Fortis Green

Written by: Dave Davies/J. Hague

Published by: Capedale Ltd.

Lyrics:

Mum would shout and scream when dad would come home drunk
When she asked him where he'd been, he'd say "Up the Clissold Arms"
Chatting up some huzzy, but he didn't mean no harm
Sunday morning drives, just to get away
Ramsgate or Southend, it would always be a laugh
Paddling by the sea, trousers rolled up to the knees
Walking by the sea, full of dreams, eating ice cream
Grandma's burnt her cheeks getting brown, turn her over

Fortis Green, memories of days when I was young
It can only be a memory. A time that now has gone

There's Uncle Frank tellin' stories from the war
Frightening all the kids, yet we'd heard it all before
While the bombs were droppin' round, there were parties underground
Aunt Lil's at the gin, while Mum's singing songs
From the 40's when variety, Max Miller was going strong
All the characters are gone, oh, what a blooming shame
I wish that it could be like it was in the old days
Sat on Auntie's knee, toasting bread in the fire-place

Fortis Green, memories of days when I was young
It can only be a memory. A time that now has gone
Memories of Fortis Green, when I was just a lad
Collecting bottle tops, threepenny bits. Fishing with my Dad

Sister's in the doorway, snogging with her bloke
Scared to put the cat out 'case I put him off his stroke
But she wouldn't be denied, I got a shilling as a bribe
I used to do my courting on an old kitchen chair
The girls were all so sporting, but I only really cared for my little Katie-Sue
There was nothing she wouldn't do
Sunday after tea we would listen to the wireless
Hancock's half-hour, Luxembourg. We'd sit for hours

Fortis Green, memories of days when I was young
It can only be a memory. A time that now has gone
Fortis Green, memories of days when I was young
Collecting bottle tops, threepenny bits. Fishing with my Dad

That's it

This song can be found on the following releases:

stereo mix, recorded Aug 1999 at David Nolte's home studio, Hollywood, California
Fortis Green - Meta Media Demo Series 8 Nov, 1999 USA Meta Media MM02 CD
Fortis Green 2 - Meta Media Demo Series 23 Dec, 2012 UK Meta Media CD

stereo mix, recorded early 2002 at Laurel Canyon Studios and Stagg Street Studio, Los Angeles, California
BUG 7 May, 2002 USA Koch Records KOC-CD-8398 CD
BUG 14 Jul, 2004 UK Angel Air Records SJPCD179 CD
Kinked 7 Mar, 2006 USA Koch Records KOC-CD-9996 CD
Waterloo Sunset - The Very Best Of The Kinks & Ray Davies 13 Aug 2012 UK Sanctuary Records/Universal Music 371 248-9 2 CD set
Living On A Thin Line 9 Sep 2022 UK BFD/Red River/Green Amp Records RRECD213 CD

stereo mix, by The Spivs, recorded 2001, overdubs 2007
KPS4 3603 - The Songs Of Dave Davies May 2007 USA KPS4 3608 CD

stereo mix, as "Je Vroege Jeugd" (Dutch translation) by Kink in de Kabel, recorded 2007
KPS4 3603 - The Songs Of Dave Davies May 2007 USA KPS4 3608 CD


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