NOTHING’S REALLY LOST FOREVER

Track 1: This Special Day

Lyrics:

We slide through the shadows of what has gone before
Never knowing the full story, never really sure
Of what is new and what is borrowed from those leading the way …
It’s time to think of them - on this special day

We go through life together with friends we never see
Just feeling a connection and strange harmony

Of those who came before us, their stories long since gone
How many shaped our meaning? How many changed our song?
For nothing’s really lost forever as we find our way
It’s time to remember - on this special day

Credits:
Music and Lyrics Richard Plenty (2023)
Musical Arrangement and Production Ben Tompsett
Assistant Producer Richard Plenty
Vocals Richard Plenty
Piano Ben Tompsett
Audio recorded at Studio 59
© Plenty Partnership 2025

Richard's Reflections

Unlike the other songs in this series, I wrote this relatively recently, beginning work on it in 2020, though not completing it till 2023. It serves as an introduction to all the other songs in the series.

At times in our lives, many of us can feel lonely or isolated. The broader reality though is that none of us is really alone. We are all part of a pattern of relationships far bigger than ourselves. Unfortunately, everyday life can be so busy that it’s increasingly only on ‘special days’ - birthdays, weddings, funerals, anniversaries, religious festivals like Christmas - that we can take the time out to think about others who have had an impact on our lives.

It’s important we do that. So much of our thinking and actions is shaped by what happened in the past - our family histories, the teachers we had at school, the people we admired, the friends we made, the stories we heard and the songs we listened to. A lot of this influence is shadowy, with the specifics lost in the sands of time. The better we understand what has impacted us, the easier it is to make choices and decisions about who we are and what we want for ourselves.

This song started off as a simple melody that I composed on the saxophone during the pandemic. I was feeling isolated, dreaming of escaping the confines of my house. I played it a lot, first on the saxophone and later the piano. I imagined it as an expansive musical film score or – thinking of my parents who had been dance teachers - as a beautiful waltz on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.

After the pandemic, I was keen to explore the world again. I researched my family tree and made contacts with seven cousins I barely knew in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, meeting up with some of them at their own family gathering in Devon and others while I was on a super ‘working holiday’ in Australasia. It was a lovely experience and very educational, providing all sorts of insights into my family history. My trip made me think about how many people had influenced me, in ways that were often unexpected, both in my own family and in wider society.

I wrote the words shortly thereafter. The song made its official debut at my own birthday party in late summer 2025. This was my own special day. I invited as many of my family as I could. Some of the cousins I had recently met were able to come and meet my children, grandchildren, sister and brother’s family for the first time. My son Mike and I put together a short video to go with the song, complete with old family footage from home movies, shot when I was the same age as my grandchildren. It was a wonderful way of connecting across generations.

I like the song because it prompts me to think about important questions that I often gloss over:

Track 2: Burn the Midnight Oil

Lyrics

Well I creep downstairs it’s a quarter to one
My wife’s fast asleep, am I the only one?
Who can’t get to sleep on this housing estate
Everybody else is dreaming, but I’m fast awake

Got a thousand ideas to help save the world
Got to get them down fast, cos my brain’s in a whirl
The only trouble is that there’s no one around
To take any notice of what I have found

Got to burn the midnight oil, got to burn the midnight oil

Will it all seem senseless when a new morning dawns
And all I’ve got for trying is a day full of yawns?
Or have I got it right, got it all sorted out
And finally discovered what life’s all about?

Got to burn the midnight oil, got to burn the midnight oil

Credits
Music and Lyrics Richard Plenty (1978)
Musical Arrangement and Production Ben Tompsett
Vocals Richard Plenty
Keyboards and programming Ben Tompsett
Acoustic Guitar Richard Plenty
Electric Guitar Charlie Tompsett
Bass Guitar Rhea Tompsett
Audio recorded at Studio 59
© Plenty Partnership 2025

Richard's Reflections

This song was written in 1978 just after I moved from living in a flat in London to a brand-new terraced house on a small housing estate in Epsom. Moving to the suburbs felt very strange after spending years in a flat in a big city.

