Acoustic at the BBC

This programme contains some strong language

One thing that is sometimes not encouraged,

according to the words of a song, is skiffle.

And here is a song called Mama... What is it?

-Mama Don't Want Me To Play Any Skiffle...

-Any more.

-..No More.

# Well, Mama don't allow no skiffle out of here

# Oh, no, she don't

# Mama don't allow no skiffle out of here

# Well, we don't care what Mama don't allow

# Gonna play that skiffle any old how

# Mama don't allow no skiffle out of here

# Well, Mama don't allow no guitar playing in here

# Oh, no, she don't

# Mama don't allow no guitar playing in here

# Well, we don't care what Mama don't allow

# Gonna play that guitar any old how

# Mama don't allow no guitar playing in here

# Well, Mama don't allow no string bass playing in here

# Oh, no, she don't

# Mama don't allow no string bass playing in here

# Well, we don't care what Mama don't allow

# Gonna play that string bass any old how

# Mama don't allow no string bass playing in here

# Well, Mama don't allow no drumming down in here

# Oh, no, she don't

# Mama don't allow no drumming down in here

# Well, we don't care what Mama don't allow

# Gonna play that drum any old how

# Mama don't allow no drumming down in... #

All drummers have the same look, don't they?

They have this kind of preoccupied look. Why?

You have such a lot to do, you haven't time to smile.

What are your names?

-Yours is?

-James Page.

-David.

-And you're just learning to play the guitar?

-Yes, from a teacher.

-From a teacher. Can you play anything except skiffle?

-Yes, Spanish and dance.

-Do you?

# Jennifer Juniper lives upon the hill

# Jennifer Juniper sitting very still

# Is she sleeping? I don't think so

# Is she breathing? Yes, very low

# What you doing, Jennifer, my love?

# Jennifer Juniper rides a dappled mare

# Jennifer Juniper lilacs in her hair

# Is she dreaming? Yes, I think so

# And is she pretty? Yes, ever so

# What you doing, Jennifer, my love?

# I'm thinking of what it would be like if she loved me

# You know, just lately

# This happy song, it came along

# And I had to somehow try and tell you

# Jennifer Juniper

# Hair of golden flax

# Jennifer Juniper

# Longs for what she lacks

# Now, do you like her? Yes, I do, sir

# And would you love her? If I could, sir

# What you doing, Jennifer, my love?

# Jennifer Juniper

# Jennifer Juniper

# Jennifer Juniper Oh, yeah. #

APPLAUSE

# I'm just mad about Saffron

# Saffron's mad about me... # You know this?

# I'm just mad about my Saffron

# She's just mad about me... # Everybody sing!

# They call me Mellow Yellow

# They call me Mellow Yellow

# They call me Mellow Yellow

# I'm just mad about Fourteen

# And Fourteen's mad about me

# I'm just mad about old BBC

# And B-BBC's mad ab-about She mad about me, yeah

# Mellow Yellow

# They call me Mellow Yellow

# They call me Mellow Yellow Oh, yeah

# Electrical banana

# Is gonna be a sudden craze

# Electrical banana

# Is gonna be the very next phase... #

Everybody sing!

# They call me Mellow Yellow Oh, yeah! Come on, now

# They call me Mellow Yellow

# They call me Mellow Yellow

# I'm just mad about Saffron

# Saffron's mad about me

# I'm just mad about my Saffron

# Saffron's mad about me

# They call me Mellow Yellow Quite rightly

# They call me Mellow Yellow Mellow fellow

# They call me Mellow Yellow

# Whoa, yeah They call me Mellow Yellow. #

APPLAUSE

# Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning and the first thing that I heard

# Was a song outside my window

# The traffic wrote the words

# It came a-ringin' up like Christmas bells

# Rapping up like pipes and drums

# Oh, won't you stay?

# We'll put on the day and we'll wear it till the night comes

# Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning and the first thing that I saw

# Was the sun through yellow curtains

# And a rainbow on my wall

# Blue, red, green and gold to welcome you

# Crimson crystal beads to beckon

# Oh, won't you stay? We'll put on the day

# There's a sun show every second

# Now the curtain opens on a portrait of today

# And the streets are paved with passers-by

# Pigeons fly Papers lie waiting to blow away

# Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning and the first thing that I knew

