This week, Jim wants to hear about a song that reminds us of home. It seems to me that this is not as straightforward as it seems, however.

My regular reader (sic) will probably be aware that Madame and I live in the depths of La France Profonde in what is very much our home, as it has been for going on fourteen years. Unfortunately, I struggle to think of a song that conjures up any thought about that.

There are really only two choices: one is the bleating of the sheep, which around here far outnumber the human population. No lyrics, though, so that rules out the ovine option. The second is ‘Y Viva Espana’ being belted out to an accordion accompaniment at one of the more than several boozy village lunches that mark the passing of the seasons.

Oh go on then…feel free to join in if you like.

Just to reassure everyone that I haven’t gone completely native, though, for the purpose of this post I’m taking as ‘home’ the place I (and Madame) was born and grew up in: Merseyside.

Note that I didn’t say Liverpool. We come from across the river, the town of Birkenhead. It’s been said many times that the view from the Woodside ferry terminus in Birkenhead offers the best view of the famous Liverpool waterfront, not only because of the majestic ‘Three Graces’ that dominate it, but also because from there you can’t actually see Birkenhead.

Many time and oft Madame and I did our daily commute on the Mersey ferry, and back in 1965 Gerry Marsden even wrote a song about it.

Life goes on day after day
Hearts torn in every way

So ferry, cross the Mersey
‘Cause this land’s the place I love
And here I’ll stay

People they rush everywhere
Each with their own secret care

So ferry, cross the Mersey
And always take me there
The place I love

People around every corner
They seem to smile and say
We don’t care what your name is boy
We’ll never turn you away

So I’ll continue to say
Here I always will stay

So ferry, cross the Mersey
‘Cause this land’s the place I love
And here I’ll stay

Written by Gerry Marsden

Song Lyric Sunday 22 February 2026