It was a busy period. I had just got married and was trying to complete a part time PhD at the same time as doing my job. My brain was having to work overtime and there were many times when it was buzzing so intently that sleep seemed impossible. It was on one of those occasions that I wrote the song - words and music together. It didn’t take long to write – there wasn’t time!

I forgot about the song until I was searching through all the material I had kept from that era and found the words written on a piece of paper. There was no recording of it, and I had to search my memory to remember the chords and the tune. I sent a very rough phone recording to Ben with just strummed acoustic guitar and my voice. To my surprise he liked it and said he could imagine a strong arrangement. Sometime later, Ben came back to me with the basic backing track, which he had recorded with help from his family. His wife Sandie, daughter Rhea and son Charlie had all contributed to an energetic, intense, tight wall of sound. I added the rhythm guitar part and then the vocals. I am amazed that the original handwritten notes could turn into this recording!

The lyrics still ring true for me. In one way, I am struck by how little has changed. I continue to have similar feelings and experiences, particularly when times are hectic, there are tight deadlines, and I am working on complex intellectually or emotionally demanding work. Occasional sleepless nights don’t worry me unduly. I think of these as the price that sometimes has to be paid for the positives that go with it - creativity, high performance and achieving results. Over the years I have learned ways of ‘delivering’ more consistently in high pressure situations, being resilient and mentally tough, and recovering quickly from setbacks.

But I grew up in psychologically less demanding times. The increasing attention paid to the importance of psychological well- being and ‘mental health’ is testament to that. Today’s world is faster- paced, has continuous distractions, requires innovation at the same time as compliance, has less trust in institutions, less religious faith, and less family support. The demands can be relentless, and people may not feel well supported, which can lead to exhaustion and burnout.

We also understand more about psychological differences than we used to. From this perspective, the issues raised by the song are more relevant today than ever. For example, sleep problems are common with people who have ADHD. In the 1970’s when this song was written, only a tiny proportion of the population (<1 % in England). were diagnosed with it but by the 2020s the numbers had grown to between 3- 5%, and that is almost certainly an underestimate. Today’s world is not a great fit for people with this condition, some of whom find it difficult to focus, hard to manage time, are not naturally well organised, and tend to act impulsively.

And there’s also the question of what people believe is important. Societal expectations, particularly in the West, have been changing. What priority do people put on achievement compared with feeling relaxed and stress free? Can real progress only be made through sacrifice and suffering? Or should people prioritise their own health and wellbeing at all times?

The intensity of the ‘here and now’ experience in this song arises from efforts to think about the future and understand the very essence of what life is all about. The song makes me think how much more complex the world has become. Some questions I ponder:

Track 3: Let’s Make It Now Together

Lyrics

The food has been eaten, the wine has been drunk, and the music’s stopped
The people have gone now, the party is over, it’s 3 o’clock
And there’s no one left to hide behind now the guests have gone out the door
So let’s make it now together - and forget what went before

For singing, for laughing, for discotheque dancing, it’s now far too late
There’s only the cleaning, and you won’t find much meaning, in washing the plates
And there’s no one left to hide behind now the guests have gone out the door
So let’s make it now together - and forget what went before

It’s no use concealing, I can’t hide my feelings, I’d like you to stay
The smile in your eyes tells me you’re getting over this difficult day
And there’s no one left to hide behind now the guests have gone out the door
So let’s make it now together - and forget what went before

The food has been eaten, the wine has been drunk, and the music’s stopped
The people have gone now, the party is over, it’s 3 o’clock

Credits
Music and Lyrics Richard Plenty (1975)
Musical Arrangement and Production Ben Tompsett
Assistant Producer Richard Plenty
Vocals Ben Tompsett
Keyboards and programming Ben Tompsett
Saxophone Ben Tompsett
Electric Guitar Richard Plenty
Audio recorded at Studio 59
© Plenty Partnership 2025

Richard's Reflections

I don’t remember the exact circumstances and event that inspired this song. What I do know was that it was written at a time when home dinner parties with lots of people invited and ‘singing’ laughing and discotheque dancing’ were very popular. They were great fun but there was a price to pay – a lot of preparation and hard work beforehand.

The time and effort involved in planning and organising events like this is easy to underestimate, and I imagine this was one of those occasions, leading to pre-party tensions. During the party, everybody was on their best behaviour and any feelings of aggravation and resentment evaporated. It was only after the guests disappeared that these feelings returned and a decision had to be taken as to whether this was the right time to forgive and forget

I gave the song to Ben to sing because I didn’t feel entirely authentic doing the vocals – nowadays I rarely stay up partying till 3am! He’s done a superb job with both the vocals and the overall arrangement. I play electric guitar on the track. At the later stages of the recording process, I asked Ben to add the sax solo as part of the ‘outro’. I think the result is excellent and this is my favourite instrumental part of the whole EP.

This song stands on its own merits. For me, its key messages are about the importance of making time to enjoy life with our friends, forgiveness and moving on quickly from setbacks. The questions that occur to me now:

Song: Think About the Present

Lyrics

Let’s think about the present and not the time to come
Just listen to the singer and the message in the song

For yesterday is over, and tomorrow never comes
But the song goes on for ever even though it’s seldom sung

You’re sitting in an old armchair and writing songs with me
We’ve no idea of how the words should go
Each separate line complete but every verse a mystery
The ending to the story only time will let us know.

The tune is all that’s needed, and the words just come along
Though we hardly need to sing them while the rhythm carries on

You’re sitting in an old armchair and writing songs with me
We’ve no idea of how the words should go
Each separate line complete but every verse a mystery
The ending to the story only time will let us know.

The tune is all that’s needed, and the words just come along
If you want to know the ending please come back another day

Now 50 years has passed us by and time has changed the game
Three children and five grandsons in the frame
The melody is changing but the message is the same
Just make the most of every moment – it will never come again

Let’s think about the present and not the time to comeb
Just listen to the singer and the message in the song

Credits
Music and Lyrics Richard Plenty and Annette Plenty (1978)
Musical Arrangement and Production Ben Tompsett
Assistant Producer Richard Plenty
Vocals Richard Plenty
Piano: Ben Tompsett
Saxophone Ben Tompsett
Acoustic Guitar Richard Plenty
Audio recorded at Studio 59
© Plenty Partnership 2025

Richard's Reflections

This is the song on the EP that brings back the most memories. It was written in a small flat in Balham London with my partner Annette in the period just before we were married. It was a song inspired by my folk music background, with words co-created by the two of us.

We had been going through a difficult time with both of us having had close relatives who had passed away. We were wondering how our life together was going to develop and speculating about the future. As there were so many imponderables, we concluded it was more sensible to make the most of the present rather than fret about the past or speculate about the future. Going with the flow- rather than wasting energy trying to plan everything in advance - made sense. When you are young and on a roll, why not just seize the moment and enjoy life!

I still subscribe to that point of view, though experience has taught me there are times when it’s important to take time out and think before we act. The way we behave in the moment can have consequences and a profound impact on what’s possible later. When times are challenging and the consequences of our decisions are important, it makes sense to think through our options and choices carefully before taking action. Tomorrow does come!

I have also learned that we can actively shape our lives and influence what happens around us to a greater extent than I had imagined. To do that properly, it helps to be clear on our purpose in life. Even when times are difficult, there are nearly always opportunities to be found if we are clear on our values. That makes it easier to spot opportunities when they arise. It’s important to live in the present and respond to events as they unfold rather than try and plan everything in advance.

The final chorus ‘Now 50 years have passed us by ….’ was added recently. It felt strange to put it in. So much has changed since the song was written, much of it beyond what either of us could have imagined. Still, it was a warm feeling to return to the song and – in the words of the previous verse - be able to ‘come back another day’ to report to our younger selves what had happened. We have been fortunate, so far, in the way things have turned out.

‘Thinking about the present’ seems very relevant in today’s world. There are so many distractions in life now – social media, texting, mobile phones - that sometimes it’s difficult to stay focused on what really matters – the here and now.

So as the song says: ‘Just make the most of every moment, it will never come again’.

LIFE SEASONS – LYRICS AND COMMENTARY

Track 1: You’d Rather Stay Away

Lyrics

You left a note upon my pillow to say that you had gone
You said you’d thought the problem over - there’s no point in staying on
We’re as out of time as the Maginot Line, but I’d imagined that you wanted to stay
Instead you said the fight is over - and you’d rather stay away

Now when we met the sun was shining and spring was in the air
Then summer came with perfect timing and its warmth we wanted to share
Though the season was right and the sun shone bright and though the intention was fine
We always had to think it over - could we be out of time?

