EW AND THE SWINGING SIXTIES
1) ITCHYCOO PARK
'Itchycoo Park' was written and released by the Small Faces in 1967, the year after Evelyn Waugh's death. Despite the reference to the dreaming spires of Oxford and indeed its Bridge of Sighs, Evelyn would have hated it. After all, it's a song about the common man tucking into the pie (taking his fair share of resources). And of course, the common man had to get his (the common woman wasn't ready to get her) share of said pie at the expense of an older generation and an upper-middle class.
However, this is exactly what Evelyn did, in the company of Alastair Graham, when they were young men. In their case, the rebellion was not so much a class one - but within that elite class - and against a tradition of duty and service. The Bright Young Things didn't want to fight in another war or do respectable jobs after coming down from drinking at Oxford. What had been good enough for their fathers was going to be rejected out of hand by them. Let dissipation rule.
So although old Evelyn would have hated 'Itchycoo Park' (not exactly the sumptuous grounds of Brideshead or the glistening paddock at Hetton) young Evelyn would have loved it, albeit that the mind-altering drugs were different. And I'm going to prove that by having Evelyn and Alastair Graham sing 'Itchycoo Park'.
1967 meets 1925. Take it away Bright Young baby boomers, with Evelyn as lead singer, of course…
Actually, you might want to listen to this first. To remind yourself of the tune, or to familiarise yourself with the rhymes if coming to it for the first time. (Surely not!)
The Scarlet Woman, is a 1925-26 film directed by Evelyn's friend from Hertford College, Terence Greenidge. The stills used above feature E.W. (in a wig) and John Greenidge, Terence's brother. Evelyn Waugh and Alastair Graham were still spending a lot of time together in summer 1925, when the above scene was filmed.
'Itchycoo Park' was written by Ronnie Lane/Steve Marriott in 1967. The lyrics are © EMI Music Publishing and I reproduce them here with, I hope, that company's forbearance.
Here is another link to the song itself. Cos if you've read the above without reference to the original song you'll be wondering why I've taken the trouble of posting this.