EVERY UK NUMBER ONE SONG: ‘Green, Green Grass of Home’ – Tom Jones

What was the number one song in the UK on 1st December 1966?

Sir Tom, is back and this time with the Green, Green Grass of Home, which was number one for 7 weeks.

A song covered by many, Tom Jones’ version is the epitome of easy listening. What stands this song out among other songs from the same genre, is that its subject matter is utterly devastating. At first you think it’s a lovely song about a man visiting his hometown, his parents and the sights of his youth, but in actual fact it’s about a man about to be executed and him foreseeing them lying his ashes back home. Not quite what one might have in mind for a song called something so heartwarming as Green, Green Grass of Home. It’s sung beautifully of course; we are talking about Sir Tom after all. I can see why it was the biggest selling single of 1966. While it’s not a song I would choose to listen to, it most definitely has its merits.

Lyrics

The old home town looks the same
As I step down from the train
And there to meet me is my Mama and Papa
Down the road I look and there runs Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home
Yes, they’ll all come to meet me, arms reaching, smiling sweetly
It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home
The old house is still standing tho’ the paint is cracked and dry
And there’s that old oak tree that I used to play on
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home
Then I awake and look around me
At four grey walls that surround me
And I realise, yes, I was only dreaming
For there’s a guard and there’s a sad old padre
Arm in arm, we’ll walk at daybreak
Again I touch the green, green grass of home
Yes, they’ll all come to see me
In the shade of that old oak tree
As they lay me ‘neath the green, green grass of home

The Playlist

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