The Great Northern Songbook

If there's one venue in Northern Ireland that holds a special place

in the heart of music lovers,

it's got to be Belfast's Ulster Hall.

It's hosted countless legendary shows down the decades and tonight,

we celebrate its 150th anniversary.

To mark the occasion, we're going to throw a party -

something a little bit different,

as we celebrate not just the hall,

but the incredible back catalogue of songs written by Northern Irish artistes.

We selected 32 classics and asked for you to vote for your top ten.

Tonight, those songs will be performed by contemporary Northern Irish acts

in their own fashion...

accompanied by the Ulster Orchestra.

It's going to be special so, folks,

welcome to The Great Northern Songbook.

Ladies and gentlemen, a potted history of the Ulster Hall.

Doors opened in 1862, around 7.00pm.

Originally a ballroom, it quickly took on a life of its own.

Who'll forget Charles Dickens' farewell/comeback/greatest hits tour in 1869,

laying the path for great icons to visit over the next century or so?

But it hasn't always been easy.

It's played an important part in the political history of Northern Ireland, too...

from the signing of the Ulster Covenant in 1912,

to the formation of the Ulster Resistance.

It's continued to be the home of political rallies and debates.

And it's also opened its doors to sporting fans,

from the 1940s, when Belfast boxing hero "Rinty" Monaghan

stepped into the ring,

to early appearances by world champ, Barry McGuigan.

Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy got down and dirty under its roof,

and people were queueing up to see the likes of Alex Higgins

and Dennis Taylor.

And it's hosted beer festivals, tattoo conventions,

food fairs and everything in between.

But most of us hold the Ulster Hall in our hearts for one reason only,

and that's its amazing musical heritage.

There's no possible way to mention every single band who have graced this stage.

But there have been highlights.

The Rolling Stones turned many young ladies to blubbering wrecks in '65.

Led Zeppelin made musical history, with the world premiere

of Stairway To Heaven in 1971.

A Melody Maker review of the gig described the song as an "excellent ballad". If only they knew...

The Clash tried to play around this time, but the city fathers said no.

It was a second home for Rory Gallagher. The Boomtown Rats

and Motorhead both took to the stage in the late '70s.

'Toyah, The Ramones, The Undertones, Coldplay...'

The Chemical Brothers, Snow Patrol,

the Chilli Peppers...

I could go on and on.

And when it comes to big names, tonight is no exception.

Once again, all these acts doing their own take on tracks chosen

from The Great Northern Songbook by you guys.

So, to kick things off, the wonderful Cara Dillon,

performing, of all things, Teenage Kicks.

# Teenage kicks, so hard to beat

# Every time he walks down the street

# Another boy in the neighbourhood

# Wish he was mine cos he looks so good

# I wanna hold him Wanna hold him tight

# Get teenage kicks right through the night

# I'm gonna call him on the telephone

# Have him over, cos I'm all alone

# I need excitement Oh, I need it bad

# And it's the best that I've ever had

# I wanna hold him Wanna hold him tight

# Get teenage kicks right through the night... #

ORCHESTRA PLAYS

# I wanna hold him Wanna hold him tight

# Get teenage kicks right through the night

# Teenage dreams, so hard to beat

# Every time he walks down the street

# Another boy in the neighbourhood

# Wish he was mine, he looks so good

# I wanna hold him Wanna hold him tight

# Get teenage kicks right through the night

# Get teenage kicks right through the night... #

# I'm gonna call him on the telephone

# Have him over, cos I'm so alone

# I need excitement Oh, I need it bad

# And it's the best that I've ever had

# Wanna hold him, wanna hold him tight

# Get teenage kicks right through the night

# Get teenage kicks right through the night

# Get teenage kicks right through the night. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-Cara Dillon, welcome to the show.

-It's great to be here.

So many people rave about the Ulster Hall and for different reasons,

but, for you, what makes it special?

As a singer, for me, personally,

it is just the acoustics.

Sometimes I joke and call myself "the reverb queen",

because our soundman can't give me enough reverb, sometimes.

But in here, if you didn't have a monitor with reverb in it,

it wouldn't matter. It's so beautiful, your voice just carries.

I think it's probably one of those places that has seen

so much good music over so many years that the walls have absorbed

that sound and it's given it back to everyone who plays here.

When you first heard you'd be doing Teenage Kicks,

what was your reaction? Did that feel it would be a big challenge?

No...it was a lottery, really.

I was holding my breath, waiting to see what it was going to be.

It's so funny to get this song.

For me, it seemed kind of ridiculous.

It's such a challenge and I wanted to do it, cos it's an AMAZING song.

And it's a song which

I remember growing up and listening to in the car constantly

and because they're from Derry,

I was just delighted to get this song.

I didn't know what way I was going to do it.

I just love the arrangement, the way it's all been slowed down.

It shows that a good song can be interpreted...

and can survive the test of time. It's great.

Our next band are arguably the best live act in the country today.

Good enough to share stages with the likes of AC/DC, the Stones and Aerosmith.

from County Down, it's The Answer,

performing the song that topped our poll by a long shot...

and won its author an Ivor Novello Award for songwriting, back in 2001.

It's Shining Light, by Ash.

# Roman candle that burns in the night

# Yeah, you are a shining light

# You lit a torch

# In the infinite

# Yeah, you are a shining light

# You light up my life

# You've always been a thorn in the side

# But to me, you're a shining light

# You arrive and the night is alive

# Yeah, you are a shining light

# You light up my life

# We made our connection

# A full-on chemical reaction

# Brought by dark divine intervention

# Yeah, I see

# You are a shining light

# A constellation, once seen

# Over Royal David's City

# An epiphany You burn so pretty, yeah

# I see you are a shining light

# You are a force You're a constant source

# Yeah, you are a shining light

# Incandescent in the darkest night

# Yeah, you are a shining light

# You light up my life

# We made our connection

# A full-on chemical reaction

# Brought by dark divine intervention

# I see you are a shining light

# A constellation once seen

# Over Royal David's City

# An epiphany You burn so pretty, yeah

# I see you are a shining light

# These are the days you often say

# There ain't nothing that we can do

# Beneath this canopy

# Of stars

# I'd shed blood for you

# And you and you... #

ORCHESTRA PLAYS

# We made our connection

# A full-on chemical reaction

# Brought by dark divine intervention

# I see you are a shining light

# A constellation once seen

# Over Royal David's City

# An epiphany You burn so pretty, yeah

# I see you are a shining light

# Yeah, you light up my life

# I see you are a shining light

# Yeah, you light up my life. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you so much!

Our next performer barely needs an introduction.

Put simply, he's one of our most evocative voices - Brian Kennedy.

Brian has performed many times with the author of our next classic,

musical juggernaut, Van Morrison.

Taken from the record that Van will probably be best remembered for, Astral Weeks,

released when he was 23,

this tells the tale of the ever-mysterious Madame George.

# Down on Cyprus Avenue

# The childlike vision leaping into view

# The clicking-clacking of the high-heeled shoe

# Ford and Fitzroy and Madame George

# Marching with the soldier boy behind

# He's much older now with hat on, drinking wine

# And that smell of sweet perfume

# Comes drifting through

# The cool night air like Shalimar

# Outside, they're making all the stops

# The kids out on the street collecting bottle tops

# Going for cigarettes and matches in the shops

# Happy taken Madame George

# That's when you fall

# Whoa-oh-oh-oh, that's when you fall

# Yeah

# That's when you fall

# When you fall into a trance

# Sitting on a sofa Playing games of chance

# With your folded arms and history books you glance

# Into the eyes of Madame George

# And you think you've found the bag

# You're getting weaker

# Your knees begin to sag

# In the corner

# Playing dominoes in drag

# The only and only Madame George

# And then, from outside The frosty window raps

# She jumps up and says, "Lord have mercy, I think it's the cops!"

# And immediately drops everything she got

# Down into the street below

# And you know you got to go

# On the train from Dublin up to Sandy Row

# Throwing pennies at the bridges down below

# And the rain, hail, sleet and snow

# Say goodbye to Madame George

# Dry your eye for Madame George

# Wonder why for Madame George

# And as you leave, the room

# Is filled with music

# Laughing, music, laughing, music

# And all around the room

# And all the little boys come around

# Walking away from it all, so cold

# And as you're about to leave She jumps up and says...

# "Hey, love, you forgot your gloves"

# And the gloves to love The gloves to love

# The gloves to love, the gloves to love, the gloves to love,

# The gloves to love The gloves to love

# Say goodbye to Madame George

# In the backstreets, in the backstreets, in the backstreets. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Van Morrison, what a song!

I was very fortunate to get to know Van Morrison...

in the very early '90s

and of course, we were always aware of him as an artist.

But I started working with him in around the early '90s,

and I went on tour with him for six years, around the world,

and sang on five of his albums,

but we did, occasionally - very occasionally,

put in Madame George in the live set.

I'm privileged to say the first time I attempted to look at that song,

I did it with Van,

and I sometimes played guitar on it, but mostly I would sing it with him.

So it's one of those songs that's just...in terms of the fabric

of Belfast, it's such an integral part

of the soundtrack of this city,

so I'm proud to be part of it and to give it voice tonight.

Over the years, as a punter, what have been your stand-out moments

in the Ulster Hall?

It's one of those places that, first of all, I used to sing outside the City Hall

as a little busker.

It was one of those places you knew had this incredible,

legendary reputation.

You know, Rory Gallagher - all these people that came here, played here,

rocked the house.

It was always a, kind of, quite aspiration of mine

to come and sing in the Ulster Hall,

so to get to do it in this way,

and to celebrate all these Northern songs is an incredible privilege.

People rave about the Ulster Hall, for different reasons.

For you, what makes it so special?

I think it has to come down to its history, I think.

It's an iconic building.

In terms of the progression of our city,

from the darkest of times,

right through to these brighter times,

the Ulster Hall has just stood there, remaining a really,

I suppose, a kind of a building of hope where, at least,

you don't have to be Protestant or Catholic, or any of that kind of stuff.

When you come to the Ulster Hall, you're there to see music.

You put any kind of politic aside.

I think it's one of the only buildings

that offered that, in the quiet way that it did,

and it has great dignity as a building, too.

So I think that, for me as a performer,

it's one of those places, that when I look back on my career,

I think, "Yeah, I sang in the Ulster Hall."

Next up is General Fiasco, a band

with an army of fans, following their excellent debut, Buildings.

They're back with a new record,

but tonight they're performing a song by, in my opinion,

our finest singer-songwriter, Mr Neil Hannon.

From a classic Divine Comedy record called Promenade,

this is the beautiful, Tonight We Fly.

# Tonight we fly

# Over the houses

# The streets and the trees

# Over the dogs down below

# They'll bark at our shadows

# As we flow by on the breeze

# Tonight we fly

# Over the chimney tops

# Skylights and slates

# Looking into all your lives

# And wondering why

# Happiness is

# So hard to find

# Over the doctor

# Over the soldier

# Over the farmer

# Over the poacher

# Over the preacher

# Over the gambler

# Over the writer

# Over the writer

# Over the lawyer

-# Over the dancer

-Over the dancer

-# Over the voyeur

-Over the voyeur

# Over the builder

-# And the destroyer

-And the destroyer

# Over the hills and far away

# Tonight we fly

# Over the mountains

# The beach and the sea

# Over the friends that we've known

# And those that we now know

# And those whom we've yet to meet

# And when we die

# Oh, will we be that disappointed or sad?

# If heaven doesn't exist

# What will we have missed?

# This life is the best

# We've ever had. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

So, Owen and Enda from General Fiasco,

to sum up the Ulster Hall in a sentence, what would you say?

It's just one of the coolest venues in Belfast, so big and grand.

A massive, high ceiling. It's just a beautiful place.

Going to the Ulster Hall as punters, can you give us any stand-out gigs?

We went to see The Darkness, just before Christmas,

and it was one of the best gigs I've ever been to.

And we've seen Duke Special here.

I think it was the first time that I ever got into a Duke Special concert

was in the Ulster Hall.

I'd tried a couple of times and been turned away for being too young.

I finally got away with it and that was in the Ulster Hall.

-That's a very distressing statistic!

-THEY LAUGH

Tell us what it was like to perform with the Ulster Orchestra.

It was just surreal.

We're used to the four of us just standing...in a small space,

squeezed together and playing loud rock music,

and to have all those extra bodies,

all that extra sound behind you,

you can find it difficult just to drop into it

and make it feel natural, just cos it's so unnatural.

You may not have heard much about our next artist,

but we're big fans at BBC Radio Ulster

and she felt like an absolute must for this concert

with the Ulster Orchestra.

She's from Portadown, she's called Katharine Philippa,

and she's performing David McWilliams' classic, The Days Of Pearly Spencer.

# A tenement, a dirty street

# Walked and worn by shoeless feet

# A silence long and so complete

# Watched by a sh-shivering sun

# Old eyes in a small child's face

# Watching as the shadows race

# Through walls and cracks that leave no trace

# Daylight's brightness shone

# Oh, oh, oh

# The days of Pearly Spencer

# Oh, oh

# The race is almost run

# Hey

# Aw, duh-duh-doo-dah

# A nose pressed hard on frosty glass

# Gazing at the swollen mass

# On concrete fields where there grows no grass

# Stumbles blindly on

# Iron trees smother the air

# Though withering they stand, they stand and stare

# Through eyes that neither know nor care

# Where the grass has gone

# Ho, ho, woh

# The days of Pearly Spencer

# Ah-ah

# The race is almost run

# Yeah!

# Oh, doo-doo-doo, wah, dah, ah

# Pearly Where's your milk white skin?

# What's that stubble on your chin?

# It's buried in the rot-gut gin

# You've played and lost, not won

# You've played a house that can't be beat

# Now, look Your head's bowed in defeat

# You walked too far along the street

# Only rats can run

# Only rats can run, ah!

# Only rats can run

# Yeah!

# Oh-oh

# The days of Pearly Spencer

# The race is almost run

# Yeah!

# Oh, doo-doo-doo, wah

# Ee-ee!

# Doo, dah, doo, dah-dah-dah, doo, dah, yeah

# Doo, dah, doo, dah-dah-dah!

# Doo, dah, doo, dah-dah-dum

# Doo, dah, dah, doo

# Day, yeah!

# Doo, dah

# The days of Pearly Spencer

# Doo, dah

# The days of Pearly Spencer

# Doo, dah The days of Pearly Spencer

# The days of Pearly Spencer

# Oh-oh-oh, yeah!

# Way-oh!

# Oh-oh-oh, oh!

# Oh, eh, ah!

# Oh-oh-oh, oh!

# Oh, eh, ah!

# Oh, eh!

# The days of Pearly Spencer. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The BBC has enjoyed a long relationship with the Ulster Hall,

so were thrilled when asked to do something a little bit different

to mark its 150th anniversary.

It continues to be a very special place for us and here's why.

'Paul Brady played the Hall on his Irish tour in 1987.

'We were there to capture it and, as well as playing recent hits

'such as Follow On and The Island,

'he delighted the audience with his inimitable version

'of Arthur McBride.'

# Oh, me and me cousin One Arthur McBride

# As we went a-walking down by the seaside

# Now, mark what followed and what did betide

# For it being on Christmas morning

# Now, for recreation We went on a tramp

# And we met Sergeant Napper and Corporal Vamp

# And a little, wee drummer

# Intending to camp

# For the day being pleasant and charming... #

Mary Black took her Babes In The Wood tour to the Hall

in 1992,

promoting the follow-up to the massive No Frontiers album,

which had propelled her into the big league of Irish female artists,

both here and in the States,

alongside the likes of Enya and Sinead O'Connor.

# Heaven knows

# No frontiers

# And I've seen heaven in your eyes...#

Rory Gallagher played here in 1984,

performing with his legendary 1961 sunburst Stratocaster,

now on display in a Dublin museum.

Jimi Hendrix was once apparently asked, "What does it feel like

"to be the greatest guitarist in the world?"

To which he replied, "Ask Rory Gallagher."

MUSIC: "I Wonder Who" by Rory Gallagher

Damien Rice played the Ulster Hall in 2002,

to promote his album, O,

which had brought him widespread success here and in the US.

It featured the singles The Blower's Daughter, Volcano,

and his biggest hit, the beautiful Cannonball.

# This stone's taught me to fly

# And love taught me to lie

# And life taught me to die

# So it's not hard to fall

# When you float like a cannonball... #

Cara Dillon and Brian Kennedy joined forces

for the opening concert of the Belfast Festival in 2003.

Performing once again with the Ulster Orchestra, they raised the roof

with this powerful rendition of You Raise Me Up.

# And I am strong when I am on your shoulders

# Oh, you raise me up

# To more than I

# Can be. #

The Hall closed its doors for major refurbishment in 2007,

reopening two years later.

We once again threw a huge concert to celebrate

and the line-up was a who's who of Northern Irish talent,

including Divine Comedy...

# Gigantic, gigantic

# A big, big love... #

..Ash...

# Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you - woo-woo-woo... #

..Duke Special...

# Digging, digging Digging an early grave... #

..Lafaro...

# Save me... #

..Iain Archer...

# I'll be in redemption...

..Foy Vance...

# Someday, I'll disappear... #

..Cashier No. 9...

# Hey! #

..Therapy?...

# Grab it and take it, it's yours An alternative Ulster... #

..and surprise guests, Snow Patrol, to name a few.

# If I just lay here

# Would you lie with me

# And just forget the world? #

Everyone took to the stage for the show's finale,

a rabble-rousing version of Teenage Kicks.

# Get teenage kicks right through the night

# All right! #

That was a show we'll never forget.

And now we get to do it all again.

Here's to many more nights in the legendary Ulster Hall.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you!

Our next artist's CV reads like a Who's Who of the music industry.

He's worked with the likes of Paul McCartney,

Madonna, Snow Patrol

and Paul Oakenfold.

Last year, he was unveiled as the new singer of INXS.

And he's come all the way from Sydney to be here tonight.

So fair play to him for that.

Ciaran Gribbin performing Paul Brady's haunting ballad, The Island.

# They say the skies of Lebanon are burning

# Those mighty cedars bleeding in a heap

# I saw the pictures on the television

# Women and children dying in the street

# And we're still at it in our own place

# Still trying to reach the future through the past

# Still trying to carve tomorrow

# From our tombstone

# But, hey, don't listen to me

# This wasn't meant to be no sad song

# We've heard too much of that before

# Right now I only wanna be

# Here with you till the morning dew

# Comes falling

# I wanna take you to the island

# And trace your footprints in the sand

# And in the evening when the sun goes down

# We'll make love to the sound of the ocean

# They're raising banners over by the markets

# Whitewashing slogans on the shipyard's walls

# Witchdoctors praying for a mighty showdown

# No way a holy flag is gonna fall

# Up here we sacrifice our children

# To feed the worn-out dreams of yesterday

# And teach them dying will lead them into glory

# But hey, don't listen to me

# This wasn't meant to be no sad song

# I've sang too much of that before

# Right now I only wanna be here with you

# Till the morning dew comes falling

# I wanna take you to the island

# And trace your footprints in the sand

# And in the evening when there's no-one around

# We'll make love to the sound of the ocean

# I know us plain folks don't see all the story

# And I know that peace and love's just copping out

# Maybe those young boys dying in the ditches

# Is just what being free's all about

# That twisted wreckage down on main street

# Will bring us all together in the end

# And we'll go marching down the road to freedom

# Freedom

# Freedom

# Freedom. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

In my opinion, it's the definitive song

about The Troubles of Northern Island.

Everybody in this land can relate to those lyrics,

but at the same time, he goes away from that really heavy subject,

and brings in the love element to it.

It's genius songwriting and it's a song that, without a doubt,

has inspired me as a songwriter.

He's an amazing singer, as well.

A lot of people just think of Paul Brady as a wonderful songwriter...

It's a tough one to sing,

and I just hope I do the song justice.

Say you were telling the rest of the guys in INXS to play Belfast

and selling the Ulster Hall. What would you say?

The Ulster Hall was always that place

where you were like, "I'm going to be there some day."

It IS that definitive venue.

A lot of bands... We all know the history of the place,

all the great bands that have been through the doors.

It just means a lot to the people here,

particularly the musicians here.

It truly is a legendary venue.

Any sort of stand-out gigs for you?

I saw...

Def Leppard and Bon Jovi within a short space of time.

I was like 14 or something.

I was just getting into bands and stuff at that time.

You're seeing those bands in here.

At that age, you're just a sponge.

You see it and all the flashing lights, the rock & roll of it all,

and you're just going, "THAT'S what I want to do."

I've no doubt in my mind, at that age, I was massively influenced

by this venue, seeing bands in here,

just going, "Wow!" Then, down the years,

it's just been so many, you know.

Local bands, as well.

Bands like And So I Watch You From Afar

and people who are regularly playing this place now in the local scene.

It just goes to show you how much it means to the local music scene.

Next on stage is Rams' Pocket Radio,

effectively Peter McCauley, a multi-instrumentalist

and piano aficionado from Lisburn.

He started out as a percussionist with the National Youth Orchestra

and tonight he's performing an extremely individual interpretation

of a genuine punk classic -

Stiff Little Fingers' Alternative Ulster.

# There's nothing for us in Belfast The Pound's so old, it's a pity

# OK, there's the Trident in Bangor

# Then we walk back to the city

# There's nothing for us in Belfast

# The Pound's so old, it's a pity

# OK, there's the Trident in Bangor

# Then we walk back to the city

# We ain't got nothing but they don't even care

# They don't even know, you know

# We don't need money but we don't even mind

# What we need

# Oh-ho

# Yeah

# Alternative Ulster... #

PIANO AND ORCHESTRA PLAY

# An alternative Ulster... #

PIANO AND ORCHESTRA PLAY

# So take a look where you're living

# The Army on the street

# The RUC dog of oppression

# Is barking at your feet

# Is this the kind of place you wanna live?

# Is this where you wanna be?

# Is this the only life we're gonna have?

# What we need

# Hey-ya-ha!

# Is an alternative Ulster

# Grab it, change it, it's yours

# An alternative Ulster

# Ignore the bores, their laws

# An alternative Ulster

# Be an anti-security force

# Alter your native Ulster

# They say they're a part of you

# But that's not true, you know

# They say they got control of you

# Say you'll never be

# Free

# Free, ho!

# Free

# Yeah

# Get an alternative Ulster. #

PIANO AND ORCHESTRA PLAY

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you.

With so much happening on stage tonight,

we need a whole other programme to show it all.

Best we can do is offer some further highlights

of The Great Northern Songbook.

Barry Lynn, sometimes known as Boxcutter or The Host,

is a producer and guitarist from Lurgan, mainly known

for his instrumental, bass-driven electronica and dubstep.

He's performing his version of Hill Of Thieves, written by Cara Dillon.

GUITAR AND ORCHESTRA PLAY

And So I Watch You From Afar are an instrumental band

with a fantastic live reputation,

having gigged extensively throughout the UK, Europe and Russia.

They've previously sold out the Ulster Hall,

and are performing their version of another local classic -

Big Time, by Rudi.

GUITAR SOLO

ORCHESTRA PLAYS

CHEERING

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Some incredible performances,

but I'm joined now by Miss Bronagh Gallagher, how are you?

This is my first time in the Ulster Hall.

And I have Rory Gallagher, Live at the Ulster Hall, and I've always wanted

to be in a gig at the Ulster Hall, so to perform at it is incredible.

So your experience of the Ulster Hall is watching a DVD,

-then, of a legendary show?

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Now, we're assuming it would have been incredibly nerve-wracking

-to perform with the Ulster Orchestra.

-It's a real honour.

It's very moving, the whole thing, actually, to be quite honest.

When you hear your work played at that, you know, that velocity,

it's amazing.

So it's terrifying, as well as very exciting. I'm a bit nervous.

So your track tonight is one of the newer songs

in The Great Northern Songbook. Were you a big fan before tonight?

Yeah, I'm a huge fan of the artist that I'm singing, so, yeah,

I was honoured to be given this one, it's great. I love it.

You know, he's an incredibly talented songwriter, and musician,

and obviously he's used a lot of orchestra in his work in the past,

and so, you know, it's a huge honour to be there singing one of his songs.

Especially one that is really a very special song, you know?

It's a very brilliant song.

# Save me from the movies Someone else's dreams

# Angels make their magic Give my spirit wings

# I just concertina

# And wrap around the world

# Staying out till six o'clock Singing like a fool

# I've only got this morning to live

# Look at all the colours from my fingertips

# I don't want to stand still I just want to freewheel

# I don't want to lose thi-i-i-is

# I don't want to stand still I just want to freewheel

# I don't want to lose thi-i-i-is

# Save my feet from dancing with just anyone at all

# Worn out shoes cos Otis Blue keeps dancing in the hall

# And your face in the distance I hope to recognise

# But it's like running through deep water trying to look into your eyes

# I've only got this morning to live

# Look at all the colours on my fingertips

# I don't want to stand still I just want to freewheel

# I don't want to lose thi-i-is

# I don't want to stand still I just want to freewheel

# I don't want to lose thi-i-is

# I don't want to stand still I just want to freewheel

# I don't want to lose thi-i-is

# I don't want to stand still I just want to freewheel

# I don't want to lose thi-i-is. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Thank you so much.

Well, didn't we tell you it was going to be very, very special?

Amazing to think just how far we've come musically in recent times.

The Great Northern Songbook is definitely something to be very,

very proud of. Let's hope it continues to grow.

Let's end the show, then, with a track that was first

performed in public in this venue in 1971, believe it or not.

Led Zeppelin, but tonight, done by The Answer and friends,

this is Stairway To Heaven.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Tim Wheeler.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

# There's a feeling I get when I look to the west

# And my spirit is crying for leaving

# In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees

# And the voices of those who stand looking

# Ooh, it makes me wonder

# If there's a bustle in your hedgerow

# Don't be alarmed now

# It's just a spring clean for the May queen

# Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run

# There's still time to change the road you're on

# And it makes me wonder

# Ah-ha-ha!

# Your head is humming and it won't go, because you don't know

# The piper's calling you to join him

# Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow? And did you know

# Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?

# Ah-ha

# And as we wind on down the road

# Our shadows taller than our soul

# There walks a lady we all know

# Who shines white light and wants to show

# How everything still turns to gold

# And if you listen very hard

# The tune will come to you at last

# When all is one and one is all

# To be a rock but not to ro-o-o-oll

# And she's buying

# The stairway to heaven. #

# Ah-h-h-h-h-h! #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd