Dad's Army Theme on Piano

[Andersondic]

It would have been nice to hear the notes we saw.......!!!!!!!

[paulwwells]

@Andersondic I just answered a similar point on my Ski Sunday video. At the time I didn't think anyone would take much notice, but I now realise that a lot of musicians watch my arrangements and for that reason I now avoid using the transpose function.

[Nathan62554]

a amazing viseo could you do a tutorial and its better than the real version youll be on broadway anytime soon

[paulwwells]

@Nathan62554 Thanks. There is a tutorial - please click the on-screen link

[callmeshane303]

The A21 - it's a bus route.

[Andi090386]

@callmeshane303 It's 8:21 as in the Bus time.

Look it up on the Dad's Army Website.

[DaBeesNees100]

@Andi090386 just signed in to say the same thing :P yupp

[Andi090386]

@DaBeesNees100 Thank you, somone who has actually looked it up.

The amount of people on here that think it's A21 & not 8:21 .... it drives me crazy.

For those who still think it's A21, here is the line from the theme tune.

"Mr Brown goes off to Town on the 8:21, but he comes home each evening & is ready with his gun!" Look it please people.

[Richiepookinshoo]

"I'm in charge here, and I ask you to keep your hands off my Privates"

[JustB3NJI]

Fooking epic!

[Shangas]

It's "8:21", as in the time of a bus or train, not a highway.

[itskirstybetchx]

3 peoples names vill also go on ze list...

[CelesticCF]

@itskirstybetchx LOL, that was my fave episode!

[pupRu33]

I love it!

[MrCurtish63]

my class like that song

[bobo577]

Apparently Hodges, The Verger and Captain Square dislike this video.

[mastergx1]

3 people are just too old to see the "like" button

[MrCurtish63]

who do you think you are kidding mr hitler

[iPhonestunna]

Do the army strong theme PLEASE!

[jmasters24]

OMG! I've had this stuck in my head for like EVER !

[pupRu33]

fantastic!



[ChaudChip]

I beleive the line you are confused with is THE Eight-twenty one. Probably refering to the time of a train or bus.

[WW2frontline]

When it comes to war, you want the Brits on your side.

[MisterEvasion]

Hey! Not bad!!

[Simo2009BORO]

@MisterEvasion not bad? I would say bloody good wouldnt you?

[ThePusspusscat]

Love it as although born in 1941, too young to remember much, it still brings back the late 40's for me as Dad was in the Civil Defence in London for the whole of the bombing and told me later of nightmare tales of rescue. He never claimed his medal though,thought that the front line lads deserved them not him. Dad's Army is a gem and I watch it every time its on TV. Better on the BBC,no adverts lol

[TigerAmongstMen]

3 people are colourblind ancient romans (look it up)

[paulwwells]

@TigerAmongstMen Hi - thanks for all your comments

[mrbennyb1000]

honestly that is amazing by next year about 1000 will like and 0 dislike.

[Random22222y]

You, good sir, are an absolute legend!

[treewindle]

do you have this as sheet music/ can it be transcribed??

[Andi090386]

Who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler? if you think were on the run?

We are the boys who will stop your'e little game

We are the boys who will make you think again

Cause who do you think you're kidding Mr Hitler?

If you think Old England's done

Mr Brown goes off to town on the 8:21

But he comes home each evening and is ready with his Gun

So who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler?

If you think Old England's done

[ThePusspusscat]

@Andi090386 I;m looking for the guitar/piano chords.....

[Andi090386]

(Private Frazer) If you'll no rate this video then we're all DOOMED

(Private Walker) Here go on give this video a rating will ya, I'll make it worth your'e while

(Private Godfrey) Can you rate this video for me, I don't know how to do it

(Revwrand Farthing) I say, can you give this video a rating for me, so I can take my service

[chrismumford]

Brilliant! Well played!

What a programme though.... Still as good and as funny today, as it has ever been and I never tire of watching it! Even kids today think it is fantastic. I think the best comedy ever.

[paulwwells]

@chrismumford True. It is amazing when you think how many comedies have come and gone since.

[Rockingham76]

@chrismumford I'm 14 and i think it's great

[keany06]

@chrismumford With the exeption of only fools and horses :)

[Andi090386]

RIP John Le Mesurier (Sgt Wilson)

RIP James Beck (Private Walker)

RIP Arnold Ridley (Private Godfrey)

RIP Arthur Lowe (Captain Mainwaring)

RIP John Laurie (Private Frazer)

RIP Janet Davis (Mrs Pike)

RIP Edward Sinclair (Verger Maurice)

[Andi090386]

(Capt Mainwaring) If you do not rate this video Men you are a discgrace to the Platoon

(Sgt Wilson) I say chaps you mind awfully rating this video, there's a good chap now

(Lance Coproal Jones) Permission to speak Sir! I wish to volunteer to rate this video Sir

(Private Pike) My Mum said it would be a good idea to rate this video like uncle Arthur said.

