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.
When I'm Cleaning Windows
George Formby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For a nosy parker it's an interestin' job
Now it's a job that just suits me
A window cleaner you would be
If you can see what I can see
When I'm cleanin' windows
You should see them bill 'n coo
You'd be surprised at things they do
When I'm cleanin' windows
In my profession I'll work hard
But I'll never stop
I'll climb this blinkin' ladder
Till I get right to the top
The blushin' bride, she looks divine
The bridegroom he is doin' fine
I'd rather have his job than mine
When I'm cleanin' windows
The chambermaids' sweet names I call
It's a wonder I don't fall
My mind's not on my work at all
When I'm cleanin' windows
I know a fella, such a swell
He has a thirst, that's plain to tell
I've seen him drink his bath as well
When I'm cleanin' windows
Oh, in my profession I'll work hard
But I'll never stop
I'll climb this blinkin' ladder
Till I get right to the top
Pyjamas lyin' side by side
Ladies nighties I have spied
I've often seen what goes inside
When I'm cleanin' windows
Now there's a famous talkie queen
She looks a flapper on the screen
She's more like eightie than eighteen
When I'm cleanin' windows
She pulls her hair all down behind
Then pulls down her, never mind
And after that pulls down the blind
When I'm cleanin' windows
In my profession I'll work hard
But I'll never stop
I'll climb this blinkin' ladder
Till I get right to the top
At 8 o'clock a girl she wakes
At 5 past 8 the bus she takes
At 10 past 8 me ladder breaks
When I'm cleanin' windows
"When I'm Cleaning Windows" is a humorous song performed by George Formby, who plays the role of a window cleaner, describing his observations of people's private lives through the windows of their homes. The song reflects the excitement and entertainment provided by people's behaviors and appearances seen through the windows. In the first verse, "Now I go cleaning windows to earn an honest bob," George describes his profession of cleaning windows for payment. The phrase "honest bob" was a slang term used in England to refer to a shilling. The song is being narrated by George Formby depicting a window cleaner, but it tells us more about the people whose windows he is cleaning, the worlds they inhabit, and the secrets that they keep.
In the second verse, George mentions honeymooning couples who often pull down the blinds only to reappear moments later. He also mentions he'll keep climbing the ladder of his profession until he reaches the very top, reflecting his goal to climb the social ladder. In the third verse, George mentions a drunken man who drinks his bathwater, which was considered a ridiculous observation. In the fourth verse, he mentions a famous actress who plays the role of a flapper on screen but appears much older in person.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I go cleanin' windows to earn an honest bob
I clean windows to earn a fair living.
For a nosy parker it's an interestin' job
It's a job that suits someone who likes to snoop on other people's lives.
Now it's a job that just suits me
This job is perfect for me.
A window cleaner you would be
You too should consider being a window cleaner.
If you can see what I can see
If you could see what I see.
When I'm cleanin' windows
During my window cleaning duties.
Honeymoonin' couples too
Even honeymooning couples.
You should see them bill 'n coo
You should see them cuddling and kissing.
You'd be surprised at things they do
You would be shocked by the things they do.
When I'm cleanin' windows
While I'm cleaning windows.
In my profession I'll work hard
I am dedicated to working hard in my profession.
But I'll never stop
I won't give up.
I'll climb this blinkin' ladder
I'll keep ascending this ladder.
Till I get right to the top
Until I reach the very top of my profession.
The blushin' bride, she looks divine
The glowing bride looks beautiful.
The bridegroom he is doin' fine
The bridegroom seems to be doing well.
I'd rather have his job than mine
I'd rather be in his position than mine.
When I'm cleanin' windows
While I'm cleaning windows.
The chambermaids' sweet names I call
I call the chambermaids by their lovely names.
It's a wonder I don't fall
It's amazing I don't end up falling off my ladder.
My mind's not on my work at all
I'm not focused on my work at all.
When I'm cleanin' windows
While I'm cleaning windows.
I know a fella, such a swell
I know a man who's quite great.
He has a thirst, that's plain to tell
He's visibly very thirsty.
I've seen him drink his bath as well
I've witnessed him drinking his bathwater.
When I'm cleanin' windows
While I'm cleaning windows.
Oh, in my profession I'll work hard
In my profession I'll be industrious.
But I'll never stop
But I won't give up.
I'll climb this blinkin' ladder
I'll continue to ascend this godforsaken ladder.
Till I get right to the top
Until I reach the very top of my profession.
Pyjamas lyin' side by side
Pajamas are lying next to each other.
Ladies nighties I have spied
I've seen ladies' nightgowns.
I've often seen what goes inside
I've often seen what happens inside people's homes.
When I'm cleanin' windows
While I'm cleaning windows.
Now there's a famous talkie queen
There's a famous movie starlet.
She looks a flapper on the screen
She looks like a young and fashionable woman on the screen.
She's more like eightie than eighteen
She looks more like an 80-year-old than an 18-year-old.
When I'm cleanin' windows
While I'm cleaning windows.
She pulls her hair all down behind
She lets her hair down behind her.
Then pulls down her, never mind
Then she reveals other parts of her body, nevermind which ones exactly.
And after that pulls down the blind
Afterwards, she pulls down the window blinds.
When I'm cleanin' windows
While I'm cleaning windows.
At 8 o'clock a girl she wakes
A girl wakes up at 8 o'clock.
At 5 past 8 the bus she takes
At 5 minutes past 8, she takes the bus.
At 10 past 8 me ladder breaks
At 10 minutes past 8, my ladder breaks.
When I'm cleanin' windows
While I'm cleaning windows.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Frederick E Cliffe, Hubert J. Clifford, George Formby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sibitherapplegrumblecribbi529
I take a similar jovial attitude to my profession in sanitation, carrying a ukulele and singing to passers-by ‘if you could smell, what I can smell, when I’m cleaning toilets’
@Shard18
guy made a log, that mada clog and boy it would seem
he be savin up sence last Halloween
i mader flush
and the smell
seemed to come strat from hell!
but i did my job n did it well
when i was cleanin toilets
@chudleyflusher7132
@@Shard18
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😹😹😹😹👍
@Riddlestar93
@@Shard18 🤣🤣💩🤣
@rafaelgeldin3848
That's great, the way to live!! Joy for yourself and others
@skybot9998
🤣🤣🤣
@CommanderCthulhu
This song was first sung 76 years ago, and it's still fun to listen to
@thelastmanonearth2631
Your comment is 8 years old and still absolutely spot on. This is, by any definition, an fun song!
@bennickss
86 years ago now, and it’s still banging
@hereforthecomments9676
86 yrs still going strong