# There was milk and toast and honey

# And a bowl of oranges too

# And the sun poured in like butterscotch

# Stuck to all my senses

# Oh, won't you stay? We'll put on the day

# And we'll talk in present tenses

# When the curtain closes

# And the rainbow runs away

# I will bring you incense owls by night

# By candlelight, by jewel-light

# If only you will stay

# Oh, pretty baby, won't you wake up?

# It's a Chelsea morning. #

SHE LAUGHS, APPLAUSE

# I met her in a club down in old Soho

# Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry cola

-AUDIENCE:

-# C-O-L-A cola

All right. LAUGHTER

# She walked up to me and she asked me to dance

# I asked her her name and in a dark-brown voice she said, "Lola"

# L-O-L-A Lola

# La-la-la-la Lola

# Well, I'm not the world's most physical guy

# But when she squeezed me tight, she nearly broke my spine, oh, my Lola

# La-la-la-la Lola

# Well, I'm not dumb but I can't understand

# Why she walked like a woman but talked like a man, oh, my Lola

# La-la-la-la Lola

# La-la-la-la Lola

# I pushed her away

# I walked to the door

# I fell to the floor

# I got down on my knees

# I looked at her and she at me

# And that's the way that I want it to stay

# I always want it to be that way for my Lola

# La-la-la-la Lola

# Girls will be boys and boys will be girls

# It's a mixed up, muddled up shook-up world, except my Lola

# La-la-la-la Lola

# I'd left home just the week before

# And I'd never, ever kissed a woman before

# Lola smiled and took me by the hand

# And said "Dear boy, I'm gonna make you a man"

# Well, I'm not the world's most masculine man

# But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man

# And so's Lola La-la-la-la Lola

# La-la-la-la Lola

# Lola, la-la-la-la Lola

# La-la-la-la Lola

# Lola, la-la-la-la Lola

# La-la-la-la Lola. #

Thank you very much! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Hey, now, now

# Hey, now, now

# Didn't know what time it was

# And the lights were lo-o-ow

# I leaned back on my radio-o-o

# Some cat was laying down some

# Get it on rock 'n' roll, they said

# Then the loud sound did seem to fa-a-ade

# Came back like a slow voice on a wave of pha-a-ase

# That weren't no DJ That was hazy cosmic jive

# There's a starman waiting in the sky

# He'd like to come and meet us

# But he thinks he'd blow our minds

# There's a starman waiting in the sky

# He told us not to blow it

# Cos he knows it's all worthwhile

# He told me

# Let the children use it

# Let the children use it

# Let all the children boogie

# I had to phone someone so I picked on yo-oo-ou

# Hey, that's far out So you heard him to-oo-oo?

# Switch on the TV We may pick him up on channel two

# Look out your window I can see his li-i-ight

# If we can sparkle He may land toni-i-ight

# Don't tell your poppa or he'll get us locked up in fright

# There's a starman waiting in the sky

# He'd like to come and meet us

# But he thinks he'd blow our minds

# There's a starman waiting in the sky

# He told us not to blow it

# Cos he knows it's all worthwhile

# He told me

# Let the children use it

# Let the children use it

# Let all the children boogie

# Starman waiting in the sky

# He'd like to come and meet us

# But he thinks he'd blow our minds

# There's a starman waiting in the sky

# He told us not to blow it

# Cos he knows it's all worthwhile

# He told me

# Let the children use it

# Let the children use it

# Let all the children boogie

# La-la-la-la la-la-la-la

# La-la-la-la la-la-la-la

# La-la-la-la... # APPLAUSE

Now, you've noticed that the band's gone,

except me and Red,

and we're going to play you a song called

Woncha Come On Home?

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Every light is on but all the rooms are empty except one

# Oh, baby, don't stay too late

# You know I hate to be alone and I'm alo-one

# There's a madman standing on the corner

# And he keeps on looking at my window

# Oh, baby, woncha come on home?

# Home

# Every key is turned

# And every window's bolted from inside

# Oh, babe, you know I get so scared You know I couldn't live alone

# It's just been confirmed

# Baby, woncha come on home?

# Standing on the corner is a madman looking at my window

# Oh, baby, woncha come on home?

# Home

# Baby, woncha come on home?

# Standing on the corner is a madman looking at my window

# Oh, baby, woncha come on home?

# Home

# Every light is on

# But all the rooms are empty except one

# Oh, babe, don't stay too late You know I hate to be alone

# And I'm alone

# Baby, woncha come on home? Baby, woncha come on home? #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

This is going back a long way. In ancient times, in fact.