Now that you’ve gone I’ve got time on my hands
Time to be free, to be me ….
But time to be with others who think like I do
Is not all it’s cracked up to be

Came autumn mists, then winter snowfall and a sun which would not shine
Our love grew cold just like the winter for we were out of time
We’re as out of time as the Maginot Line but I’d imagined that you wanted to stay
Instead you said the fight is over - and you’d rather stay away

You did what you could to cushion the blow
To make it easy for me
But the bullet still hurts when it hits its target
It can hurt like hell to be free

You left a note upon my pillow to say that you had gone
You said you’d thought the problem over - there’s no point in staying on
We’re as out of time as the Maginot Line, but I’d imagined that you wanted to stay
Instead you said the fight is over - and you’d rather stay away

Credits
Music and lyrics Richard Plenty (1974)
Additional bridge and lyrics added by Richard Plenty in 2024
Musical Arrangement and Production Ben Tompsett
Assistant Arranger and Producer Richard Plenty
Vocals Richard Plenty
Lead Guitar Richard Plenty
Second Guitar Charlie Tompsett
Keyboards and programming Ben Tompsett
Audio recorded at Studio 59
© Plenty Partnership 2026

Richard’s Reflections

I wrote this song in 1974. I wasn’t feeling very positive. I had been thinking about my personal relationships that, for one reason or another – up to that point - hadn’t stood the test of time. As I thought about it, I realised that these relationships had been following a predictable pattern, going through phases rather like the seasons of the year. They started off full of possibility and excitement, then - as experience tested them - through a period of mixed emotions, followed by a parting of the ways. Spring and summer followed inevitably by autumn and winter.

This is hardly a new story, but one we have to discover for ourselves. We all live in hope! I once attended a keynote talk in Dublin by the Nobel prize winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman who had collected data about the happiness of couples who had been together for a while before getting married. He said that his data showed there was an increase in reported happiness for the four years before the marriage, reaching a peak on the wedding day itself. Unfortunately this was followed by an almost identical decline in happiness scores in the four years that followed …

But it’s not all bad news. For those who are well matched and are prepared to work at it, happiness scores can recover and (occasionally!) even reach new heights. This pattern of the way emotions change over time has parallels in other parts of life. For example, when we start a new job there is often a time of high enthusiasm over the first few months, followed by a period of decline and disillusion as we come to terms with reality, and – if we choose to stay - a subsequent recovery.

Back to the music! This song is one that I have often sung over the years to family and friends. The words still ring true and I like the tune. Nowadays I feel a lot more relaxed about uncertainty. Even when things initially seem to be going wrong, times of uncertainty bring opportunities as well as threats. It’s hard to predict what will happen in the longer term. Change can be for the better.

So we changed the style of the overall recording to reflect a more positive vibe, making it funkier, with more drive and more exciting to play than my original version. Ben arranged and produced the rhythm section. I put together a new lead guitar part and enjoyed playing it on my trusted George Benson Ibanez electric guitar paired with a new Fender Blues Junior amp. We invited Ben’s son Charlie, who was learning to play guitar at the time, to jam on the outro. He did a great job.

Despite this, life has taught me that breaking up is painful, no matter how sensitively it is handled, particularly if it is one person who has chosen to leave. Freedom comes at a price. So when I reviewed the song, I added two additional ‘bridge’ parts with lyrics reflecting the mixed emotions that arise from the pain of separation and the excitement of independence. It took a while to work out how best to arrange the new parts, but I really like how the way it has turned out musically

So I hope you enjoy listening to the song as much as I enjoyed playing it!

PS People often ask what the lyrics ‘We’re as out of time as the Maginot Line’ in the song mean. The Maginot Line was a massive system of French fortifications designed to prevent an invasion, constructed at great expense before the Second World War. It proved useless as the assumptions behind it were wrong, made irrelevant by changes in circumstances and German strategy.

