The FaB Club has inspired a few writers since its creation in February 2005...
4th February 2007:
2nd FaB Club anniversary:
OH IT’S FAB
Words and Music Trevor Barham
Verse 1
D A
Sundays used to be so bleak, the same old story every week
C G D
All I did was sit and watch TV
D A
Ever since I found the Fab Club, by the
C G D
Sunday is the happiest day for me
Chorus
D G A G D G A G D
Oh it’s Fab, Oh its Fab, Oh its Fab, Oh its Fab
Whenever I feel the need to play, I grab my guitar and I’m on my way
Oh it’s Fab
Verse 2
D A
If you are sitting in the gloom, in the loneliness of a darkened room,
C G D
Singing songs that no one ever hears,
D A
There is a place you can go, where everyone is the star of the show
C G D
Come along and have a couple of beers,
Chorus
D A
Old songs, new songs, poems, jokes, acoustic rock, blues, jazz and folk,
C G D
Stories, from an age gone bye.
D A
So shake off those Sunday blues, get yourself in the party mood
C G D
You might just have the time of your life
Chorus x2
Then it was the turn of Dennis Homes
to pay tribute to FaB Club...
Sing-around and a Pint or Two
(The FaB Club Song)
I’ve been a’ roaming in
Been to
Even earned a buck or two in
But I always seem to end up at the FaB Club
For a sing-around and a pint or two.
Struck it lucky in
Found in harder in
Went down under where I met a kangaroo.
But I always seem to end up at the FaB Club
For a sing-around and a pint or two.
Been to
Seven times to
Saw the rain fall on the plain in
Found it hilly down in
Rather wet out in
Met a gentleman or two whilst in
Took a liner out to
Drove a motor to Dakota,
Saw a man about a cat in
But I always seem to end up at the FaB Club
For a sing-around and a pint or two.
Played a bongo in the
And a tuba out in
Had to lump it with a trumpet in
But I always seem to end up at the FaB Club
For a sing-around and a pint or two.
I’ve been to
Had my breakfast out in
And my tea in
And sardines for my dinner in
Swallowed mussels while in
Had to chew grain in the
And in
But I always seem to end up at the FaB Club
For a sing-around and a pint or two.
Hit the ceiling in
And the gutter in
Then got pissed while I was out in
But I always seem to end up at the FaB Club
For a sing-around and a pint or two.
From
From
I’ve certainly travelled the whole world over.
But my journey always ends up via
Swam the water off of
Learnt the blarney in Killarney,
Then in
But I always seem to end up at the FaB Club
For a sing-around and a pint or two.
Dennis Homes
Gordon Shears tried to get rid of his stage fright in May 05 and wrote:
The One Place
Drove off down the A13 and hoped I’d be too late
Three times around the roundabout before I found the A128
Missed the turning – well I should have guessed!
Hard right turn and hope for the best -
This cannot be a good idea if it gets me in this state
The one place I don’t want to be is standing way out here
There’s two dozen people looking at me and I don’t feel any too clear
I need a drink and I need a break
(Yes, buying the guitar was my first mistake)
The one place I don’t want to be is standing way out here
It was Claudine saying “Do you want a song?” that got me in this mess
Instead of keeping my big mouth shut I went and answered “yes”
Swung my guitar had my first mishap
- half a pint of coke in someone’s lap!
Trying to get my ass in gear so far without success
The one place I don’t want to be is standing way out here
There’s two dozen people looking at me and I’m not feeling any too clear
I need support and I need advice
(Hell, even a guitarist might be nice (?!))
The one place I don’t want to be is standing way out here
Looking around for cover – there’s no cover to be found
Trying to get in tune but now my tuning’s gone to ground
My G string’s shot and I’m singing flat
(I’d be much better off with a baseball bat)
It’s going to take a miracle to turn this thing around
The one place I don’t want to be is standing way out here
There’s two dozen people looking at me and the implication’s clear
I’m out of ideas and I’m stuck for a rhyme
Gonna do this chorus one more time
My hands are shaking, my composure’s gone
And another dozen acts still want to get on
I’ve made it through and I don’t know how
(Does anyone mind if I throw up now?)
It was bad enough when this song was new
But now they’ve got me on the radio too!
The one place I don’t want to be is standing way out here (!)
Gordon Shears
Liz Montgomery, our resident poet, had a few of us on the verge of tears on the day of the FaB Club's first anniversary... Here is
"la ballade du salon FaB"
La Chanson du Salon FAB
“Pour Claudine”
Liz Montgomery, February 5th 2006
Nous nous trouvons ici dans le salon violet
Tournez, tournez, la vie passe trop vite
Des chanteurs, des danseuses, les flaneurs se montrent,
Nous prenons le vol dans la musique de la nuit
Deux fois un mois, les lettres vont marcher,
Tournez, tournez, la vie passe trop vite
Accompagnés de la tristesse, de la joie et des bruits
Nous prenons le vol dans la musique de la nuit
Tout le monde ensemble, nous partageons de bons moments
Tournez, tournez, la vie passe trop vite
Vous buvez les rires de vos gentils amis
Nous prenons le vol dans la musique de la nuit
Saisissez le passé, rappelez-vous les histoires
Tournez, tournez, la vie passe trop vite
Mais soyez les champions des mots sans aucune peur
Nous prenons le vol dans la musique de la nuit
Nous nous trouvons ici, le future approche
Tournez, tournez, la vie passe trop vite
Célébrez les artistes avec de l’argent et le feu
Et prenez le vol dans la musique de la nuit
Here we all are in the violet saloon
Turn around, turn around, life passes too quickly,
Some singers, some dancers, the idlers turn out and
We take flight in the music of the night
Twice a month, the letters will march out
Turn around, turn around, life passes too quickly
Accompanied by sadnesses, joys and sounds
We take flight in the music of the night
Everyone together, we share the good times
Turn around, turn around, life passes too quickly
You drink the laughter of your kind friends and
We take flight in the music of the night
Take hold of the past, remember the stories
Turn around, turn around, life passes too quickly
But be the champions of words without any fear and
We take flight in the music of the night
We find ourselves here, the future approaches
Turn around, turn around, life passes too quickly
Celebrate the artists with silver and fire
And take flight in the music of the night
Liz Montgomery
Mike Parrott wrote a birthday song for the club!
FAB Club Birthday 2006
I know a little folk club down near Orsett,
you can get yourself inside for one pound payment,
so come in, shake off your gloom, and get in the Purple Room,
for an afternoon's acoustic entertainment.
Happy Birthday FABClub, I can't believe that it has been a year,
Happy Birthday FABClub, go sing it off the end of Southend Pier.
Now this club meets on the first and on the third Sundays each month,
just off the A13, near Tilbury Dock,
and the club meets round the back, (and heating it doesn't lack),
in a pub that's known for miles, the Orsett Cock.
Happy Birthday FABClub, I can't believe that it has been a year,
Happy Birthday FABClub, somebody please buy me a beer.
You can get yourself a drink and sit and listen,
and while away a pleasant hour or two,
but if you have a routine, then go and tell Claudine,
and she'll organise a spot right there for you.
Happy Birthday FABClub, I can't believe that it has been a year,
Happy Birthday FABClub, the sausage rolls are somewhere over
theeeer
So why not get yourself out on a Sunday afternoon?,
acoustic music really isn't drab,
you can really have some fun, you can even bring your mum,
bravenet.com