Scottish Bands and Music. Kilbowie Hill.

Reminiscences from seventy years ago.
Lyrics             Kilbowie  Hill

My Clydebank memories all still abound
When I hear Kilbowie Road’s name resound.
No matter where in the world I may be,
Those youthful memories come back to me.

It was there, in the mid-twentieth century,
Alive and vibrant them all I see.
As I am walking up Kilbowie hill,
The Blitz reminders are all there still.

The La Scala, standing lonely on the left,
Of surrounding buildings, it was bereft.
A beacon there it was for one and all,
The rich in the balcony, the others in the stalls.

So many are the pennies that I spent in there
Watching Ginger Rodgers and Fred Astaire,
Hopalong Cassidy, Roy and Dale, too,
Along with other members of their Hollywood crew.

Then, when over, walking up the hill to the top
To old man McNaughtan’s fish and chip shop.
Or, for something stronger, to McCallum’s Pub next door,
Which, If I remember, had sawdust on the floor.

Or head on down to Tedesci’s Café
For an ice cream pokey hat or some pea bray
For they were delicious and almost a sin
And old Mary was there to welcome you in.

Then there was our Youth Club in Kilbowie School
Where boys and girls met and played it cool
When getting together at the Saturday night dance
And finding a lumber there, possibly, by chance.

Yes, those were the days, all so fancy free
When you could do almost anything you pleased
But, now, it is probably safe to say, in truth,
If only we could relive our youth!

Andrew Roxburgh McGhie    08.05.2024