don’t have enough money
We’ll club together, we’re mates and willing
Off we go down cross street
Thirty scruffy scrubbed up kids
Running laughing messing about
I’m up the front with Sid
Merv and Keith behind us
The rest of the gang behind midge
Turning on to beacon road
Then over the railway bridge
We can see the wood yard from here
Off the bridge on Beacon Hill
Massive trees being sawn up
Into planks at the old sawmill
We all run down the bridge
On into the sawmill yard
Over to the foreman’s office
He writes down our order on a card
We’re all jabbering away excited
He tells us to quieten down
Counts out all the money
Says you’re short by half-a-crown
Standing there wide eyed
Turning out our pockets
The foreman says, off you go
Down the yard see old Herbert
Herbert’s a joiner at the bottom yard
He works in a big wooden shed
Making things out of bits of wood
Has grey hair all over his head
He always greets us with a smile
What can I do for you today matey
Tells us all he’s forty five
We laugh more like ninety
Handing over our piece of card
He reads it then looks up and says
Have I got to make this bloody lot
It’ll take me a couple off days
We’ll all give you a hand we shout
You’ve made them for us before
Okay Herbert says pass me tools
And that timber off the floor
Laying lengths of wood on his bench
He cuts them six feet long
Then screws on two small blocks
Making them nice and strong
Herbert has kids of his own
Three girls and three boys
We see them at Barnby School
He makes them wooden toys
That’s the first pair of stilts today
Norm says me first I’ll try them out
Left foot on one block right foot on the other
We laugh he’s wobbling all about
Herbert’s going full swing now
Saw and screwdriver going like mad
Making stilts for all of us
We call him uncle herb every lass and lad
Our stilts are six foot lengths of two by two
With two blocks fixed eighteen inches high
Stand on the blocks hold the top
Then walk stilt style easy as pie
The easiest way to walk on stilts
Is confidence and balance
Left arm up with left leg right arm up with right leg
With practice you can dance
We’re all stilt walking now
Everyone’s in the groove
The girls tuck their dresses in their knickers
Making it easier to move
Wilfred’s fell of his stilts skinned his knee
We all laugh take the mick then
He wears a built up boot for his short leg
If anyone calls him we lick them
We all have our faults as young as we are
Some of us are more fitter than others
But friendship sees only good not bad
We help him back on his stilts like brothers
Some of the lads are messing about
Walking forward then back
Spinning round on one stilt
We’re laughing its having the knack
As we’re walking away
Herbert shouts after us don’t forget
If you think you’re going to fall
Jump to the ground we all shout you bet
Out of the wood yard we trundle
A procession of stilt walking kids
Back down Beacon Hill road
Up over the railway bridge
Cars toot as they pass us
Cyclists ding their bells and say
You look like clowns from the circus
Move out of the bloody way
Be careful going down the hill
Alfie at the back starts to mumble
If you fall we’ll all crash into each other
And end up all of a jumble
We look like a big long caterpillar
Shuffling along the path
Two of the girls in long coats look big
That’s beryl and cath
Back now into cross street
Heading down towards the vine
Thirty scruffy kids on stilts
Having a fantastic time
Prancing around the gasworks
Playing at being the fool
Make the most of it today
Tomorrow we’re back at school
It’s been a funny day today
Playing at being long and tall
We wouldn’t like to be big all the time
Makes our legs ache, better being small
Kids on stilts that’s what we are
Playing around all day
Good and strong what Herbert made
Worth every penny we say
Our mums are calling us in now
Time to put everything away
We’ll get them out every night
Until they’re worn away
Better mates you would not find
Sticking together through all dismays
Helping each other through thick and thin
Good mates, good days, happy days |  |
