As music hall comedians, they would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act; this led to a successful recording career as a duo and roles in film and television. Flanagan and Allen were both also members of The Crazy Gang and worked with that team for many years concurrently with their double-act career.
Flanagan and Allen's songs featured the same, usually gentle, humour for which the duo were known in their live performances, and during the Second World War they reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime. Songs like 'We're Gonna Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line' mocked the German defences (Siegfried Line), while others like 'Miss You' sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences. Other songs, such as their most famous, 'Underneath the Arches' (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly), had universal themes such as friendship. The music was usually melodic, following a binary verse, verse chorus structure, with a small dance band or orchestra providing the accompaniment. The vocals were distinctive because while Flanagan was at least a competent singer and sang the melody lines, Allen used an almost spoken delivery to provide the harmonies.
Hometown
Flanagan & Allen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And there's music in the street
Take me to the church house where the cowboys meet
Where a band will always be
There's something about my hometown
A place where some things never change
There's something about my hometown
The place where people know your name
On the coldest September day
Take me to the backyard on the 29th of May
Where I found out that you knew my name
There's something about my hometown
A place where people never change
The city's bigger now and it's got a brighter name
But I'm still the same
Take me home to all my favorite songs
That no storm could ever wash away
Take me to the long nights in the packed cafe
Where the bluebirds sing of better days
There's something about my hometown
A place where people keep on singing
Yeah that's the thing about my hometown
We don't need California to keep on dreaming
There's something about my hometown
The place my mama always stays
And Nashville you are everything I'd ever wanna say
You may have grown up, but somehow you're still the same
You may have grown up, but somehow you're still the same
We may grow up, but somehow we're still the same
The lyrics of "Hometown" by Flanagan & Allen describe a deep sense of nostalgia for the singer's hometown. The song brings to mind a place where things don't change much, and where there is comfort in the familiar faces and surroundings. The lyrics suggest a longing to return to the town where the grass is tall and the music is in the street. There's a desire to be taken to places that hold fond memories, such as the church house where cowboys meet, the football field on a chilly September day, or the back yard where the singer learned that someone knew their name.
The song conveys a deep sense of attachment to this hometown. It's a place where people know each other and where there's a strong sense of community. The singer wants to be taken back to their favorite songs and the packed cafe where they once spent long nights. The lyrics suggest that despite the changes that may have occurred in the city since the singer left, the hometown remains the same. It's a place where people keep on singing and dreaming, and where there's no need for California to keep those dreams alive.
Overall, "Hometown" is a nostalgic tribute to the singer's origins. It emphasizes the importance of a place that defines who we are and that will always be a part of us, no matter where we go.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me home where the tall grass grows
Return me to the place where the grass is tall and abundant
And there's music in the street
Where the sweet sound of music permeates throughout the area
Take me to the church house where the cowboys meet
Take me to the place where the cowboys gather, the church
Where a band will always be
Where a band is constantly present
There's something about my hometown
My hometown has a special quality to it
A place where some things never change
A place where some things remain stagnant
The place where people know your name
Where people are familiar with who you are
Take me home to the football fields
Take me back to the fields where football is played
On the coldest September day
Even during the coldest days of September
Take me to the backyard on the 29th of May
Take me to the backyard on May 29th
Where I found out that you knew my name
The place where I discovered that you were familiar with my name
The city's bigger now and it's got a brighter name
The city has grown and has a more substantial reputation
But I'm still the same
However, I have remained unchanged
Take me home to all my favorite songs
Take me back to where my favorite songs are played
That no storm could ever wash away
Songs that are unbreakable and can withstand any adversity
Take me to the long nights in the packed cafe
Take me to the busy cafe with extended hours
Where the bluebirds sing of better days
Where the bluebirds are singing of more promising days to come
A place where people keep on singing
A place where the people remain joyous and carefree
We don't need California to keep on dreaming
We do not need anything else than what is already present to continue to be hopeful
The place my mama always stays
The place where my mother still resides
And Nashville you are everything I'd ever wanna say
And Nashville, you embody everything I wish to express
You may have grown up, but somehow you're still the same
Although you may have matured, you still possess the same essence
We may grow up, but somehow we're still the same
Regardless of how much we grow, we still maintain our true self
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Julia Allen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lexicon231
Whimsical classic from far off days which though no doubt harder were I am sure better in many ways.
@RatPfink66
You could go a dozen lollypops and shout for more.
@Metrofin1
"That's where Evie was a lady"... Great lyric. I've bought many records from Sidney Sacrborough in Hull (ref:record sleeve)
@WhisperedDreams951
Rock on!
@user-xv9yc4wb2x
What does it mean? 'where Evie was a lady' ...never understood that line.
@RatPfink66
@@user-xv9yc4wb2x hit song from 1932, Eadie Was A Lady.
@stewartgellatly8073
They don't compose, write, arrange, sing or play them like this anymore. We have allowed all the great songs from yesteryear to drift into oblivion and replaced them with primitive sounds masqueraded as music. - junk.