May 19, 2024 – Songs about toys suggested by Barbara from teleportingweena ghostmmnc.
This week the prompt songs about Toys. So I have picked two songs entitled Little Tin Soldier…. From different years, different genre’s, one from a group and one from a solo artist and both based on a story written by Hans Christian Anderson.
When I was fourteen I was a regular attendee at the BBC’s weekly chart show Top of The Pops at Lime Grove Studios. I used to with my friend Anne … We loved that time and met many groups and stars among them the Small Faces. Here is Tin Soldier by them , the video though is not of T.O.T. Ps but from ITVs rival show Ready, Steady Go. If your quick you will spot the iconic hosts Cathy McGowan and Keith Fordyce
“Tin Soldier” is a song released by the English rock band Small Faces on 2 December 1967, written by Steve Marriott (credited to Marriott/Lane). The song peaked at number nine in the UK singles chart and number 38 in Canada. It has since been covered by many other notable rock artists.
Tin Soldier was originally written by Steve Marriott for singer P.P. Arnold, but Marriott liked it so much he kept it himself. It was a song that he wrote to his first wife, Jenny Rylance. P.P. Arnold can be heard singing backing vocals on the song and also performed as guest singer at television recordings of the song. The song signalled a return to the band’s R&B roots whilst continuing their forays into psychedelic rock and other musical experiments. When Tin Soldier was released the BBC informed the band that the last line of the song had to be removed from all TV and radio broadcasts, mistakenly believing that Marriott sang “sleep with you”, when in fact the lyric is “sit with you”. Marriott explained that the song was about “getting into someone’s mind—not their body”. Tin Soldier reached number nine in the UK Singles Chart and remains one of Small Faces’ best known songs.
Talking about the song, and the influence of his wife Jenny, Marriott stated:
The meaning of the song is about getting into somebody’s mind—not their body. It refers to a girl I used to talk to all the time and she really gave me a buzz. The single was to give her a buzz in return and maybe other people as well. I dig it. There’s no great message really and no physical scenes.
The song seems to have been influenced by Hans Christian Andersen‘s fairy tale The Steadfast Tin Soldier, the story of an imperfect tin soldier’s desire for a paper ballerina. The opening lyric is “I am a little tin soldier that wants to jump into your fire”.
Upon reaching No. 73 in the U.S. with this single, their label Immediate Records abandoned its attempts to penetrate the American market. “Tin Soldier” would ultimately be the last song performed live by the Small Faces during their original incarnation; It was performed on 8 March 1969 at Springfield Ballroom (now demolished and replaced by the football stand of Springfield Stadium) in Jersey. Imformation Wik
C’mon!
I, am a little tin soldier
That wants to jump into your fire
You are a look in your eye
A dream passing by in the sky
But I don’t understand
And all I need, is treat me like a man
‘Cause I ain’t no child
Take me like I am
I got to know that I belong to you
I do anything that you want to do
I’ll sing any so song that you want me to sing to you
I don’t need no aggravation
I just got to make you
Got, I said listen, I just got to make you, yes, my occupation
I got to know that I belong to you
I’d do anything that you want to do
I’d sing any song that you want me to sing to you
All I need is your whispered hello
Smiles melting the snow nothing heard
Your eyes are deeper than time
Say a love that won’t rhyme without words
So now I’ve lost my way
I need help to show me things to say
Give me your love before mine fades away
I got to know that I belong to you
Do anything that you want to do
Sing any song that you want me to sing to you
Oh, no, no
Oh, no, no
I just want some reaction
Someone to give me satisfaction
All I want to do is stick with you
‘Cause I love you
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Steve Marriott / Ronnie Lane
Tin Soldier lyrics © Emi United Partnership Ltd
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In 1965 I was twelve years old, I loved fairytales and Donovan among others…. So what could have been more perfect?
From Donovan’s 1965 Album Fairytale Little tin soldier is the beautiful retelling of the Hans Christian Anderson tale The Steadfast Tin Soldier. A lovely story worth the read.
Once in a town in the black forest a little white toy-shop stood.
And the little tin soldier with only one leg lived in a castle of wood.
And across the room on another shelf stood a little glass case,
And a tiny ballerina lived in there all in her dress of lace.
And from where the little tin soldier stood they could see each other so clear
And the little tin soldier watched over her with a love that was so dear.
Then one day sadness came: the tiny ballerina was sold.
The little tin soldier was thrown away and into the gutter he rolled.
The water carried him to the sea and many far-off lands.
He made many children happy as he passed through their tiny hands.
And then one day they met again in a house in the land of Eire
And when the clocks on the wall struck the midnight hour
They jumped into a fire
And in that fire they shall stay
Forever in the day.
For the fire, Lord, is the fire of love,
Just like the peaceful dove.
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Shawn Phillips
The Little Tin Soldier lyrics © Philipsongs
Thank you to Jim Adams for hosting every week.
Happy SUNDAY EVERYONE 💜💜
willowdot21 