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Carina takes it all
Swedish supergroup SAAB at the wedding of John and Carina Persson in April, 1992, with apologies to ABBA Watch video
Marcel Marceau dreams
to the tune of 'Super Trouper': for those too young to remember, Marceau was the most famous mime artist of the 20th century (actually, the only mime artist anyone outside the genre had ever heard of). John was also a mime
Marcel Marceau dreams are going to blind me
miming like his son,
smiling, having fun,
evangelising with J John.
I was having such a boring time
when you called me last night from Sveeden.
All I do is eat and sleep and mime—
showbiz glamour is so misleadin'.
So imagine I was glad to hear you're coming—
suddenly it seems alright
and it's going to be so different
when I'm on the stage tonight.
Tonight the Marcel Marceau
dreams are going to blind me
miming like his son,
smiling, having fun,
evangelising with J John.
Tonight the Marcel Marceau
dreams are going to blind me
but I won't feel blue
like I always do
cos up here on the stage there's you.
Carina takes it all
to the tune of "The winner takes it all": Jo forgot the words in the middle of this song and ad libbed the same line over and over - I can't remember what the original words we wrote were, but this turned out much funnier
I
don't want to talk
about things we've gone through—
nothing more to say,
no more ace to play,
nothing more to say,
nothing more to say,
nothing more to say,
nothing more to say—
Carina
takes it all,
the loser standing small.
She's got it now you see
her Perssonality.
Carina's blonde and tall
and I am dark and small.
She's got it now you see
her Perssonality.
Carina
takes it all...
Dancing C'rine
to
the tune of "Dancing Queen" (Carina being a dancer)
Oo-oo-oo-oooo-oo-oo
You
can dance, you can jive,
having the time of your life—
see that girl, watch that scene
dig it, Dancing C'rine.
Sunday
night and the lights are low,
looking out for a church to go
where they play the right music
where they drink the right wine—
why don't you come along?
Anybody
can be that guy—
hymns are swinging and the arms are high...
where they play the right music
where the band is hot
and the choir is strong
(and the sermon's long)
and
if you get the chance
you
can be Dancing C'rine,
squeaky
clean, only 17 (??)
Dancing
C'rine, feel the beat of the tambourine.
You can dance, you can jive,
having the time of your life—
see that girl, watch that scene
dig it, Dancing C'rine.
Oo-oo-oo-oooo-oo-oo
And
if you get the chance
you can be Dancing C'rine,
squeaky clean, only 27.
Dancing C'rine, hear the creche from behind
the screen.
You can dance, you can jive,
having the time of your life—
see that girl, watch that scene
dig it, Dancing C'rine.
I had a beard
to
the tune of "I have a dream"
I
had a beard, it suited me.
I grew it first at 23.
Trying to look macho
can be very hard
prancing round the chancel
in a leotard.
I believe in fairies,
something sweet in everyone you see,
I believe in fairies—
I just don't think they should look like me.
I disappeared
and grew a beard.
I
had a beard, it suited me
to hide my insecurity.
Standing in the footlights
I felt so afraid,
then I got an agent
and now I'm getting paid.
I felt more brave,
I had a shave.
Magnolia
to
the tune of "Fernando"
My
flat is small, Carina,
it really isn't much to call a honeymoon abode.
I lie awake, Carina,
and wonder if you'll mind the way my
underwear is stowed
and listen to the cars that race like Nigel Mansell
right down Elers Road.
I
called the decorator—
he recommended something subtle with a
hint of peach,
but when I came back later
the colour so dreadful I was wholly lost
for speech,
and so I took the whole thing in my own hands
(well as far as I could reach).
There
was something in my hair that night—
not quite white—Magnolia!
It was shining there for me and you
from B&Q—Magnolia!
though I know the woodwork really clashes
with the curtains
and if I had to paint it all again I'd do it
in Magnolia.
It's
rather cramped, Carina,
it's not the place I'd choose to take the bride I've
newly wed—
I did my best, Carina,
I even knocked a cupboard down to fit a
double bed
(and one day there's a country house in Oxfordshire we might
live in instead).
There
was something in my hair
that night—
not quite white—Magnolia!
It was shining there for me and you
from B&Q—Magnolia!
Though I know the woodwork really clashes
with the curtains
and if I had to paint it all again I'd do it
in Magnolia.
Yes if I had to paint it all again I'd do it
in Magnolia.
This
was sung with the words more or less unchanged from the original, with
"John" in place of the "I" of the song.
Performed on April 25, 1992 at the UK reception for the wedding of John Persson to Carina Zetterström, who had been married in Sweden on April 11. The event was held in a marquee in the gardens of John's parents (Paul and Ann) at Highmoor Hall, Oxfordshire. John was a mime and physical theatre artist who had been a key member of the group of performers, writers and musicians which frequented St John's, West Ealing the in 1980s and early 1990s, four of whom (Adrian Jones as Bjorn, Jo Whitfield as Frida, Sue Bloomfield as Agnetha and Godfrey Rust as Benny) made up the Swedish super-group SAAB for this occasion. Drums and bass were played by Kevin Thomas and Jonathon Pagden, and horns on 'Waterloo' by Dave "Stig" Fletcher and Tim "Bjorn" Randall.
John met Carina, a dancer, while visiting Sweden to teach mime at a creative mission school, and after they were married they worked professionally together for a time as well (including one collaboration, "Only Wood", with me). At the time of writing (2013) they have been living for many years in Sweden and have three daughters.
The subject matter of the songs, silly as they are, was often factual. 'Magnolia' was inspired by the John's flatmate's account of his efforts to prepare his Elers Road flat, and John confirmed later that 'I had a beard' pretty much reflected his reasons for his foray into facial hair. The majority of the adapted lyrics were by me but it was very much a collaborative effort. I remember that Sue Broomfield (now Sue Wylie) came up with the idea and most of the brilliant chorus for 'Magnolia'. 'Carina takes it all' was just one of those perfect lines that falls into your lap from time to time.