George Formby - Grandad's Flannelette Nightshirt

From the film "Let George Do It" (1940) starring George Formby, Phyllis Calvert, Garry Marsh and Hal Gordon. Composers: George Formby and Eddie Latta.

Lyrics -

Now in our family we've got a heirloom
They handed it to me a year ago
It's been in our possession since Grandad was a lad
I'll tell you what it is and then you'll know

It's my grandads Flannelette nightshirt
In it I was Christened one day
Down at the church they were in a whirl
No one seemed to know if I were boy or girl
They'd had one or two and ee! They were in mess
But it's all right said the preacher rather curt
I've been and had a quiz and I've found out what it is
By his grandad's Flannelette shirt, Lordy Lordy
His grandad's flannelette shirt

In 1810 grandfather joined the army
To fight Napoleon across the sea
You've heard about the battle they had at Waterloo
But what was it that brought us victory?

Why my grandad's flannelette nightshirt
It saved old England that day
Bonaparte said, "We are undone!"
And even Josephine put her gasmask on!
He shot our colours down and captured our flag
But we were not downhearted, it's a cert
For flying in the gale everyone could see the tail
Of my grandad's Flannelette shirt, Lordy Lordy
My grandad's Flannelette shirt

The other day I got an invitation
To go and join a nudist colony
And as the life was healthy and in the open air
I trotted off as happy as can be

With my grandad's flannelette nightshirt
I walked up to the door
Someone said, "Now, don't make a fuss!"
"Just take off your clothes and you'll be like us"
Well I was bashful so I stayed by myself
For with the girls I didn't want to flirt
But when I was asleep they all came and had a peep
At my grandad's flannelette shirt, Lordy Lordy
My grandad's flannelette shirt

Category:

Music

Tags:

• George
• Formby
• banjolele
• uku
• ukulele
• wartime
• classic
• film

[boyakabo85]

Can someone explain the joke to me? How could his grandad's nightshirt tell you he's a boy? Not complaining btw, I like this song a lot

[mkcwebmaster]

@boyakabo85 - Perhaps they lifted the nightshirt up!

[Nathanharkey]

Anyone know where we can watch the movies

[mkcwebmaster]

@Nathanharkey many are released on DVD, you can get them from Amazon for example. Avoid cheap offers on eBay, they are very poor quality.

[tombland10]

i am 12 years old and at school all the other kids like all the modern music and i havnt heard of any of them. I hate modern music for me george formby and glenn miller do it for me. and i think i am staying this way because i like to be stuck in my own little time warp !

[mkcwebmaster]

@tombland10 - good for you. I've been stuck in a time warp all my life too (although not as far back as your good self). I was into Buddy Holly, then got into the Beatles, and several classic rock bands that are now long gone. I was listening to AC/DC's Back In Black album (1980) yesterday. Most modern music is awful.

[gadgieschate]

My wife thinks i'm a bit sad with my george formby cd / dvd collection but secretly I think she enjoys em to. The kids havent got a choice if they go in my car they listen to my music :)

I like this version with the diferent verses.. thanks for posting

Jim

[Voss2120]

I wonder how tough it is the film a movie when the Germans are bombing you.

[gmonkey808]

@CLASSICMONSTERGUY95

Sorry m8. Just understood what you meant and I dont know what 'make' it is sorry.

[gmonkey808]

@CLASSICMONSTERGUY95

Its a bajolele. Not sure of spelling.

Its a mini banjo with ukulele set up ie g c e a.

[tombland10]

@CLASSICMONSTERGUY95 Abbott Monarch snr.

[gmonkey808]

the wink to the camera is inspired hahaha great stuff.

[seawolf1231]

top draw f

[CLASSICMONSTERGUY95]

What uke is he playing here? I mean what make of uke.

[FleshEatingZombie666]

my favourite formby song. love it

[Phaedrax2]

@Nathanharkey

With success of the Sainsbury ad, it would be great to have revival on TV of George's films.

[GraveD1gger]

Thank god he didnt get to see all the foreign fuckers invading his country