1972: SONGS and GAMES from the CITY STREETS and PLAYGROUNDS | Dusty Bluebells | BBC Archive

It’s a part of growing up that few children would recognise now.
Not just the games that kids would play out on the streets with their mates, but songs, rhymes and chants passed on from older siblings and parents. The terraced streets of cities all across the UK and Ireland used to ring with them. Equal parts folk wisdom, nonsense, tradition and larger-than-life characters, with a hundred local variations - what did you sing?
The livewires in this film were pupils of St Mary’s Primary School on Divis Street, Belfast.
Clip taken from Dusty Bluebells, originally broadcast on BBC One, Friday 31 March, 1972.
You have now entered the BBC Archive, a time machine that will transport you back to the golden age of TV to educate, entertain and enlighten you with classic clips from the BBC vaults.
Make sure you subscribe so that you never miss a single stop on our amazing journey through the BBC Archive - www.youtube.co...

[@tharg330]

I took part in this documentary as a child. A follow up was made in 2000+ called 'Whatever Happened to The Dusty Bluebells'. I can't find it on KZbin, but it's well worth watching if you can find it.

[@genevievedolan1288]

Which one is you, if you don’t mind me asking?

[@AntonyCummins]

Which one are you?

[@Mistydazzle]

I was wondering if any of the kids would be seeing this, now. I was about the same age, back then. A few of those ditties were actually sung in the USA, as well.

[@tharg330]

I was one of the boys looking through the gate at the headstone sculptor. I featured more in the ‘Whatever happened’ program. That’s quite a revelationary show.

[@Mistydazzle]

@@tharg330 nice that you are captured for posterity - and, with sound! All my films form back then, are silent. :(

[@genevievedolan1288]

I learnt the dusty bluebells one from some Cypriot kids in Limassol Cyprus in about 1958, when I was about 8! They had memorized it from some other kids, even though they didn’t speak English! They couldn’t believe I didn’t know it! A Good memory! My favorite was ‘the big ship sails on the alley alley oh, the alley alley alley oh, the alley ally oh, on the last day of September, and the captain says it will never never do, never never do, never never do, on the last day of September….this was a winding in and out game too

[@Londonechoes]

Lovely video! We need these ‘third spaces’ back where people can mix and meet organically out of work and home (without needing to pay). That involves making them safer again with more community spirit

[@dfpguitar]

The spaces still exist. The children were playing in the street. And there was nothing special about these streets, ordinary terraces houses and blocks of flats of lower working class folk. Loads of derelict shops. Even soldiers in the streets so I expect the "troubles" were also afoot. But the children had a vibrant fulfilling time outdoors with others, they played, socialised and explored. You can tell by the words of their songs that they were amongst ugly adult problems. They have songs about alcoholism, being killed and being in the grave. But still they sing joyously, in community with no outside direction. Children of the same age today would have grown out of playground songs 4-5 years younger. Instead they'd be ripping around on illegal motorcycles or watching pornography on the internet. This has nothing to do with an absence of a third space, which was the streets. That still exist!

[@gtaluvr1992]

@@dfpguitar as someone who was a kid in the late 2000s and 2010s we arent all scruffs, as im typing this there are literally kids playing football and climbing the trees in the woods next to my house. I think you're just bitter that you arent a kid anymore pal

[@magdahearne497]

That was a lovely trip down memory lane seeing kids playing out in the streets & hearing some old songs....fast forward only 20yrs & round where I lived there wasn't one kid playing in the streets due to traffic & idiot drivers...the only time I hear my neighbours kids these days is if they're kicking a ball around in the back garden, which only happens in school holidays, or I hear them talking when they're going to & from school. I guess a lot of kids are indoors watching TV or playing on games consoles.... it's sad to say, it, but I really think we had the better childhoods back in the 60s & 70s, the roads were safer for one thing & technology may be great for some things, but you can't beat learning to interact & build up social skills with others through playing together outdoors. You don't get that as much online, it's a very toxic place sometimes.

[@melgrant7404]

Agree.it was alot safer back then too.because it isn't safe these days that's why many are stuck indoors.

[@magdahearne497]

@@melgrant7404 sadly yes

[@20thCB]

The relentless rise in the number of cars in the past 50 years has put an end to these kinds of street scenes. But also there was bugger all on TV compared to today, and little else for kids to do than play outside.

[@magdahearne497]

@20thCB Yes, TV was definitely limited back then, finishing for kids before the news started at 6 pm & apart from Watch with Mother, there wasn't a lot on during the day, unless it was the school holidays, but even then there tended to be more on at Xmas. It seems a lifetime away that the night's viewing ended with the national anthem & pics of the royal family. Having said that, the amount of stuff to watch on streaming services these days gives me a feeling of being overawed, I find there's too much choice & I end up not watching anything, which defeats the object really.