(ARP Warden Hodges) Here what do you think your'e doing, watching this video and not rating it

[tonny130369]

ik vind dat je super speelt...groetjes uit holland

[edcasabonne]

Beautifully played! 10 for you! going into my favorites!

Elijah Casabonne, U.S Army, Retired

[mrbennyb1000]

you are brilliant you play just how it is

[Richiepookinshoo]

Dont like it Pike!

[afgdrbhyz]

your the best damn you're like one of those mad piano players in the dark banging the piano lol

[Terrilliser]

nicely played

[Death783]

I'll try and remember my music days. erm, the trills are very smooth :)

[chriswales19]

Utterly spot on!

[WKerryUK]

I have to say, that's better than the real thing. Genius.

[paulwwells]

@WKerryUK Thanks. I'm sure there's something extra in the sound when you can see music being played.

[sniperking23435]

The two people who dislike this have obviously never seen Dad's Army....

[drcoxcentral]

Sounds like a British Music Hall song on the piano.

[alexcrowson]

dads army classic sitcom!

[dkbmaestrorules]

they don't say 'the A21', they say 'the 8.21' (i.e. train or bus service).

[Deepsmeg]

@dkbmaestrorules I'd often wondered this.

I thought A21 at first. Given that Walmington is likely to be in East Sussex or Kent, it is plausible that they'd take the A21 from Hastings towards London

[326598poi]

Fantastic job! this is very catchy and may even be better than the original music (no offense to the original theme)

British through and through! Thanks

[phantomhacker90]

who do think mr brown if you think gonna the next election lol

[ryanbrownnew]

brilliant you have great soul and swing

[kirstyb131988]

u are amazing, out of this world. wish I could play as welll as u.

can you tell me the make and model of your keybord?

[demon27dan]

Yes, as the previous poster says, the lyric is 'Mr. Brown goes off to town on the 8:21', the time of his train.

[NevilleStyke]

I don't think it's the A21; I think it's the twenty-one minutes past eight train!

[jazzboyfin]

Now that's funny - you're playing in C and yet it's coming out in Eb. Did you re-pitch it on the keyboard or has your video camera or Youtube messed the pitch up? Nice playing anyway.

[paulwwells]

@jassboyfin well spotted. Your are correct it is transposed up 3 semitones. I guessed wrong when I was working it out and only realised just before recording.

[jameskent91]

hiya, this is great!!!!

i am a student at college and for my animation course i would like to use this theme tune you have recorded for my coursework!

may i use it??

[paulwwells]

That's fine, yes, please go ahead and use it. If possible please make a reference back to this source. Good luck with your animation course.

[gerladiant]

Brilliant, could not be better , just wish I could play like that, what other sites are you on please.

[paulwwells]

Thanks. Just here on YouTube.

[whoaholic]

lordy, personally before I learned how to play it I thought it would be the first sign of madness trying to play something this complicated!

[paulwwells]

It almost certainly is the early signs of going bonkers in my case

[crazydavedisco]

awsome

[robklugkist]

Hi Paul!

Have you considered exporting your covers via midi to the computer and make sheetmusic out of it?? I would be ( not the only one? ) willing to buying the downloads.... Suggestion?

(Dad's Army theme i can play, but the Tom and Jerry theme is another story! Sheet music would help a lot!)

Kind regards, keep up the good work,

Rob Klugkist, the netherlands.

[paulwwells]

Hi Robklugkist - Thanks for this suggestion, yes I'm considering doing this because there are a lot of people asking.

[lovelock512]

do you think you could do the QI theme tune

[EireGoon]

Oh yes please!

[Lewkish]

Who D'you think your kidding mister Hitler!

[whitehousefilms]

do you think you can play the Devil's Gallop aka: Dick Barton special agent?

[paulwwells]

That's a very good suggestion. Yes I've added that to my list.

[000Quin]

Yeah reading is hard work for me too i prefer to play by ear too! im 10 nearly 11

[000Quin]

you are an amazing piernest better than me and i play by ear do you by any chance? :D

[paulwwells]

Thank you. And you are correct, with only a couple of exceptions everything on this channel is played by ear. I can read music but it seems like hard work.

[Cduddy999]

The Asda Theme.

[paulwwells]

I normally mute the TV when the adverts come on - so I haven't heard this, but strangely enough I did see some arrows in the Dad's Army style last night.

[CDTBell]

well done ***** m8

[96warhammer]

really cool i can play that a little bit like that lol

[oldkiesel]

This is perfect, exactly the way a professional band pianist would perform it. I presume that's what you are.

[paulwwells]

Thanks Oldkiesel, but nope - I've never been a professional musician; but it's very kind of you to say that's how it sounds.

