Remembering 'Nobody's Child' On Children's Day

SONGS I LOVE:

Usually Singapore celebrates Children's Day on lst October but from 2011 onwards it will be on the first Friday every October. So for this year it's on the 7th. Just as we honour the children, we must also remember the impoverished and homeless ones around the world.

The 1969 hit Nobody's Child by British singer *Karen Young (image 4) highlighted the plight of a blind and unwanted child in an orphanage. The song originally written by Cy Coben and Mel Foree was first recorded by Hank Snow in 1949 and had been covered by artistes that included George Sheridan and 3 of the Beatles.

Another group called The Traveling Wilburys that had Bob Dylan as member, recorded the song for a benefit (image 2). Asian artistes included Agnes Chan and Irene Ryder, both from Hong Kong on Life Record and Pon EMI Regal. Singapore has two versions, one on a Philips Product Long Play by 60s stars, Heather and The Thunderbirds (image 2, details below**) and the other by Lisa Lim and The Stylers on Amigo Records (image 1).
Nobody's Child: Cy Coben and Mel Foree.

(Refrain) I'm nobody's child I'm nobody's child /Just like a flower I'm growing wild/No mommy's kisses and no daddy's smile/Nobody wants me I'm nobody's child...

As I was slowly passing an orphan's home one day/I stopped there for a moment just to watch the children play/Alone a boy was standing and when I asked him why/He turned with eyes that could not see and he began to cry...

Some people come for children and take them for their own/But they all seem to pass me by and leave me all alone/I know they'd like to take me but when they see I'm blind/They always take some other child and I'm left behind...

No mother's arms to hold me or soothe me when I cry/Sometimes it gets so lonely here I wish that I could die/I'll walk the streets of heaven where all the blind can see/And just like the other kids there'd be a home for me...

**PSY 112 275 Philips: Heather - Harvey and The Thunderbirds, 'Birthday'. Side One: I'll Never Fall In Love Again, Birthday, Nobody's Child, Early In The Morning, Special Delivery, The BalladOf John and Yoko. Side Two: Wonderful World, Tracy, With A Little Help from My Friends, Train, Romeo And Juliet, Time Is Tight. To read about the The Thunderbirds click

Labels below.

Image 1, 2: Andy Lim Collection.

Image 3, 4: Google.

*There is an added Karen Young biography and connection on the Comment page. She had passed on in 1991. Click Comments below.

Christmas Songs 60s Asian Music Collection

Christmas songs are popular internationally and likewise in Asia, especially in *Singapore in the 60s, the number of Christmas albums that floods the market during the season is innumerable. Many of these melodies are recorded by Asian singers but most are just covers of yuletide songs.

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The vinyl by Agnes Chan (image) is a good example. But it is a little different since the songs were pressed when she was singing in her teens. The child-like rendition of the four Christmas goodies on this EP is like the baubles on the tree, tinkling and cheerful.

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This parcel - LIFE/EP 2124 - has the title song, All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth, Mr Mistletoe, Rocking Around The Christmas Tree and The Little Drummer Boy. All songs were arranged by Wallace Chow, designed by LRIL and printed by KMIL, PJ.

Rocking Around The Xmas Tree (sidebar) was written by Johnny Marks and originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958.

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*Large majority of English Language speakers.

Image from YouTube by: justiniong 1120/December 22nd 2008. Vinyl & article: Andy Lim Collection.