When he and his wife travelled throughout the war, creating improvised lyrics to songs to fit the situation, they delighted their audiences. It was estimated that they played before three million Allied servicemen and women.
His 1937 song, "With My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock", was banned by the BBC because of its suggestive lyrics. Formby's cheerful, innocent demeanour and nasal, high-pitched Lancashire accent neutralised the shock value of the lyrics; a more aggressive comedian such as Max Miller would have delivered the same lyrics with a bawdy leer.
His best-known catchphrase was probably "It's turned out nice again!". In 1960, his last recorded song "Happy Go Lucky Me" / "Banjo Boy", peaked at number 40 in the UK Singles Chart. Since his death in 1961, a remix version of "When I'm Cleaning Windows" by 2 In A Tent charted in the early 1990s.
George Formby, born in Wigan, Lancashire, UK, began his career as a music hall artist in 1921. He enjoyed success on stage, in song, and later on film until his death in 1961 at the age of 57. He was the top British box office draw in the 30's and early 40's.
He is perhaps best known for upbeat songs, featuring his trademark Lancashire accent, syncopated banjolele playing and laden with sly innuendo, such as Chinese Laundry Blues and When I'm Cleaning Windows.
His films were typically slapstick comedy, playing on his music hall persona, and reached their greatest heights of popularity during the war years. Films such as Let George Do It (titled "To Heil With Hitler" in America), which features Formby punching Adolf Hitler in the face during a speech, were usually highly patriotic and designed to lift the spirits of the worn out population.
He passed away following a heart attack in March, 1961. His domineering long-term manager and wife Beryl, who had controlled his career since they married in 1924, had died 4 months earlier.
Leaning On a Lamp Post
George Formby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm leaning on a lamp, maybe you think, I look a tramp,
Or you may think I'm hanging 'round to steal a motor-car.
But no I'm not a crook, And if you think, that's what I look,
I'll tell you why I'm here, And what my motives are.
(Tempo Change)
I'm leaning on a lamp-post at the corner of the street,
In case a certain little lady comes by.
Oh me, oh my, I hope the little lady comes by.
I don't know if she'll get away, She doesn't always get away,
But anyhow I know that she'll try.
Oh me, oh my, I hope the little lady comes by,
There's no other girl I would wait for, But this one I'd break any date
For,
I won't have to ask what she's late for, She wouldn't have to leave me
Flat,
She's not a girl like that.
Oh, she's absolutely wonderful, and marvellous and beautiful.
And anyone can understand why,
I'm leaning on a lamp-post at the corner of the street
In case a certain little lady passes by.
(Tempo change)
I'm leaning on a lamp-post at the corner of the street,
In case a certain little lady comes by.
Oh me, oh my, I hope the little lady goes do do do dah dah dee dee dee.....
I don't know if she'll get away, She doesn't always get away,
But anyhow I know that she'll try.
Oh me, oh my, I hope the little lady comes by,
There's no other girl I would wait for, But this one I'd break any date
For,
I won't have to ask what she's late for, She wouldn't have to leave me
Flat,
She's not a girl like that.
Oh, she's absolutely wonderful, and marvellous and beautiful.
And anyone can understand why,
I'm leaning on a lamp-post at the corner of the street
In case a certain little lady passes by.
(Ukulele)
(gd/naas)
The song "Leaning On a Lamp Post" by George Formby is a love song filled with anticipation and hope. The song opens with Formby leaning on a lamp post, and he acknowledges that someone passing by might mistake him for a tramp or car thief. However, he goes on to explain that he's waiting for a particular woman to pass by. He expresses his admiration for her, calling her "absolutely wonderful, and marvellous and beautiful," and reveals that he would break any date for her.
The song creates a sense of eager anticipation, as Formby hopes that the "little lady" will come by. He acknowledges that she doesn't always make it, but the fact that she'll try gives him hope. The repeated "oh me, oh my" emphasizes his sense of longing, and the potential sound of the lady's footsteps (represented by "do do do dah dah dee dee dee") adds to the song's light-hearted feel.
Overall, "Leaning On a Lamp Post" is a charming love song that captures the excitement of waiting for someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm leaning on a lamp, maybe you think, I look a tramp,
I am standing against this lamp post, you might judge me to be a bum,
Or you may think I'm hanging 'round to steal a motor-car.
