There was once a time when a man could say
\n‘I’m off to the Quintas for the day
\nAnd if I’m not back by ten or eleven
\nYou can leave my dinner in the oven.’
\nBut alas those happy days are gone –
\nGone with the Hansom and gas-lit streets –
\nGone with Edwardian frills and graces –
\nGone with the Empire and Liberal seats –
\nGone with men who work in their braces,
\nIn fact the oldest inhabitants say
\nThat not since the Company paid its way
\nhas there been a chance for the men to unite
\nAgainst the oppressive feminine might,
\nAnd never more can we be alone
\nSince they installed the Quintas telephone.<\/p>\n
A committee of wives with the same grouses
\nOf having to fretfully wait in their houses
\nDecided that it was time
\nTo have their men at the end of a line;
\nAnd thus it was that a mechanical aid
\nWas forthwith installed to put paid
\nTo their freedom-loving spouses.
\nSince then all we hear
\n‘Yes, it’s me speaking dear won’t be very long.’
\nAnd home he will slink
\nleaving his drink.
\nAnother good man gone.<\/p>\n
When the telephone rings and there are each of you
\nCaught in the very deed
\nOf being there with a glass of beer
\nWhen you ought to be ready to feed,
\nIt’s no\u00a0 use pretending you hadn’t heard
\njust send a pal to answer the bird;
\nThe stereo answer should come pat
\nBrought out without a blush
\n‘I’m here all alone at the telephone
\nYour husband’s just left in a rush.’<\/p>\n
Pidgeon Post and the Pony Express
\nWere once as modern as jet propulsion
\nAnd the Jungle telegraph still works
\nIn an age of nuclear fisson.
\nFrom the minuet to rock and roll
\nIs only a step in time.
\nBut if you can’t have a drink
\nWithout stopping to think
\nWhether or not it’s a crime
\nOr if you are one who likes to roam
\nJust sign on the dotted line
\nTo liquidate, to pulverise, to smash up good and fine
\nThe wires that keep us slaves my boys
\nTHE QUINTAS TELEPHONE LINE.<\/p>\n
Written by Hop-a-long in 1958 –\u00a0 The Quintas was the club at the St John d’el Rey Mining Company that ex-pat employees would drop in for a drink after work.<\/p>\n
August 1994<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There was once a time when a man could say ‘I’m off to the Quintas for the day And if I’m not back by ten or eleven You can leave my dinner in the oven.’ But alas those happy days … Continue reading