Desert Island Discs Poem by John Knight

Music is for me - I told the BBC
The greatest pleasure of my life.
It provides for me - fondest memory,
Of the places I've been, of things I have seen,
Of my family, my children, my wife!

You are allowed just eight records, they say,
To follow your life story through.
Their music revives in your memory,
The site of each place, the shape of each face,
The choice is entirely with you!

One record for every ten years, for me
That made it a difficult choice.
I sifted through my record memory,
The Beatles and Elvis - (with his gyrating pelvis!)
And Tom Jones' incredible voice!

And then there are classics and country
And folk songs and jazz and the blues,
Each genre bringing its memory.
The Liverpool sound, a merry-go-round
How on Earth was I going to choose?

The first song I chose for connection,
To Liverpool, place of my birth,
My Granddaughter sang this selection
And what did it say, it just said 'Yesterday',
A good time for laughter and mirth!

A coice from Tchaikovski was my number two,
'Nutcracker' by Liverpool Phil
My Father a pianist and organist who,
Played it in the night, much to my delight,
Of the classics I sure got my fill!

During the War the sirens begin,
Then music from Gracie and Bing
For this time I chosen, Dame Vera Lynn.
'There'll be blue birds over - the White Cliffs of Dover'
It's a song we were all taught to sing!

In the '50's the greatest was Elvis,
Who transformed the Bing Crosby groan
And sang as he wiggled his pelvis.
Because it is cool, to praise F C Liverpool
My choice - 'You'll never walk alone'.

The guitar's an ins-tru-ment for those who can sing,
for classic for jazz and the blues,
Segovia and Reinhardt and Broonsey and King
They all made each string, with such harmony ring
But its Jango's 'Nuage' I would choose!

From Country Music emotion you get,
Of love and of life and of home,
Great singers like Cash and Tammy Wynette
But it is Jim Reeves - who my vote recieves,
'Put your two lips - so close to the phone'!

The music of Wales is by Heaven selected,
In each village - a great Male Voice Choir,
'Myfanwy's' the song that I have elected.
Treorchy Male Voice, makes my heart rejoice,
Their tenors could not sing any higher!

My last song's devoted to my Lady Wife
To leave her 'til last is regrettable,
For her there are so many songs in my life!
But I'll bare my soul and choose Nat King Cole
Who like her is quite 'Unforgettable'!

So with my eight records, I'll travel afar
On my Desert Island I'll stay,
My luxury? A stool and a Spanish guitar,
A Spanish Dictionary is the best book for me
Para aprender las parablas - que yo no se!

When making your choice of each Island Disc
Which you'll take and which you will leave
In making your choice you must take a risk
All living musicians - hang on our decisions
And pray that you'll chose their new mix!