All LU Stations Song/Underground Can-Can
- The Orange One
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All LU Stations Song/Underground Can-Can
Last November I took a pencil and paper and tried to write "a song with all the London Underground stations set to a recognisable tune" - my tune was Gilbert and Sullivan's Major-General Song, or alternatively Tom Lehrer's Elements Song. The rhymes I used were terrible - look at the topic title for the two rhymes I was most proud of, and I ended up putting in Plaistow twice and missing out Southfields. I'd post my effort, but I don't really want to, so does anyone have some good pairs of stations that kind of rhyme?
Last edited by The Orange One on 29 Nov 2014, 21:55, edited 1 time in total.
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That guy who runs those Twitter polls about tube stations and London Boroughs.
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That guy who runs those Twitter polls about tube stations and London Boroughs.
- RobbieM
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
Unbelievable that I should read a post on this subject. Because, after doing this earlier this year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0tUJ0W_18k, people asked me what my next 'composition' would be. It was about the same time that the Labyrinth art discussions began, and therefore a record-breaking route was given away publicly.
So I told folk (not those on the forum) that I may consider giving away my completed Tube Challenge route in a unique way - and the way I thought I'd do it was by using exactly the same song that you've mentioned! Not that I got very far with the project. But it begins:
Maybe I should pick the project up again.
So I told folk (not those on the forum) that I may consider giving away my completed Tube Challenge route in a unique way - and the way I thought I'd do it was by using exactly the same song that you've mentioned! Not that I got very far with the project. But it begins:
- We started off by catching the five twenty-eight from Amersham
Down to Chalfont and Latimer and then we went up to Chesham
Returning down through C and L to Chorleywood and Rickmansworth
Moor Park then Croxley Watford back to M P Northwood Northwood Hills...
Maybe I should pick the project up again.
Personal record: 270 Stations in 9 minutes and 3 seconds
- The Orange One
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
I tried to start off in that corner of London - I can tell you from experience that Amersham and Chesham will not rhyme whatever accent you use.
I can give you the verses of "The London Underground Song Retraction Song" - which talks about my attempts to write a tube song, and ultimate failure, to the same tune of course. It contains a reference to the first transport song I ever wrote, which was about the 29 bus route's conversion from bendy bus back to double decker. Also consider Osterley/Becontree/Gunnersbury as a rhyme.
Just over half a year ago I made a song most terrible,
I couldn't make the lyrics scan, the rhymes were all unbearable,
I tried to put in every station on the London Underground,
but perfect words played "hard to get" and sent me on the runaround,
I toyed with it many a day, but did not reach euphoria,
Swapped Camden Town for Belsize Park, and Brixton for Victoria,
I'd take it up with TfL but I don't think they'd take the time,
To go and rename tube stations just so that more of them will rhyme,
With buses it is easy, for example number 183
Will rhyme with other phrases like North Wembley and Kingsbury,
So I'm going to stick to numbers now and leave the destinations
for people who can rhyme them and not stick with estimations.
For Amersham and Chorleywood I'll have to rhyme another day,
The same with Rayners Lane or High Street Kensington or Holloway,
There's millions of arrangements, it's like trying to solve a Rubik's cube,
but no, what am I saying? Holloway has never had a tube.
Rhyme Paddington with Farringdon, or Colindale with Tottenham Hale,
And these are just the rhymes I wrote that didn't quite completely fail,
So write another song, you say! I find I must oppose, refuse, (long pause)
'Cause look at me! I barely rhymed the word that I just chose to use.
I wrote at least three verses all about the number 29,
But just can't write a song about the Hammersmith and City line,
So I'm going to stick to numbers now and leave the destinations
for people who can rhyme them and not stick with estimations.
I can give you the verses of "The London Underground Song Retraction Song" - which talks about my attempts to write a tube song, and ultimate failure, to the same tune of course. It contains a reference to the first transport song I ever wrote, which was about the 29 bus route's conversion from bendy bus back to double decker. Also consider Osterley/Becontree/Gunnersbury as a rhyme.
Just over half a year ago I made a song most terrible,
I couldn't make the lyrics scan, the rhymes were all unbearable,
I tried to put in every station on the London Underground,
but perfect words played "hard to get" and sent me on the runaround,
I toyed with it many a day, but did not reach euphoria,
Swapped Camden Town for Belsize Park, and Brixton for Victoria,
I'd take it up with TfL but I don't think they'd take the time,
To go and rename tube stations just so that more of them will rhyme,
With buses it is easy, for example number 183
Will rhyme with other phrases like North Wembley and Kingsbury,
So I'm going to stick to numbers now and leave the destinations
for people who can rhyme them and not stick with estimations.
For Amersham and Chorleywood I'll have to rhyme another day,
The same with Rayners Lane or High Street Kensington or Holloway,
There's millions of arrangements, it's like trying to solve a Rubik's cube,
but no, what am I saying? Holloway has never had a tube.
Rhyme Paddington with Farringdon, or Colindale with Tottenham Hale,
And these are just the rhymes I wrote that didn't quite completely fail,
So write another song, you say! I find I must oppose, refuse, (long pause)
'Cause look at me! I barely rhymed the word that I just chose to use.