In the Year 1.

-APPLAUSE

-Ah!

# When you belonged to no-one

# You didn't stand a chance, son

# If your pants were undone

# Cos you were bred for humanity

# And sold to society

# One day you'll wake up in the present day

# A million generations removed from expectations

# Of being who you really want to be

# Skating away

# Skating away

# Skating away on the thin ice of the new day

# Hey

# And as you push off from the shore

# Won't you turn your head once more?

# And make your peace with everyone

# For those who choose to stay

# Will live just one more day

# To do the things they should have done

# And as you cross the wilderness Spinning in your emptiness

# You feel you have to pray

# Looking for a sign that the universal mind

# Has written you into the passion play

# Skating away

# Skating away

# Skating away on the thin ice of the new day

# Hey

# And as you cross the circle line

# Well, the ice wall creaks behind

# You're a rabbit on the run

# And as the silver splinters fly in the corner of your eye

# Shining in the setting sun

# Well, do you ever get the feeling

# That the story's too damn real and in the present tense?

# Or that everybody's on the stage

# And it seems like you're the only person sitting in the audience?

# Skating away

# Skating away

# Skating away on the thin ice of the new day

# Hey

# Skating away

# Skating away

# Skating away. #

-Oi! Who's that over there?

-Well, as I was saying,

here we are in a perfectly normal pastoral setting, really.

Panoramic view with lake over there, the odd little humble stone cottage

dotted among the fir trees,

-a few wild birds, rare species of wild orchid...

-Not bad for a studio set, is it?

-..and '70s rock stars, sitting on stones, strumming guitars.

-'70s?!

# Last night, I wasn't sleeping

# I knew it was my last

# I'd just been lyin', thinkin'

# Reliving all my past

# My family and friends have left

# My children are all lost

# And now I'm standing on a gallows

# As the sands of time fall fast

# My poor heart, it is thumping

# My head is fit to flood

# To feel that rope around my neck

# And know it's there for good

# I know that I am innocent

# And no-one's understood

# And now I'm standing on the gallows

# To be murdered in cold blood

# We are creatures of darkness

# Killers of time

# Creatures of darkness

# Bodies in lime. #

That's Roy Harper and Jimmy Page performing Hangman

at high altitude somewhere in the Lake District.

CHEERING

# The rain falls hard on a humdrum town

# This town has dragged you down

# Oh, the rain falls hard on a humdrum town

# This town has dragged you down

# Oh, no

# And everybody's got to live their life

# And God knows I've got to live mine

# God knows I've got to live mine

# William, William it was really nothing

# William, William it was really nothing

# It was your life

# How can you stay with a fat girl who'll say

# "Oh ! Would you like to marry me?

# "And if you like you can buy the ring"

# She doesn't care about anything

# "Would you like to marry me?

# "And if you like you can buy the ring"

# I don't dream about anyone

# Except myself

# Oh, William

# William, it was really nothing

# William

# Willia-a-am. #

The Smiths, and we only have one thing to say to that.

Ha-ha! The chart top-ten countdown.

MUSIC: Guitar riff to "Wonderwall"

# Today was going to be the day

# They were going to throw it back to you

# By now you should've somehow realised what you got to do

# I don't believe that anybody

# Feels the way I do about you now

# Backbeat, the word is on the street

# That the fire in your heart went out

# I'm sure you heard it all before

# But you never really had a doubt

# I don't believe that anybody

# Feels the way I do about you now

# But all the roads we have to walk are winding

# And all the lights that lead the way are blinding

# Blinding

# There are many things that I would like to say to you

# But I don't know how

# I don't know how

# I said maybe

# You're going to be the one that saves me

# And after all

# You're my wonderwall

# Today was going to be the day

# But they'll never throw it back to you

# By now you should've somehow

# Realised what you're not to do

# I don't believe that anybody

# Feels the way I do about you now

# Cos all the roads we have to walk are winding

# And all the lights that lead the way are blinding

# Blinding

# There are many things that I would like to say to you

# But I don't know how

# I don't know how

# I said maybe

# You're going to be the one that saves me

# And after all

# You're my wonderwall

# And I said maybe

# You're going to be the one that saves me

# And after all

# You're my wonderwall

# And I said maybe

# You're going to be the one that saves me

# You're going to be the one that saves me

# You're going to be the one that saves me

# Going to be the one

# You're going to be the one

# You're going to be the one. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Took guitar lessons at school, but they kicked me out cos I was left-handed

but I play right-handed, and they insisted that I play left-handed, but I couldn't get my head round it.

