When Stephens received several requests for The New Vaudeville Band to tour he had to put together a group, since the song was recorded by studio musicians hired only for the recording session. He contacted a real group, the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, which played similar music at the time. Only Bob Kerr from that group was interested, so he left The Bonzos to help Stephens form a touring version of The New Vaudeville Band. The lead singer of the touring version of the group was Alan Klein, who was billed as 'Tristram—Seventh Earl Of Cricklewood'. The group enjoyed success for two years until the novelty wore off. Kerr then formed his own group, Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band, which continues to perform.
In 1967, The New Vaudeville Band released the Finchley Central LP.
Finchley Central
New Vaudeville Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From Golders Green on the Northern Line
And on the platform, by the kiosk
That's where you said you'd be mine
There we made a date
For hours I waited
But I'm blowed, she never showed
At Finchley Central, ten long stations
From Golders Green, change at Camden Town
I thought I'd made you
But I'm afraid you really let me down
At Finchley Central, ten long stations
From Golders Green, change at Camden Town
I thought I'd made you
But I'm afraid you really let me down
There we made a date
For hours I waited
But I'm blowed, she never showed
At Finchley Central, ten long stations
From Golders Green, change at Camden Town
I thought I'd made you
But I'm afraid you really let me down
Finchley Central
Two and sixpence
Mind the dogs please
The New Vaudeville Band's "Finchley Central" is a whimsical and catchy song that tells the story of a failed romantic rendezvous. The song starts by mentioning the distance between two stations on the Northern Line of the London Underground, with Finchley Central being "two and sixpence" (meaning two shillings and sixpence) away from Golders Green. The singer then recalls waiting for someone at the Finchley Central platform, by the kiosk, where they made a date. However, their date is a no-show, and the singer is left waiting and disappointed.
The song then repeats the refrain of "At Finchley Central, ten long stations from Golders Green, change at Camden Town, I thought I'd made you, but I'm afraid you really let me down." The lyrics playfully emphasize the specific details of traveling on the London Underground, while also using them as a metaphor for lost love. The song ends with a final reminder to "mind the dogs please."
Overall, "Finchley Central" is a lighthearted and nostalgic song that captures the sweetness and disappointment of youthful romance. The lyrics use detailed and specific references to create a sense of place and time, while also conveying universal emotions that anyone who has had their heart broken can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Finchley Central is two and sixpence
Finchley Central can be reached by paying two shillings and sixpence.
From Golders Green on the Northern Line
Travel on the Northern Line from Golders Green to get to Finchley Central.
And on the platform, by the kiosk
On the Finchley Central platform, near the kiosk, they arranged their meeting.
That's where you said you'd be mine
She promised to be his at Finchley Central.
There we made a date
They arranged to meet at Finchley Central.
For hours I waited
He waited for her, for hours at Finchley Central.
But I'm blowed, she never showed
She never arrived at Finchley Central, despite making promises.
At Finchley Central, ten long stations
Ten stations away from Golders Green is Finchley Central, a location of significance to their date.
From Golders Green, change at Camden Town
To get to Finchley Central, change trains at Camden Town.
I thought I'd made you
He believed he had successfully made plans to meet her at Finchley Central.
But I'm afraid you really let me down
She let him down by not showing up at Finchley Central.
Mind the dogs please
Be cautious of the dogs while at Finchley Central.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Alan Charles Klein, Geoffrey Stephens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@peterchecksfield1031
New book out now: 'TOP OF THE POPS: The Lost Years Rediscovered 1964-1975'!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09H995H6R
Featuring exclusive contributions from:
Frank Allen (The Searchers)
Peter Asher (Peter and Gordon)
Russ Ballard (The Roulettes/Argent)
Peter Bartholomew (The Overlanders)
Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy)
Bev Bevan (The Move/The Electric Light Orchestra)
Mick Box (Uriah Heep)
John Cameron (C.C.S.)
William Campbell Jnr. (Marmalade + solo)
Jeff Christie (Christie)
Frank Collins (Arrival)
Peter Daltrey (Fairfield Parlour)
David Van Day (Guys ‘n’ Dolls)
Kiki Dee
Ray Dorset (Mungo Jerry)
Ralph Ellis (The Swinging Blue Jeans)
Steve Ellis (Love Affair)
Ray Ennis (The Swinging Blue Jeans)
Nigel Fletcher (Lieutenant Pigeon)
Graham Gouldman (10cc)
Julie Hammersley (The Angelettes)
Anita Harris
Murray Head
Catherine Howe
Spencer James (The First Class)
Steve Jameson (Nosmo King)
Georg Kajanus (Sailor)
Jonathan King
Sonja Kristina (Curved Air)
Mick Liber (Python Lee Jackson/Ashton, Gardner and Dyke)
Jim McClusky (Wigan’s Ovation)
Ian McCredie (Middle Of The Road)
Jacqui McShee (Pentangle)
Peter Oakman (Harley Quinne)
Bill Oddie (The Goodies)
Dave Pegg (Fairport Convention)
Mike Pender (The Searchers)
Brian Poole (The Tremeloes)
P.J. Proby
Suzi Quatro
Milton Reame-James (Cockney Rebel)
Steve Rowland (Family Dogg)
Chris Sandford (Yin and Yan)
Roger Ruskin Spear (The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band)
John Sebastian (The Lovin’ Spoonful)
Rodney Slater (The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band)
“Legs” Larry Smith (The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band)
John Springate (The Glitter Band)
Livingston Taylor (singer-songwriter brother of James Taylor)
Barbara Thompson (sax-playing wife of late drummer Jon Hiseman from Colosseum)
Sylvia Vrethammar (Swedish singer of ‘Y Viva España’ fame)
Alan Whitehead (Marmalade)
Dee Dee Wilde (Pan’s People legend)
Robert Woodward (Lieutenant Pigeon)
Philip Wright (Paper Lace)
@martinhughes2549
Excellent find! Great to see as well. Got my special lady friend to get me your book for Xmas...!
@jayrox40
Would love to hear the original audio.
@TheSaintsray
Definitely TOTP.
@beds139
What happened to the original sound?