Track 2: Winter Holds Me in its Icy Fingers

Lyrics

Strangers passed along the way we lingered
The steps we left lie deep in the snow
Feeling old, the cold alone is colder
With frosty grip, instead of you

The winter holds me in its icy fingers

Now I feel alone again, deserted
My world falls down the hill to dark
Rolling clouds have crushed the silent landscape
The summer trees that sailed the park

Freeze black icicles across the sunset

Through the window where we watched together
Frosty feathers mist the glass
Grey and tired my weary day fades early
Memory’s a barren waste

Spring’s an empty promise, sounds like never

Credits
Music Richard Plenty (1975)
Lyrics © Keith Bibby (1975)
Musical Arrangement and Production Ben Tompsett
Assistant Arranger and Producer Richard Plenty
Vocals Richard Plenty
Keyboards and programming Ben Tompsett
Audio recorded at Studio 59
© Plenty Partnership (2026)

Richard’s Reflections

I decided to write a series of songs about the seasons in 1975, and this was the first. I was working in British Steel Corporation’s Human Factors Department in Battersea, London at the time and one of my colleagues, a sociologist called Keith Bibby, was also an exceptional writer and poet. He penned this beautiful if somewhat bleak verse about the winter for me to put to music.

At the time, I recorded it with a guitar backing, but when I found the original recording I felt the overall sound didn’t do justice to the words. Rather than try and resurrect the recording, I worked together with Ben to come up with a backing with instruments that seemed to match better the spirit of the lyrics. The melody remains one of my favourite tunes, so that stayed the same.

I am very happy with the result. Keith, I hope you like this arrangement too. It’s taken a long time but here it is!

Track 3 Spring Is on Its Way

Lyrics

Slow growing now, slow growing now, life has started again
Green coming through, green coming through with the sun and the rain
Must have been waiting so carefully for the first warmth to begin
Wrapped safe away, wrapped safe away, from destructive wind.

When the sun comes out, it changes everything
Earth begins to warm, birds begin to sing
Bringing life and hope to every living thing
Spring is on its way!

Credits
Music Richard Plenty (1975)
Verse Lyrics Jenny Nicholson (1975)
Additional lyrics added by Richard Plenty in 2024
Musical Arrangement and Production Ben Tompsett
Assistant Arranger and Producer Richard Plenty
Vocals Richard Plenty
Piano Richard Plenty
Keyboards and programming Ben Tompsett
Audio recorded at Studio 59
© Plenty Partnership 2026

Richard’s Reflections

I found the words of the verse of this song scribbled on the back of an old envelope. They were written for me by Jenny Nicholson, an artist and close friend of mine at the time. She was a lovely, gentle and creative person who sadly passed away a few years ago with early onset Alzheimer’s. There may be very few words to go on, but they reflect her kind personality very well.

There was no recording, but I remembered the guitar part I had put to it. It needed some expansion, so I wrote a simple second part ‘When the sun comes out …’ to go with the verse to capture the spirit of the song. I decided to play it on the piano myself, rather than trying to resurrect a rough guitar accompaniment. Ben did his usual magic with the rest of the backing.

When I put this song together. I had in mind the well-known hymn ‘All things bright and beautiful’. I am not ordinarily a churchgoer, but I had heard this played at a country church service and was - much to my surprise - inspired by the simplicity of the words and the music. So I decided to just keep this song as simple as possible, keeping close to the original wording rather than develop it further. I did write a more comprehensive version of the song, with extra words, verses and some extra melody but that can wait for another day!

The clarity of the message is what counts. What a wonderful time of year spring can be. A time for rebirth. A time for hope and optimism. Seasons are turning, skies slowly clear, swallows returning, spring time is here!