[@SunnyvaleTrailerParkSupervisor]

Sometimes toxic? Try all the time.

[@camerachica73]

No one plays outside any more. In the 80's I spent several summer holidays up in Redcar and my friends and I would hang out in Locke Park, where there were tons of boys by the side of the boating lake, fishing. I returned back in 2019 and the park was empty and the lakeside bare. Very sad.

[@andrelavandero3041]

Environments like these played a role in Roger Water’s composition of The Wall, as he was writing his interpretation of how adult superiority within education was indirectly abusing these kids as students, depriving them of not heeding to their standards.

[@missingwords-du1ib]

The Girl on the steps is singing Fair Rosa, hope this helps.

[@frankiefugazi]

*What's The Time, Mr Wolf?*

[@ev4898]

1920s Children: ‘Ringa Ringa Rosies’ 1980s Children:’ Zippy and Bungle at the jungle’ 2024 Children: ‘Ten Prime bottles sitting on the wall’

[@frankiefugazi]

*The Wicker Man* Vibes 😂

[@leejones4497]

I bet if you went back to that street now, every bit of space would be taken up by cars, including most of the pavements. And they wonder why kids don't play out any more.

[@sarahlouise7163]

they don't play out coz they have technology. if they wanted to go out, they would

[@bardo0007]

Well it didn't last for generations, it's 2024 and they all went quite.

[@grinsko6741]

Quite what?

[@grahamstewart615]

Quiet

[@davidprice5563]

And that was back in (19)72 - while in 2024: (Where is everybody???)

[@grinsko6741]

Watching KZbin.

[@PompeyBoy66]

I played like that, born 1966, but we had some different songs and games. Marbles on drain covers, skipping, something up the wall, and football football football

[@rabbieburns2501]

Superb! A lot of the same songs & games were sung & played in Scotland, and likely in streets and school playgrounds all over the Wales & England too. Songs passed down from generation to generation, hopefully still sung and played, but I highly doubt it.

[@RandomBerserker]

Lovely video archive

[@Farold_Haltermeyer]

What a beautifully created piece of documentary

[@ernestoglez6725]

4:40 we know that one in México. Marinero que se fue a la mari, mari, mar... Para ver que podia veri, veri, ver... Y lo unico que pudo veri, veri, ver... Fue el fondo de la mari, mari, mar

[@RandomBerserker]

Nice archive video

[@fredo1070]

Beautiful, reminds me of primary school.

[@boilerroombob]

How innocent....I wonder where they all are now

[@bardo0007]

Pensioners all of them

[@rvbsoundfactory]

I'm a Little Teapot! Yay Yay. Beautiful documentary bbc.

[@jameshardwick2726]

Check out 'The Singing Street', a 1951 short film from Edinburgh. It can be found on the National Library of Scotland website for free. They were doing In & Out the Dusting Bluebells as well.

[@RandomnessTube.]

You had no choice but to make your own fun back then and play in the street but at least you knew who everyone was unlike today.

[@ernestoglez6725]

"Oranges and Lemons, say the bells of St. Clement's/ You owe me three farthings, say the bells of St. Martins,/ When will you pay me? say the bells of Old Bailey,/ When I grow rich, say the bells of Shoreditch./ Here comes a candle to light you to bed,/ Here comes a chopper to chop off your head!"

[@genevievedolan1288]

You left some out….when will that be said the bells of Stepney, I do not know said the great bells of bow…

[@Mazalinda]

As a child of the 1950s growing up on a council estate in Harlow new town many of these songs and games are so familiar to me. Our street was full of kids “playing out” from dawn to dusk and often older folk would come out in the evening and join in. The paving stones were ideal for hopscotch and for many years I had a corn on the little finger of my left hand from playing “jacks”. There were a lot of ball games with variations of tag and games without balls such as chase games like “What’s the time, Mr Wolf” and “British Bulldog”. We would act out the cowboy tv series we saw or play “knights” with improvised swords and pretend horses. We had skipping ropes and hula hoops and skates and bikes. Our street was ideal for hide and seek. There were very few cars parked there then but now it is lined with cars so there is nowhere to play even if kids wanted to. All the parks we played in have been concreted over to make way for housing. It was a child’s idyll when I was a kid but it’s all gone now. The swings, the slide, the roundabout, the paddling pool. All gone.

[@genevievedolan1288]

It is very sad that all those things are gone, and children don’t seem to have any freedom to play and roam anymore

[@whiteonggoy7009]

never to be seen again

[@robinofilfracombe712]

Not a mobile phone or iPad in sight, you cannot replace social interaction. Wonderful video.

[@FHIPrincePeter]

Gone. All Gone. Replaced by Tick Tock and Snap Chat.

[@luiathmorgan7709]

When kids rulled the streets now its cars and "Perps !

