From New Cross to 'Ampstead

The great London Nobody Sings has been featuring songs from north of the river this week, specifically songs about Hamptead. One of the numbers featured is All Aboard for 'Appy 'Ampstead, sung in 1932 by Gracie Fields:



A quick listen shows that this is really a South East London song, or at least a song about South Londoners going on a day trip to Hampstead. It starts off "can't you 'ear the charabanc coming down the Old Kent Road", then we hear that they're on a "New Cross Bus with the beer and lunch" with a cast of characters including "Blimey Bill from Denmark Hill". The song was written by Albert Chevalier, who also wrote 'Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road' - the tune quoted in the opening bars of this song.