Track 4 Summer’s Coming to Stay

Lyrics

Morning glints off the diamond dew on the grass
Sharpens the razor edge of the city scrapers
Slips through the streets and peeps at the people sleeping
Brightens them into the waking dream of day

For the summer’s coming to stay and there’s not a cloud in the sky
So let’s go outside and play - now summer’s come our way

Children joy in the seaside summer wide sand
Bouncing the sun up high in the sky and dreaming
Stretched on the ground, the fathers and mothers are drifting
Till sunshine lifts them to the waking dream of day

For the summer’s coming to stay and there’s not a cloud in the sky
So let’s go outside and play - now summer’s come our way

Sunshine smiles in the eyes of people who care
Friends for the ones who are down on their luck and lonely
Time for the old, the time to unfold their memories
Summer is coming to brighten every day

For the summer’s coming to stay and there’s not a cloud in the sky
So let’s go outside and play - now summer’s come our way

Credits
Music Richard Plenty (1976)
Lyrics © Keith Bibby (1976)
Musical Arrangement and Production John Collins (1976/77)
Assistant Arranger and Producer Richard Plenty
Vocals Richard Plenty
Backup Vocals Children from South London (1976/77)
Acoustic Guitar Richard Plenty
Electric Guitar John Collins
Bass guitar John Collins
Drum machine John Collins
Recovered from original tape Richard Plenty and Ben Tompsett (2024)
Remastered by Ben Tompsett (2026) at Studio 59
© Plenty Partnership (2026)

Richard’s Reflections

This joyful and evocative song about summer was based on a second set of lyrics written for me to put to music by my close colleague Keith Bibby when we were both working in British Steel’s Human Factors department in the 1970’s. Another excellent set of ideas and words from Keith.

This track makes a nice counterpoint to the winter song which comes earlier in the EP. It’s a lot more cheerful for a start! The lyrics in the verses are full of imagery, and the chorus is simple and catchy. My personal feeling is that the melody I wrote fits rather well with it all.

This track was rescued from the original reel to reel tape recording of the song that was made 50 years ago. It’s been remastered, rebalanced and brought to life courtesy of modern technology. It’s very much a repair job designed to restore the original intention and sound rather than an effort to re- record the song in a new way. In other words, it’s the musical equivalent of the British BBC TV series ‘The Repair Shop’ where much-loved worn, damaged and dilapidated items are restored in a sensitive and skillful manner to be ‘like they were intended to be’.

That’s because the original arrangement and production were very good. These were coordinated by another work colleague of mine, John Collins, an electronics expert who helped me to record the song on a newly acquired expensive four track reel to reel tape recorder that I found tricky to operate. It wasn’t the best quality machine, but I couldn’t afford any more. I had had to use all my skills to persuade a dubious bank manager to give me a loan, arguing that this was a sensible investment for someone at my stage of life. Maybe, just maybe, all these years later, this might turn out to be true. At least modern technology gets rid of the annoying background hiss!

John was also an accomplished musician and put together a drum machine, bass and electric guitar backing to add to my acoustic guitar strumming. I did the singing, feeling slightly uncomfortable that I was recording my own voice as the only vocalist, and came to the conclusion that children’s voices were needed for part of the song. Somehow – I don’t remember exactly how – I managed to bring together a group of what I remember as 8–10-year-olds in a location in South London to record the chorus. They all loved it and thought that they were going to star in a big hit. Unfortunately they have been disappointed (so far …) as converting the track into a record was too expensive - and streaming on Spotify and other media was many years off.

So what has happened to everyone? John Collins - where are you now? I would love to hear from you. And does anyone know any of the primary school children of the late 1970s from South London who recorded the chorus of this song but never heard the final version? Or were you one of them! I would love to share this recording with all of you after all these years.

If you can help me get in contact with any of these people, please get in touch via email on this website contact address and we’ll go from there!

Thanks to all who were involved in any way in this recording.

Track 5 Autumn Years

Lyrics

Old lady in the rocking chair looking straight at me
Your mind is ever willing, but your eyes just cannot see
The autumn years have crept up to your door
But you know much more of life than people give you credit for

Old lady in the rocking chair, you hear not what I say
Though your mind is ever willing, silence has to be the way
You cannot hear the song I want to sing
But if you could, I know you’d understand most everything

Old lady smile at me
Just cast your glance in my direction
Though I cannot help you see
If I take your hand please understand how much you mean to me

Old lady in the rocking chair looking straight at me
Though your mind is ever willing, your eyes just cannot see
The autumn years have crept up to your door
And it’s hard for me to know that I won’t see you anymore

Old lady smile at me
Just cast your glance in my direction
Though I cannot help you see
If I take your hand please understand how much you mean to me

