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Description
We did a "live" version of this for the Coffeeshop challenge, but thought the song was worth reworking into a "studio" version. My vocals are completely redone and a bit of studio lushness added.
We've been meaning to do a duet for a while to see how well our voices blend. By coincidence we both grew up in Essex, only 30 miles apart, so we also have matching accents!
The song is a true story. Dick's wife went on a trip to Egypt and was told by the tour guide always to carry boiled sweets or cheap pencils to fob off the local kids when they pestered her for money (as they inevitably did). She was quite shocked by the prevailing "us and them" attitude, with the tourists suspicious and distrustful of the locals.
Dick: acoustic guitar and vocals
Rebsie: vocals
We've been meaning to do a duet for a while to see how well our voices blend. By coincidence we both grew up in Essex, only 30 miles apart, so we also have matching accents!
The song is a true story. Dick's wife went on a trip to Egypt and was told by the tour guide always to carry boiled sweets or cheap pencils to fob off the local kids when they pestered her for money (as they inevitably did). She was quite shocked by the prevailing "us and them" attitude, with the tourists suspicious and distrustful of the locals.
Dick: acoustic guitar and vocals
Rebsie: vocals
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Lyrics
Boiled Sweets and Pencils Cheap - © 2006 Dick Langford / Tom Franz
Another long haul visit
Another place crossed off the list
Another post card to be posted
Another history missed
All the children ask for money
And this is our reply
Boiled sweets to rot their teeth
Don't look them in the eye
It's Thursday must be Cairo, tomorrow it's the Nile
Boiled sweets and pencils cheap will always raise a smile
Alcohol can cover up a multitude of sins
You might as well be getting drunk
As all the drink's thrown in
Outside the hotel's tended lawns
There's poverty and dirt
The people smell, they'll steal your watch
At least this is what we've heard
It's Thursday must be Cairo, tomorrow it's the Nile
Boiled sweets and pencils cheap will always raise a smile
I have seen the Pyramids the Sphinx is rather small
What's this about those tombs with writing on the wall?
And the kids are everywhere with no shoes on their feet
Wanting money to buy some food and we give them boiled sweets
My God it's getting hot here
And it's hard to understand
Why anyone would make their home
In such an unforgiving land
But the hotel room's got air-con
A TV and a phone
If you don't look out the window
You could almost be at home
It's Thursday must be Cairo, tomorrow it's the Nile
Boiled sweets and pencils cheap will always raise a smile
Another long haul visit
Another place crossed off the list
Another post card to be posted
Another history missed
All the children ask for money
And this is our reply
Boiled sweets to rot their teeth
Don't look them in the eye
It's Thursday must be Cairo, tomorrow it's the Nile
Boiled sweets and pencils cheap will always raise a smile
Alcohol can cover up a multitude of sins
You might as well be getting drunk
As all the drink's thrown in
Outside the hotel's tended lawns
There's poverty and dirt
The people smell, they'll steal your watch
At least this is what we've heard
It's Thursday must be Cairo, tomorrow it's the Nile
Boiled sweets and pencils cheap will always raise a smile
I have seen the Pyramids the Sphinx is rather small
What's this about those tombs with writing on the wall?
And the kids are everywhere with no shoes on their feet
Wanting money to buy some food and we give them boiled sweets
My God it's getting hot here
And it's hard to understand
Why anyone would make their home
In such an unforgiving land
But the hotel room's got air-con
A TV and a phone
If you don't look out the window
You could almost be at home
It's Thursday must be Cairo, tomorrow it's the Nile
Boiled sweets and pencils cheap will always raise a smile
caroline
when i grow up i wanna sing like you and the lyrics are on the nail deedub - you sound fab together - now i gotta go listen to something fluffy - faaar too meaningful for feeling pink! thanks guys - big loves xoxox