I wrote at least three verses all about the number 29,
But just can't write a song about the Hammersmith and City line,
So I'm going to stick to numbers now and leave the destinations
for people who can rhyme them and not stick with estimations.
All London buses: 23 hours 25 minutes (with Adham, David, Josh and Tangy)
Holds some alternative challenge records. Not sure which ones.
20½ Random 15 challenges: 01:58:48 best
That guy who runs those Twitter polls about tube stations and London Boroughs.
Holds some alternative challenge records. Not sure which ones.
20½ Random 15 challenges: 01:58:48 best
That guy who runs those Twitter polls about tube stations and London Boroughs.
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
It's kind of fun to try this, but most of the time you have to mangle syllables and rhyme on added words rather than on stations. Here's an effort for the (relatively short) Victoria Line:
We'll start at Brixton then Stockwell to Vauxhall and then Pimlico,
Victoria, Green Park then Oxford Circus is the way we'll go,
Next Warren Street, onto Euston, King's Cross St. Pancras (man, that's long!),
Highbury & Islington then Finsbury Park is where we carry on,
To Seven Sisters, Tottenham Hale, Blackhorse Road (for the overground),
And finally to Walthamstow Central, that's where we turn around,
From one end to the other that is all of the Victoria line,
And if we're lucky we'll have found our little train did run on time.
We'll start at Brixton then Stockwell to Vauxhall and then Pimlico,
Victoria, Green Park then Oxford Circus is the way we'll go,
Next Warren Street, onto Euston, King's Cross St. Pancras (man, that's long!),
Highbury & Islington then Finsbury Park is where we carry on,
To Seven Sisters, Tottenham Hale, Blackhorse Road (for the overground),
And finally to Walthamstow Central, that's where we turn around,
From one end to the other that is all of the Victoria line,
And if we're lucky we'll have found our little train did run on time.
Royal Oak to Bethnal Green in 333 days
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Heathrow Terminal 4 to Amersham in 17 hours, 42 minutes and 22 seconds
- The Orange One
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
There's always this one...
We go from Bank to Waterloo and back to Bank, then Waterloo,
The Waterloo and City line is what everyone likes to do,
From Bank to Waterloo to Bank to Waterloo to Bank again,
And up and down and up and down and up and then back down The Drain,
From Waterloo to Bank, and back to Waterloo and back to Bank,
This 1992 Stock Train will noticeably loudly clank,
From Bank to Waterloo and back to Bank then Waterloo...oh no!
I've run over the time limit for Oyster card Pay As You Go!
We go from Bank to Waterloo and back to Bank, then Waterloo,
The Waterloo and City line is what everyone likes to do,
From Bank to Waterloo to Bank to Waterloo to Bank again,
And up and down and up and down and up and then back down The Drain,
From Waterloo to Bank, and back to Waterloo and back to Bank,
This 1992 Stock Train will noticeably loudly clank,
From Bank to Waterloo and back to Bank then Waterloo...oh no!
I've run over the time limit for Oyster card Pay As You Go!
All London buses: 23 hours 25 minutes (with Adham, David, Josh and Tangy)
Holds some alternative challenge records. Not sure which ones.
20½ Random 15 challenges: 01:58:48 best
That guy who runs those Twitter polls about tube stations and London Boroughs.
Holds some alternative challenge records. Not sure which ones.
20½ Random 15 challenges: 01:58:48 best
That guy who runs those Twitter polls about tube stations and London Boroughs.
- RobbieM
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
Or the Sunday version of the same one:
- Well here I am at Waterloo, oh look, I'm still at Waterloo.
Yes Waterloo, that's Waterloo, it's definitely Waterloo.
The trains don't run on Sunday so what on earth am I gonna do?
I'll never get to Bank so I'll just wait right here at Waterloo.
It's no use looking to the front of this train, for there is no crew.
It's very lonely waiting down here on my own on platform two.
And see how many times I can fit in the name of Waterloo,
That's Waterloo, yes Waterloo, ah! Waterloo, oh! Waterloo...
Personal record: 270 Stations in 9 minutes and 3 seconds
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
I have this shorter version:
The Waterloo and City line has two stations to care about,
It runs from Bank to Waterloo; that's its entire whereabouts.
(Unfortunately, I already gave up my day job )
The Waterloo and City line has two stations to care about,
It runs from Bank to Waterloo; that's its entire whereabouts.
(Unfortunately, I already gave up my day job )
Royal Oak to Bethnal Green in 333 days
Heathrow Terminal 4 to Amersham in 17 hours, 42 minutes and 22 seconds
Heathrow Terminal 4 to Amersham in 17 hours, 42 minutes and 22 seconds
- tubeguru
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
Here's my concise version of the entire network:
Total stations: two-hundred and seventy
Bugger that, I need a cup of tea.
Total stations: two-hundred and seventy
Bugger that, I need a cup of tea.
One thing only do I know, and that is that I know nothing - Socrates.