Old lady in the rocking chair, it’s time for me to go
It’s lucky you can’t see me cos I’ve let my feelings show
It’s hard for me to want to come again
When I know that underneath the veil you’re really still the same

Old lady smile at me
Just cast a final glance in my direction
Well time stole you from me
And it’s painful to accept that only time can set you free

Credits
Music Richard Plenty (1975)
Lyrics Richard Plenty (1975, 2025)
Musical Arrangement and Production Ben Tompsett
Assistant Arranger and Producer Richard Plenty
Vocals Richard Plenty
Harmony vocals Ben Tompsett
Guitar Richard Plenty
Keyboards and programming Ben Tompsett
Audio recorded at Studio 59
© Plenty Partnership 2026

Richard’s Reflections

I was very close to my grandparents on my mother’s side of the family when I was growing up. We spent most Sundays together as a family, so ‘Nana and Grandad’ were a big part of my life and I got to know them both well.

They had had seven children, all of whom had married and had children of their own. I was part of a large extended and sociable family, with my brother David, sister Anne and my close cousins Susan, Peter and Stephen forming a natural and supportive peer group getting together regularly.

My family knew how to have a good time. We had great parties with music, games and lots of fun. Ours was a house where you could roll up the carpet and find a wooden dance floor underneath!

So I found it very sad when my grandparents’ health began to fade in the later stages of their lives. Although both lived to almost 90 years old, medicine at that time was not so sophisticated as it is now. My grandmother in particular had a tough time in her late 80’s as she gradually lost her sight and her hearing. Towards the end, it was only really possible to communicate with her by touch.

I wrote this song to reflect how I felt at the time. By the time my grandparents were this age, I was in my early twenties and had long since left home. For the recording of this EP, I changed the original words of the first verse from ‘You’re 88 years to my 24’ to ‘The autumn years have crept up to your door’.

As far as the arrangement of the song was concerned, I started by singing it simply with just myself and a guitar but that didn’t feel enough given the emotions that the song awakened in me. So I decided that I wanted to try to get across some of the intensity of my feeling by recording a powerful harmony construct in the chorus as well as adding a number of different instruments to give the song a richer texture.

It seems strange to be writing this now when I have attained the role of ‘grandad’ and am myself in early autumn years. There’s a pattern to life which is hard to really understand until you live it.

Track 6 – Coffee Song Revisited

Lyrics

All I want is a proper cup of coffee
Made from a proper copper coffee pot
I may be off my dot
But I want a cup of coffee from a proper copper pot

Iron coffee pots, tin coffee pots
They’re no use to me
If I can’t get a proper cup of coffee from a proper copper coffee pot
I’ll have a cup of tea!

But what I’ve got is a frothy cappuccino
Made from a percolated coffee pod
I may be in a shop
But it’s better to be sitting here than working on the hop

Costa, Starbucks, Nero’s, Pret
That’s all there is for me
But if they run out of coffee or their percolator’s dodgy
Then I’ll have a peppermint tea!

Credits
Original song: Bert Weston and Bob Lee (1926)
Updated Lyrics Richard Plenty (2026)
Vocals Richard Plenty
Guitar Richard Plenty
Production Ben Tompsett
Audio recorded at Studio 59
© Plenty Partnership 2026

Richard’s Reflections

My grandfather used to sing Music Hall songs at our family parties when I was growing up and had a huge repertoire, so I got to know and love the genre early in my life. The original version of this song ‘All I want is a proper cup of coffee’ was published 100 years ago in 1926 and was written by perhaps the most famous songwriters in Music Hall, Bert Weston and Bob Lee.

Although this particular song wasn’t in my grandfather’s repertoire, I have been singing the original song since I was a teenager. It was taught to me by my good friend and fellow musician Dave Hood when we played together in the Rovers Folk Group in my home town of Brighton.

It’s become very popular with my grandsons Robin, Alex, Sam, Zac and Ben. The tongue twisting nature of the song is something they love. When I sing it to them it reminds me of the great circle of life. I am singing music hall songs to them, just like my grandfather did with me.

For this live recording, I added a second verse to update the song to the 21st century. Reality doesn’t always match expectations!