Or maybe you assume I'm loitering around to commit car theft.
But no I'm not a crook, And if you think, that's what I look,
However, I'm not engaged in illegal activities, and if you believe I do, I'll explain why I'm here.
I'll tell you why I'm here, And what my motives are.
I'll explain the reason behind my presence and the purpose of my waiting.
I'm leaning on a lamp-post at the corner of the street,
Here I am, relaxing and resting against a lamp-post at the street's intersection.
In case a certain little lady comes by.
In case a particular woman identifies me and passes by.
Oh me, oh my, I hope the little lady comes by.
Oh dear, I'm eagerly anticipating her arrival.
I don't know if she'll get away, She doesn't always get away,
I'm not certain if she'll come or not, sometimes she doesn't make it.
But anyhow I know that she'll try.
However, I'm certain that she'll make an effort.
There's no other girl I would wait for, But this one I'd break any date For,
I wouldn't wait for any other lady, but I'd postpone any other activities to meet her.
I won't have to ask what she's late for, She wouldn't have to leave me Flat,
I won't ask why she is late, and she would never break her promise.
She's not a girl like that.
She's not the kind of person who cheats or deceives.
Oh, she's absolutely wonderful, and marvellous and beautiful.
She's fantastic, wonderful, pretty, and appealing.
And anyone can understand why,
I don't need to explain, everybody can see why she is special.
In case a certain little lady passes by.
I'll wait for her to cross this street corner.
Contributed by Ellie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
K M
This was my Grandad’s favourite song, when he died we played it at the crematorium. The man who ran the service said in all of the years of doing that job he’d never heard a George Formby song played at a service haha! I can’t help but smile when I hear this song.
dunce funce
Just beautifully written and sung
Jeff Cox
I'm so glad there's online streaming, because I'm an American and would never have heard of George Formby otherwise. He's an absolute delight to watch and listen to!
Paul Oliver
Personally, I consider this one of the greatest love songs ever written. It has endured in the collective memory of British people like very few others from that period. Terribly underrated. Utterly wonderful.
AnglicanXn
In the days when this song was written, few city dwellers - especially those of the working class - had automobiles. Life was very local, and free time was often spent outdoors, there being no TV or air-conditioning to keep people inside during good weather. People walked around, or hung out with friends, or went from one group to another.
So, if a guy was interested in talking to a particular girl, hanging around on the street was a reasonable thing to do. He could chat with friends, wave to others, but still be ready to meet the object of his affections. And from the lyrics, it seems that they have gone out before, although the relationship seems to be in its early days, so it's not a case (as some people in the comments seem to think) of a guy with a crush on a girl who has no idea he is interested.
Our way of life has certainly changed, with suburbs, a proliferation of cars and TV's and with air-conditioning being a common household appliance. So the song appears odd, given what we are used to.
Sean Duffy
+AnglicanXn Good analysis, but air conditioning is certainly not common in the UK. In shops and offices maybe, but not in homes.
AnglicanXn
+Sean Duffy Thanks - I did not know that. Most of the US has stopped hanging out on the street - electronics have moved people indoors. Do people in cities spend time walking around, talking to one another, or are they similarly inclined to stay indoors or, if out of doors, to be in their rear gardens? Americans are likely to enjoy the outdoors from a deck or patio at the back of the house, so there is much less interaction with neighbors.
DieFlabbergast
+AnglicanXn You sound like someone trying to explain the lifestyle of Earthlings to an alien! I have to say that this brilliant song by "our George" (he was from Wigan, just like me) doesn't sound the slightest bit odd to me, maybe because I'm 66 and just about remember this "lost world".
AnglicanXn
+DieFlabbergast I was responding to several comments on this clip which seemed to have assumed that the only reason a guy would be hanging around on a street corner was to stalk someone. As someone who is 69, I can remember when the sidewalks were social spaces and kids could play in the street (if it were a side street). But many under 40 have no idea that such a time ever existed. I find it amazing how time-bound people can be, with no sense of what life was like in other times or even other places. Thus the explanation.
FU 2
@AnglicanXn - Few automobiles, but one of the lyrics is "Or you may think I'm hanging round to steal a car".