"Dreams of Portobello"

You're schlepping down to Portobello

When Portobello was THE Scene

And you're young enough to cut it

And too old to be too green

You've got a little swagger

You know you're lookin' good

An' you've got a dangle going

And it's riding like it should

So you catch the ladies glances

And you're nimble on your feet

And you're known on every corner

As a cool dude on the street

The straightest dealer on the block

Delivers to your home

Hand rubbed hash or best Thai sticks

You seldom smoke alone

*Leonard drops in for a chat

To see what he can discover

I wonder how many spliffs got rolled

On his first two LP covers?

*He passes Cat Stevens on his way

He has the flat above

And the most beautiful call girls in the world

Sell their surrogated love

You can drop into Hennessey's

For a drink with all the boys

Hawkwind's drummer buys you a pint

Says, "Sorry about the noise!"

You can grab a pint at Finche's

Or a curry at East and West

But for Peas and Rice the proper way

The Mangrove is the best

You can meet up with a travelin' friend

Just hitch-hiked back from Thailand

Or spend the night with those Aussie Girls

You met out in the Islands

You can schlepp on down to Notting Dale

Find Bob Squire making tea

Him 'n' John Martyn playin' crib

And Beverley bored as can be

Bob always telling Vernon

"Don't you bring the Old Bill near!"

And when Old Bill did come round

Bob said, "He don't live 'ere!"

But that was in the good old days

When Dear Juttè was still living

When Bermuda Mick would cut a dash

Before Martin took to drinking

When Kieth and Val were host to all

Their tiny room a-popping

And Andy was quite beautiful

And the whole joint was a-rockin'

I still listen for that other beat

That I used to use for walkin'

But I think now it is Time's feet

And It's me that He is stalking

And now it seems just like a dream

My loves 'n' friends of yesteryear

But if you can remember it

They say you were not there!

"That John Lennon has a lot to answer for!"

Copyright © Res JFB 29th May 2010
*Verses marked * and in italics  refer to Mayfair, where I worked, not the area of North Kensington that included Notting Hill, Portobello Road and Ladbroke Grove where I lived.

Shlepping ~ from Yiddish ~ To walk laboriously, but as adopted into London slang it meant to walk with style, panache.

Old Bill ~ Police

Love to all ~ Res