R
Robert Harrison
Guest
          MY BILLESLEY
I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A PLACE CALLED BILLESLEY,
A DISTRICT OF BIRMINGHAM'S SOUTH EAST.
REHOUSED FROM THE SLUMS TO NEW BILLESLEY,
AND TO BREATH ITS FRESH AIR WAS A FEAST.
WE THRILLED AT OUR NEW SURROUNDINGS AT BILLESLEY,
AT HAVING LEFT GRIME AND SQUALLOR BEHIND.
AND WE LOVED OUR NEW HOUSE BUILT AT BILLESLEY,
BUT HOW TO FURNISH IT WAS FOR DAYS ON MOM'S MIND.
CHINNBROOK ROAD WAS LINED WITH TREES OUT AT BILLESLEY,
AND GAS LAMPS AT NIGHT LIT THE SCENE.
WHAT A GRAND LIFE WE WOULD LEAD LIVING AT BILLESLEY,
THE MOST DESIREABLE PLACE WE HAD EVER BEEN.
WE SOON FOUND FAST FRIENDS WHO LIVED AT BILLESLEY,
FRIENDS WHO WERE LOYAL AND OF THE VERY BEST.
WHO WERE PROUD TO BE PART OF THEIR BILLESLEY,
AND THEY TAUGHT US TO PLAY GAMES FULL OF ZEST.
WE DANCED AT THE COMMUNITY HALL BUILT AT BILLESLEY,
TO RECORDS PLAYING BIG DANCE BANDS OF THE DAY.
AND I MET, COURTED AND MARRIED MY WIFE AT BILLESLEY,
AT THE HOLY CROSS CHURCH JUST OVER THE WAY.
IT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS SINCE I HAVE SEEN MY BILLESLEY,
BUT MY THOUGHTS ARE STILL OF THE HOME
THAT TOOK ME FROM THE SLUMS TO DEAR BILLESLEY,
TO RAMAIN IN MY HEART THOUGH I HAVE ROAMED.
IN AUSTRALIA HAVE I SETTLE FAR FROM MY BILLESLEY,
WITH ITS DESOLATION, OFT CALLED "NEVER NEVER".
AND I ASK MYSELF, WILL TIME AND DISTANCE DIM FAIR BILLESLEY,
MY REPY IS NO NEVER, NOT EVER.
I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A PLACE CALLED BILLESLEY,
A DISTRICT OF BIRMINGHAM'S SOUTH EAST.
REHOUSED FROM THE SLUMS TO NEW BILLESLEY,
AND TO BREATH ITS FRESH AIR WAS A FEAST.
WE THRILLED AT OUR NEW SURROUNDINGS AT BILLESLEY,
AT HAVING LEFT GRIME AND SQUALLOR BEHIND.
AND WE LOVED OUR NEW HOUSE BUILT AT BILLESLEY,
BUT HOW TO FURNISH IT WAS FOR DAYS ON MOM'S MIND.
CHINNBROOK ROAD WAS LINED WITH TREES OUT AT BILLESLEY,
AND GAS LAMPS AT NIGHT LIT THE SCENE.
WHAT A GRAND LIFE WE WOULD LEAD LIVING AT BILLESLEY,
THE MOST DESIREABLE PLACE WE HAD EVER BEEN.
WE SOON FOUND FAST FRIENDS WHO LIVED AT BILLESLEY,
FRIENDS WHO WERE LOYAL AND OF THE VERY BEST.
WHO WERE PROUD TO BE PART OF THEIR BILLESLEY,
AND THEY TAUGHT US TO PLAY GAMES FULL OF ZEST.
WE DANCED AT THE COMMUNITY HALL BUILT AT BILLESLEY,
TO RECORDS PLAYING BIG DANCE BANDS OF THE DAY.
AND I MET, COURTED AND MARRIED MY WIFE AT BILLESLEY,
AT THE HOLY CROSS CHURCH JUST OVER THE WAY.
IT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS SINCE I HAVE SEEN MY BILLESLEY,
BUT MY THOUGHTS ARE STILL OF THE HOME
THAT TOOK ME FROM THE SLUMS TO DEAR BILLESLEY,
TO RAMAIN IN MY HEART THOUGH I HAVE ROAMED.
IN AUSTRALIA HAVE I SETTLE FAR FROM MY BILLESLEY,
WITH ITS DESOLATION, OFT CALLED "NEVER NEVER".
AND I ASK MYSELF, WILL TIME AND DISTANCE DIM FAIR BILLESLEY,
MY REPY IS NO NEVER, NOT EVER.