-That's not right, is it?

-Not really!

If my music teacher's watching, "Do you want to borrow a tenner?"

# You have your very own number

# They dress your cage in its nature

# Once you roared

# Now you just grunt lame

# Pace around pathetic pound games

# Want to get out

# Won't miss you sensaround

# To carry our own dead

# To swing your tyre tricks

# Want to get out

# Yeah, you're bred dead quick

# For the outside

# The small black flowers

# That grow in the sky

# They drag sticks along your walls

# Harvest your ovaries

# Dead mothers crawl

# Here comes warden

# Christ temple elder

# Environment's not yours

# You see through it all

# Want to get out

# Won't miss you sensaround

# To carry our own dead

# To swing your tyre tricks

# Want to get out

# Here you're bred dead quick

# For the outside

# The small black flowers

# That grow in the sky

# Here chewing your tail is joy. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# When people keep repeating

# That you'll never fall in love

# When everybody keeps retreating

# But you can't seem to get enough

# Let my love open the door

# Let my love open the door

# Let my love open the door

# To your heart

# To your heart

# When everything feels all over

# When everybody seems unkind

# I'll give you a four-leaf clover

# Take all the worry out of your mind

# Let my love open the door

# Let my love open the door

# Let my love open the door

# To your heart

# To your heart

# I have the only key to your heart

# I can stop you falling apart

# Try today

# You'll find this way

# Come on and give me a chance to say

# Let my love open the door

# It's all I'm living for

# Release yourself from misery

# There's only one thing that can set you free

# That's my love

# That's my love

# Let my love open the door

# Let my love open the door

# When tragedy befalls you

# Don't let them drag you down

# Love can cure your problem

# You're so lucky I'm around

# Let my love open the door

# Let my love open the door

# Let my love open the door

# To your heart

# To your heart

# To your heart. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you.

Devendra Banhart.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# It's a sight to behold

# When you've got

# Some old words to mould

# And you can make 'em your own

# Still love, it would be much better

# Love, it would be much better

# Love, it would be much better

# Love, it would be much better

# I'm told

# It's like golden corn

# And you know I love its golden glow

# It's the little head

# Inside your little hold

# And out spring a few sparkling thoughts

# Still love, it would be much better

# Love, it would be much better

# Love, it would be much better

# Love, it would be much better

# I hope

# I hope

# It's like finding home

# In an old folk song

# That you've never ever heard

# Still you know every God damn word

# And I know for sure you can sing along

# Still love, it would be much better

# Love, it would be much better

# Love, it would be much better

# Love, it would be much better

# I felt love it would be much better

# Just like love

# It would be much better

# I feel love

# It would be much better

# Love, it would be much better

# I know

# I know. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Next up is a man with a very impressive CV.

He's been in the Army, supported Elton John, he's about to do Glastonbury

and today he's doing Top Of The Pops. Give it up for James Blunt.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# My life is brilliant

