The Fifties
​
In the mists of history
Childhood was a mystery
Dad had come back from the war
Mum scrubbed 'til her hands were raw
Milk in bottles made of glass
Silver tops to give it class
Coal burnt in an open grate.
Played outside 'til it was late
The Beano, Bunty, Topper, Dandy,
The Woodentops and Andy Pandy
Champion the Wonder Horse
Dixon of the London force
Watch with Mother, Whirlygig
Billy Bunter, (he was big)
BBC the only station
Had to satisfy the nation
TV all in black and white
Baths not showers every night
Bars of soap not liquid stuff
Pumice stone to smooth the rough
Sheets and blankets on the beds
Feathered pillows for our heads
Policemen walking on the beat
Sandwiches of luncheon meat
Scrumping apples - not a care
Grass darts in our clothes and hair
To the fairground, circus, zoo
Roads seemed empty, safer too
Seatbelts hadn't been invented
Wings and bumpers all were dented
Box cars made of apple crates
Shoes attached to metal skates
Dinky toys, Meccano sets
Dogs and cats. We all had pets
Fishing in the muddy river
Lone Star rifles, bow and quiver
I had a Davy Crocket hat
I thought I looked so good in that
Airfix kits, potato prints
Spangles, Bounty, Polo Mints
A fairy on the Christmas tree
Loose leaf packs to make the tea
Flash Gordon at the cinema
Buster Crabbe the movie star
Each Saturday we'd see him die
We'd think, 'He's gone,' and say, 'Goodbye'
But he'd return unscathed again
It really messed up my small brain
Doctors came to visit you
For minor ailments, coughs and flu
Sputnik way up in the sky
Let our imaginations fly
What a moment. What a time
There seemed less violence and crime
The washing line held by a prop
We'd run and play until we'd drop
Not a worry, not a care
Promise, true love, kiss or dare
Dens in bushes, climbing trees
Nasty grazes on our knees
Holidays upon the coast
Rented deck chairs - sit and roast
The sun was hotter. Rain was wetter
Life could not get any better
Fresh and sweet the open air
All was good and all seemed fair
Looking back life felt so good
Fat fried chips and Yorkshire pud
Dripping sandwiches were great
A heart attack upon your plate
Rose tinted visions of the past
So great you knew it couldn't last.
But thinking with unblinking eye
Is worth the effort, worth a try
There were many faults as well
Let's think about them for a spell
Ill fitting shoes that pinched your toes
National Health specs on your nose
In the winter coughs and sneezes,
Polio and more diseases
Vaccines came to our relief
Some too late to save the grief
Dentists with their screaming drills
The very thought gave me the chills
Supermarkets - not a one
How did we get the shopping done?
Hard and splintered wooden seating
In the classroom and poor heating.
Baked us in the summer heat
In winter couldn't feel our feet
Sundays were a day of rest
The Lord it seemed would do his best
To make it such a boring day
The shops were closed - to our dismay
Telephones stuck to the walls
Laced and leathered soccer balls
That bruised the flesh and made it redder
When you went up for a header
P. E. in our shorts and pants
Teachers who went off on rants
Warm school milk would make us sick
The pump, the slipper, cane and stick
All were used to keep us down
The head would wear a flowing gown
All our bikes were second hand
Food in restaurants warm and bland
Smokers smoking everywhere
Polluting rooms without a care
Kissed by Aunts upon the cheek
Left a crimson lipstick streak
Winter smog would make us choke
Chest infections were no joke
Council house with paper walls
Outside toilet now appals
With frost upon toilet seat
And shiny loo roll. What treat
The fifties is a foreign land
Some things were awful, some were grand.
If they'd invent a time machine
Would I return from where I've been?
Would I go back? Live it again?
The joys, the pleasures and the pain?
Not a chance. I'll make it clear.
I'm having too much fun right here