[Grivesy]

its bececause that its 8.21 (buss) not the A21 a found out when a put the subtutles on when i wach it

[sambannister89]

Thanks, I've always wondered about that too!

[jesse20618]

where can i get the sheet music for this?

[eJasminde]

Oh this is great, I am so learning it ;-)

[crazypianolady]

Love it. You're very talented. I think I must have watched the funniest episode just last week. It involved a chimp costume...!

[ellboy10101]

i agree with animesis, the A21 is a road.

[daverobertocarlos]

DON'T TELL HIM PIKE

[volvomantom]

Brilliant! Brilliant! :D

[animesis]

p.s. i can only think the A21 is a reference to a road, im not sure if your in the UK but there are various road types depending on size etc and they are letter by this A road B road (maybe just A and B lol) and then numbered

i often wonder about the A21, it seems a bit random to me

[dalekfay]

Its 8:21 it refers to him catching a train to go to work, as many people would have done in the 40's

[animesis]

oh wonderful! i dont suppose uve made a score for this have u?

[paulwwells]

I'm hoping to get a chance to play with the software to create scores in the next couple of days

[Distillation1]

Thats what i call Talent, you should go on Britains Got Talent :)

[lawifuhic]

Fantastic. Sounds great. Well played.

[Haza119]

Absolutely brilliant my friend.

[paulwwells]

Thank you, and thanks for favouriting :)

[Ashworth6]

Stupid boy!

[tenderheart17]

lol... 'Dad's Army' was one of my favourite Brit -coms as a kid : ) I grew up on a steady diet of British shows.

[gwenslambgwen]

awesome what key is it transcribed to

[paulwwells]

As usual I started figuring it out without bothering to check what key it should be in. I played it in C - with the piano transposed up about 3 semitones. Without checking - I think the original was in F. Almost everything which was played with real brass instruments was in either F or Bb

[somit53]

it isn't 'the a21'...it's 'the 8.21'...implying mr brown is a 9-5 train commuter.nice version :)

[2008Lawood]

na mate parkinson, is where its at sailor

[mugdirza]

PLZ make a tortuail plz

[Andrewshadowy]

Fantastic. Can you play the Doctor Who Theme?

[paulwwells]

There's a video on this channel of my son playing Dr Who

[gmaccruyff5]

"It aint half hot mum"?Whats keeping you.!

[paulwwells]

OK - good idea :)

[Richiepookinshoo]

Good god you are awesome.

[paulwwells]

Thank you Rich. And thanks for favouriting my videos.

[rockhopperpenguins]

im grade 4 piano i want ot play this where did u get the music?

[paulwwells]

Hi Rock Hopper - I didn't play it from sheet music, so I don't know if any is available.

[doggies2]

I would love to be able to play this! what grade is it?

[paulwwells]

Hi Doggles. Well it doesn't exist as a piano grade. If I was to guess roughly what level of difficulty it is I'd guess about grade 3.

[doggies2]

thankyou

[TheDramaKings]

Beautiful...

[paulwwells]

Thanks

[northernanorak]

Yeah I always thought it was 8.21, presumably a train.

[robnobster]

However all the lyrics online have it as 8:21!

[robnobster]

I've recently read Jimmy Perry's autobiography. He wrote the tune as well as the show along with David Croft. In the book he describes driving to Eastbourne to scout villages on which to base Walmington-on-Sea. In those days the main road from London to Hastings (near to Eastbourne) was the A21.

[paulwwells]

I think you're probably right about this - given that pronunciation is taken seriously, deliberately so to make it sound old, so the singer would not be permitted to drop the T at the end of eight. So off to town is off to London? Mr Brown did have a long commute.

[robnobster]

I'm thoroughly enjoying all your theme tune videos. Excellent work. Are you a professional pianist?

[paulwwells]

You're right it is sad. It's sad because it has a gentle determination about it meant to uplift the spirit under very testing circumstances.

[samoht146]

nice, have u got any notation?

[Terrilliser]

excellent Dad's Army intro......

[mccoy4eva]

I didn't get the A21 bit either, but apparently it's 8:21, or the time of a train, so Mr. Brown goes to town on the 8:21 train =]

[paulwwells]

Ah yes. That makes sense now. Thanks.

[xDeepPurpleDreamx]

Wow, this is really cool! I'd love to learn this

Thank you for uploading :)

[paulwwells]

Thank you Deep Purple Dream. Thanks for favoriting.

[actyourage04]

fantastic! Thats made my day!

Marc

[paulwwells]

Thanks Marc.

[EireGoon]

Ditto :)

[putthetellyon]

It's the little twiddly bits that make all the difference. Well done on this!

[paulwwells]

Jon, thanks for your comment :) The original has so many twiddly bits - but that was the style - that it's not possible to fit them all in.