# My love is pure

# I saw an angel

# Of that I'm sure

# She smiled at me on the subway

# She was with another man

# But I won't lose no sleep on that

# Cos I've got a plan

# You're beautiful

# You're beautiful

# You're beautiful

# It's true

# I saw your face

# In a crowded place

# And I don't know what to do

# Cos I'll never be with you

# Yeah, she caught my eye

# As I walked on by

# She could see from my face

# That I was

# Flying high

# And I don't think

# That I'll see her again

# But we shared a moment

# That will last till the end

# You're beautiful

# You're beautiful

# You're beautiful

# It's true

# I saw your face

# In a crowded place

# And I don't know what to do

# Cos I'll never be with you

# Da da da da

# Da da da da da

# Da da da da da

# You're beautiful

# You're beautiful

# You're beautiful

# It's true

# There must be an angel

# With a smile on her face

# When she thought up that I should be with you

# But it's time to face the truth

# I will never be with you. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Sitting on the river bank

# Watching the water flow

# Sitting here thinking and wondering

# Which way to go

# How the river sings the sweetest songs

# In a million harmonies

# But the sun shines brighter on the other side

# That's where I want to be

# So please, Mr Ferryman

# Won't you take me to the other side

# Where the songbirds sing for me?

# Where life is led by the hand of fate

# That's how it ought to be

# When the evening shadows reach out

# At the setting of the sun

# Will I still be wishing and a-wondering

# When the morning comes?

# For I once could swim against the tide

# Like the salmon who swims for home

# But I'll be happy now

# Just to hitch a ride

# And make it on my own

# So please, Mr Ferryman

# Won't you take me to the other side

# Where the songbirds sing for me?

# Where life is led by the hand of fate

# That's how it ought to be

# "I'll take you," says the ferryman

# But if I should close my eyes and fall asleep before we land

# You must take these oars

# And for ever more

# Be at my command. #

# I know I said I loved you But I'm thinking I was wrong

# I'm the first to admit

# That I'm still pretty young

# And I never meant to hurt you

# When I wrote you ten love songs

# But a guy that I could never get

# His girlfriend was pretty fit

# And everyone who knew her loved her so

# And I made you leave her for me

# And now I'm feeling pretty mean

# But my mind has fucked me over

# More times than any man could ever know

# Maybe I should give up, give in

# Give up trying to be thin

# Give up and turn into my mother

# God knows, I love her

# But I'm sorry to whichever man

# Should meet my sorry state

# Watch my steady, lonesome gait

# And beware

# I will never love a man

# Cos love and pain go hand in hand

# And I can't do it again

# So we stayed up late one night

# To try and get our problems right

# But I couldn't get into his head

# Just what was going through my mind

# I think he knew where I was going

# He put Ryan Adams on

# I think he thinks it makes me weak

# It only ever makes me strong

# I've got this friend And he sounds just like him

# And he's the man I'd leave you for

# The man that I just adore like you

# The same man, he turns to me Says "I've got to tell you how I feel

# "If God could make the perfect girl for me, it would be you"

# And my god told me not tell about how much do you love your fella

# I don't know, more every day

# Not in this new romantic way

# I'll always be your first love

# You'll always be my first love

# But I'm sorry to whichever man

# Should meet my sorry state

# Watch my steady, lonesome gait and beware

# I will never love a man

# Cos love and pain go hand in hand

# And I can't do it again

# I will never love a man cos I could never hurt a man

# Not in this new romantic way. #

APPLAUSE

# Eight miles high and when you touch down

# You'll find that it's stranger than known

# Signs in the street that say where you're going

# Are somewhere just being their own

# Round the squares

# Huddled in storms

# Some laughing

# Some just shapeless forms

# Sidewalk scenes

# And black limousines

# Some living

# Some standing alone

APPLAUSE

# Took a bite out of a mountain range

# Thought my teeth would break The mountain did

# Let's go, wanna go

# All the way to the horizon

# I took a drink out of the ocean and

# I'm treading water there before I drown

# Let's dive, I wanna dive

# To the bottom of the ocean

# I took a ride, I took a ride

# I wouldn't go there without you

# Let's take a ride We'll take a ride

# I wouldn't leave here without you

# I am a mountain

# I am the sea

# You can't take that away from me

# I am a mountain

# I am the sea

# You can't take that away from me

# You tear us apart

# With all the things you don't like

# You can't understand

# That I won't leave

# Till we're finished here

# And then you'll find out

# Where it all went wrong

# I wrote a note to the jungle and

# It wrote me back but I was never crowned

# King of the jungle, so

# There's an end to my horizon

# I took a ride, I took a ride

# I wouldn't go there without you

# Let's take a ride We'll take a ride

# I wouldn't leave here without you

# I am a mountain

# I am the sea

# You can't take that away from me

# I am a mountain

# I am the sea

# Cos you tear us apart

# With all the things you don't like

# You can't understand

# That I won't leave

# Till we're finished here

# And then you'll find out

# Where it all went wrong

# Nothing lasts for ever

# Except you and me

# Cos you are my mountain

# You are my sea

# Love can last for ever

# Between you and me

# You are my mountain

# You are my sea

# I am a mountain

# I am the sea

# You can't take that away from me

# I am a mountain

# I am the sea

# I am a mountain

# I am the sea. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE