Grandma’s Song – Elton John

Grandma, do you really not remember about granddad?

‘Course I do!
How could I forget your granddad, Billy
We were married thirty-three year

So what was like like
He was a complete . . . Bastard!

I hated the sod – for thirty-three year
We should never have married of that I’m quite clear
He spent the housekeeping money on whiskey and beer
And never lifted a finger
Times were hard, but the swine rolled back pissed
So we’d fight and he’d swing and he rarely missed
So I’d clobber the sod when he couldn’t resist:
Asleep, you can’t lift a finger

But we’d go dancing
And he’d hold me tight
He was air, He was water, He was breath, He was light
And he would hold me there, with all his might
And it was bliss for an hour or so
But then they called time to go
And in the morning we were sober

O he’d drink and he’d talk just like a fool
Lie like a bairn and snore like a mule
Rarely was sober, pretty much was the rule
And he never lifted a finger
I suppose times were hard, things were different then
Women were women and men, they were men
Seventeen, that was it, your life ended when you had a ring around your finger

But we’d go dancing, he was me own Brando
And for a moment there my heart was a-glow
We had dust in our hair and nowhere to go
Boo we were free for an hour or three
From the people we had to be
But in the morning we were sober

But if I went through my time again
Oh I’d do it without the help of men
Or at least your Grandad
But then again, you know
Best not to linger

What is the use of dreaming now?
I had my chance, well anyhow
If I’d only known then what I know now
I’d’ve given them all the finger

And gone dancing, and not give a shit
And spin around and reel and love each bit
And I’d dance alone and enjoy it
And I’d be me for an entire life
Instead of somebody’s wife
And I never would be sober
And I never would be sober