AN EXCELLENT COPY OF THIS WAR TIME SONG FROM THE MUCH LOVED CRAZY GANG DUO OF BUD FLANAGAN AND CHESNEY ALLEN

Flanagan and Allen were a British singing and comedy double act popular during World War II. Its members were Bud Flanagan (1896 - 1968) and Chesney Allen (1893 - 1982). They were first paired in a Florrie Forde revue, and were booked by Val Parnell to appear at the Holborn Empire in 1926. As music hall comedians, they would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act; this led to a successful recording career as a duo and roles in film and television. Just prior to and throughout the Second World War they appeared in several films helmed by Marcel Varnel and John Baxter. Flanagan and Allen were both also members of The Crazy Gang and worked with that team for many years concurrently with their double-act career. Flanagan and Allen's songs featured the same, usually gentle, humour for which the duo were known in their live performances, and during the Second World War they reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime. Songs like 'We're Gonna Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line' mocked the German defences (Siegfried Line), while others like 'Miss You' sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences. Other songs, such as their most famous, 'Underneath the Arches' (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly), had universal themes such as friendship. The music was usually melodic, following a binary verse, verse chorus structure, with a small dance band or orchestra providing the accompaniment. The vocals were distinctive because while Flanagan was at least a competent singer and sang the melody lines, Allen used an almost spoken delivery to provide the harmonies. The recordings of Flanagan and Allen remain popular, and the duo are frequently impersonated by professionals and amateurs. Royal Variety Performances often feature people 'doing a Flanagan and Allen', notably Roy Hudd and Christopher Timothy, Bernie Winters and Leslie Crowther.   ARE YOU HAVIN' ANY FUN ? From the Broadway musical "George White's Scandals of 1939" (Sammy Fain / Jack Yellin) Flanagan & Allen - 1939 Hey fellow with a million smackers And nervous indigestion Rich fellow, eats milk and crackers I'll ask you one question You silly so and so With all your dough.... Are you havin' any fun? What y'gettin' out o' livin'? What good is what you've got If you're not havin' any fun? Are you havin' any laughs? Are you gettin' any lovin'? If other people do, So can you, have a little fun After the honey's in the cone Little bees go out and play Even the old grey mare down home Has got to have hay....HEY! You better have some fun You ain't gonna live forever Before you're old and gray, feel okay Have your little fun, son! Have your little fun! Why do you work and slave and save? Life is full of ifs and buts You know the squirrels save and save And what have they got.....NUTS! Better have a little fun You ain't gonna live forever Before you're old and grey, still okay Have your little fun, son! Have your little fun! Are you havin' any fun?

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