Champion of bugger all, 2004 to 2022
Member of sweet FA
Champion of bugger all, 2004 to 2022
Member of sweet FA
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
Waterloo, I was defeated, you won the war...
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- tractakid
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
I have been asked by Tunnel Sounds to mention this song here, so I will. Here's a link. Buy the song so 'person X' can pay for his worldwide adventures. lol
http://benphaze.bandcamp.com/track/a-z- ... nderground
I have some gripes though.
6 stations aren't mentioned. (Edgware Road, Hammersmith, Paddington, Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3, Heathrow Terminal 4 and Heathrow Terminal 5)
One incorrect station is mentioned. (Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
There are apparently 9 Gunnersburys. (Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury and echo Gunnersbury.
The stations are not in alphabetical order. They nearly are, but they aren't. For a song titled A-Z I reckon alphabetical order should have been compulsory.
For those that can forgive the poetic licenses used, the music is groovy with some funky bass. Worth a listen.
http://benphaze.bandcamp.com/track/a-z- ... nderground
I have some gripes though.
6 stations aren't mentioned. (Edgware Road, Hammersmith, Paddington, Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3, Heathrow Terminal 4 and Heathrow Terminal 5)
One incorrect station is mentioned. (Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
There are apparently 9 Gunnersburys. (Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury and echo Gunnersbury.
The stations are not in alphabetical order. They nearly are, but they aren't. For a song titled A-Z I reckon alphabetical order should have been compulsory.
For those that can forgive the poetic licenses used, the music is groovy with some funky bass. Worth a listen.
Last edited by tractakid on 23 Jun 2013, 09:13, edited 1 time in total.
*insert boasting about notable tube accomplishments here*
- The Orange One
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
You mean:tractakid wrote:I have been asked by Adham to mention this song here, so I will. Here's a link. Buy the song so Adham can pay for his worldwide adventures. lol
http://benphaze.bandcamp.com/track/a-z- ... nderground
I have some gripes though.
6 stations aren't mentioned. (Edgware Road, Hammersmith, Paddington, Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3, Heathrow Terminal 4 and Heathrow Terminal 5)
One incorrect station is mentioned. (Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
There are apparently 9 Gunnersburys. (Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury, Gunnersbury and echo Gunnersbury.
The stations are not in alphabetical order. They nearly are, but they aren't. For a song titled A-Z I reckon alphabetical order should have been compulsory.
For those that can forgive the poetic licenses used, the music is groovy with some funky bass. Worth a listen.
5 stations aren't mentioned. (Edgware Road, Hammersmith, Paddington, Heathrow Terminal 4 and Heathrow Terminal 5)
One incorrect station is mentioned. (4 and 5)
Technically he did say "Heathrow Terminals 1 2 3".
All London buses: 23 hours 25 minutes (with Adham, David, Josh and Tangy)
Holds some alternative challenge records. Not sure which ones.
20½ Random 15 challenges: 01:58:48 best
That guy who runs those Twitter polls about tube stations and London Boroughs.
Holds some alternative challenge records. Not sure which ones.
20½ Random 15 challenges: 01:58:48 best
That guy who runs those Twitter polls about tube stations and London Boroughs.
- tractakid
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
He grouped all the numbers together into one station, by the way I heard it.all545londonbuses wrote:You mean:
5 stations aren't mentioned. (Edgware Road, Hammersmith, Paddington, Heathrow Terminal 4 and Heathrow Terminal 5)
One incorrect station is mentioned. (4 and 5)
Technically he did say "Heathrow Terminals 1 2 3".
Still, for most listeners, none of that will matter at all, and it is great to hear the system we have all grown to love being promoted.
*insert boasting about notable tube accomplishments here*
- tractakid
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
The Youtube upload of the song has a slideshow of images of station roundels or signs (like at Upminster where there are no roundels). These do accurately depict every station, with both H, P and ERs being shown, as well as revealing the true situation at Heathrow. Slightly redeems the situation.
*insert boasting about notable tube accomplishments here*
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
Well I suppose it had to happen eventually...The Orange One wrote:Last November I took a pencil and paper and tried to write "a song with all the London Underground stations set to a recognisable tune" - my tune was Gilbert and Sullivan's Major-General Song, or alternatively Tom Lehrer's Elements Song.
I recently came across this ingenious take on the Elements Song, which goes one better than Tom Lehrer by listing them all in periodic table order (and including ones that hadn't been discovered at the time). The tune is Offenbach's Infernal Galop, better known as the Can-Can, and it occurred to me that that might be a good tune for listing the Underground stations. So here's my effort:
The Underground Can-Can
If you want to try singing along with the recording, the tune starts at about 1:15, but bear in mind that it's only played twice on the recording and you need to sing it three times, and there's a coda that you only sing the last time.
If you find any unintentional omissions or duplications, or can think of any improvements, let me know!
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- RobbieM
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Re: Paddington/Farringdon or Colindale/Tottenham Hale
Looks interesting! Maybe I'll sit down at the piano and give it a bash when I get time...
Personal record: 270 Stations in 9 minutes and 3 seconds
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