[@glynrhys68]

Brilliant! Anyone recognise the nonsense song the girl on the steps is singing?

[@missingwords-du1ib]

Laura Mcveigh I think singing that song through the bars

[@neatodd]

I hope that some of these kids (in their 60s now I suppose) get to see this video

[@Thelaughingfrauditor]

The girl on the stairs looks like a young Jennifer Gibney (Cathy Brown in Mrs Browns Boys)

[@missingwords-du1ib]

Was rhat Laura Mcvie singing through the bars, I'm sure that was her name. Brigid Campbell, Peggy Fisher and others. The Gentleman talking over was the late David Hammond . Now I must go to that shop and buy some dulse.

[@patrickcrowther9195]

I would swap that exquisitely-made short film for all contemporary television with its blare and bluster. It was wonderful. Beautifully-paced, poetic both in its narration and its visual beauty. The camerawork was so good, each shot could have been a still photograph. One second a very low viewpoint, then an overhead shot, then a more standard one. Children interacting, enjoying an outdoor life, playing games and singing songs with deep roots. There is much to be learned here.

[@dstanl]

I am a little Dutch girl as pretty as pretty can be be be…

[@genevievedolan1288]

Tell us the rest!

[@THX-2208]

I'm surprised Sir Jimmy Saville didn't volunteer to film this 😮

[@SamanthaOhara-r6l]

Brings BK memories half I am unknown to but 😊 remember the others ❤..

[@SamanthaOhara-r6l]

🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@PlanetImo]

Fabulous :)

[@AnimaChristisalvame]

Do children sing and play anymore?😢

[@rickboshaw7026]

Just brilliant!

[@lonesomeStu]

A million miles away.....

[@drocles]

Well that was horrific

[@4879daniel]

No knives

[@Will-nn6ux]

They are young primary age, of course there are no knives...

[@Mkbshg8]

Litle lads would get pen knives for Christmas etc in them days and usually didn't stab one another, not in anger anyway.

[@subswithoutvids-dw6dv]

There were so many kids back then.

[@maycontainnuts3127]

people could afford to have em lol

[@subswithoutvids-dw6dv]

@@maycontainnuts3127 The same problem but more serious in the far east.

[@harrisonmckenzie4905]

I take it you mean W kids because nearly all inner city streets are populated by black, Asian and Arab kids now.

[@SunnyvaleTrailerParkSupervisor]

There is more nowadays

[@subswithoutvids-dw6dv]

@@SunnyvaleTrailerParkSupervisor more refugees you mean?

[@WTU208]

The days before rubber boat bandits.

[@XJMX]

covers much of the same ground as the book 'the lore and language of schoolchildren', although in this case, video is far more beneficial to the preservation of this aspect of dying folk culture.

[@petergivenbless900]

The cruelest forms of toture are always the oldest forms of torture.

[@catherinesummers5057]

God be glorified in this generation Lord have mercy❤

[@mr.invisible3123]

God is useless to hell with his glorification meray my ass🖕

[@djdrwatson]

Today's kids are too fat and lazy to be playing outside. They've got very short attention spans so wouldn't be able to remember all these song lyrics. Give them a mobile phone, iPad, laptop or games console, Tik Tok, some fast food and (maybe even throw in a vape too) they'll be happy! 😂😂

[@ghostofgralton6859]

It's your generation keeping them indoors and closing off third spaces

[@FIGHTGAME100]

Dawn of the vape-tard

[@melgrant7404]

​@ghostofgralton6859 why because its not a safe society anymore.

[@grinsko6741]

Says the person sitting there glued to KZbin.

[@Bucketbrain82]

Bit WHITE for the BBC?

[@Mkbshg8]

What u on about? It's Ireland in the early 70s

[@Bucketbrain82]

@@Mkbshg8 you have triple boost, tv licence or jst new account shill?????? ??????

[@rnw2739]

​@@Mkbshg8Exactly, Ireland needs more diversity to progress.

[@nicolem889]

Back when kids dressed appropriately

[@BeverleyButterfly]

They are all in mini skirts lol

[@nicolem889]

@@BeverleyButterfly They're wearing knee length skirts. get your eyes checked.

[@IAmSoMuchBetterThanYou]

As opposed to what? Girls wear leggings under skirts these days, like Muslim kids.

[@richard-davies]

Back when they used to wear scruffy old clothes.

[@CiroOmeara]

La verdadera infancia. Los años maravillosos que dejan buenos recuerdos.

[@ernestoglez6725]

4:40 recuerdas esa rima?

[@jagmarc]

Me alegro decir... yo era ninyo en aquel día en este país y lo recuerdo y hoy en este día en algunos rincones del mundo todavia hay ninyos jugando y cantando en la calle, en las Islas canarias! En mi calle propia...