Ronnie McGinn's Poetry Page

Once upon a time, long ago and very far away when Rock'n'Roll was new born, Bill Haley was King and music was played by musicians, a rebellious dream spread its youthful influence across the dance halls of Ireland.

It became know as the Showband Era! Young musicians, caste aside the orchestras, threw away their music stands, stood up on the stage and much to the disapproval of their elders, played, danced and sang the 'Devil's Music'.

The youth of Ireland loved them and flocked to the dance halls in thousands. New stars sprang up over night.

In Cork the Regal Showband was one of the leading lights and their lead singer Jimmy Cotter was the new kid on the block. Jimmy would go on stage in the Arcadia Ballroom with a 'White Sports Coat and a Pink Carnation' and the world was his oyster. However, Jimmy refused to give up the 'Day Job', a life of make believe was not for him.

He choose instead to become a solid citizen and a good family man. Now two generations later, a poem by Jimmy arrived in the mail out of the blue. Nice one Jim! Keep the nostalgia flowing!

The Dancing Years

When the Showbands came to Town,
To go dancing then was just Half a Crown
We would watch Dickie Rock and the Miami too,
and then came Brendan Bowyer,
singing the HuckleBuck Shoes.

The Girls would scream, they were in such pain,
On stage came Butch Moore the Capitol and he would
sing "Walking The Streets In The Rain".
When you go to pick a girl out to Dance,
some would scatter, others would still be in a Trance.

The Arcadia was our favourite Dance Hall,
and known world wide by one and all.
Well known recording Stars played there too,
and you would have to be early to join the Queue.

All those Bands I did know,
I met them all when I sang on the
Showband Show.

The Dancing years it was Special to us,
I even remember going to Crosshaven in the Majorca Bus
When the night was over, the DJ would say,
'Try not to roam, good night, God Bless you all
and Safe Home.'

© Jimmy Cotter