AG PLEEZ DEDDY(The Ballad Of The Southern Suburbs)by Jeremy Taylor 
(Gallotone PD 7-8531) Ag pleez deddy won't you take us to the drive-in All six, seven of us, eight, nine, ten We wanna see a flick about Tarzan and the Ape-men And when the show is over you can bring us back again Chorus: Popcorn, chewing gum, peanuts and bubble gum Ice cream, candy floss and Eskimo Pie Ag deddy how we miss Nigger balls and liquorice Pepsi Cola, ginger beer and Canada Dry Ag pleez deddy won't you take us to the fun-fair We wanna have a ride on the bumper-cars We'll buy a stick of candy floss And eat it on the Octopus Then we'll take the rocket ship that goes to Mars Chorus Ag pleez deddy won't you take us to the wrestling We wanna see an ou called Sky Hi Lee When he fights Willie Liebenberg There's gonna be a murder 'Cos Willie's gonna donner that blerrie yankee Chorus Ag pleez deddy won't you take us off to Durban It's only eight hours in the Chevrolet There's spans of sea and sand and sun And fish in the aquarium That's a lekker place for a holiday Chorus Ag Pleeeeeez Deddy - VOETSEK! Ag sies deddy if we can't kraak to bioscope Or go off to Durban, life's a henguva bore If you won't take us to the zoo Then what the heck else can we do But go on out and moer all the outjies next door Chorus Words and Music by Jeremy Taylor, 1961
Quite what the appeal of 'The Ballad of the Southern Suburbs' (or 'Ag Pleez Deddy' as it's more affectionately known) is, is somewhat a mystery to me. It's a very simple tune strummed on an acoustic guitar and sung by an ou who doesn't have the greatest voice, yet this little ditty has made it's way into South African musical folklore and is still regarded as a classic. Although I can't put my finger on why, I, like thousands of other South Africans love this song, possibly it's the reference to all those lekker things of one's youth like candy floss and eskimo pies that keep this song fresh and alive. This song was taken from a live recording of the stage musical 'Wait A Minim' in 1962. It was banned by the SABC (as were most of Jeremy's songs). It reached #1 on the LM radio charts in June 1962. Jeremy received a gold disc for over 75 000 units sold of 'Ag Pleez Deddy' - s'true's bob. (Info from sleeve notes for the 'The Best Of SA Pop Volume 1' CD written by Malcolm Lombard) 1961 I vividly remember writing this song. I remember the little flat in Violet Street and the room I used to pace around at nights nursing a cholicky daughter. Sometimes I would put her in the karrikot and into the back of my 1947 Morris Minor (the one with the split windscreen and side valves) and we'd drive around the Southern suburbs. Jess would sleep then. But as soon as we got back and I stopped the car she would wake up again so I don't know if it was such a good ruse after all. But at least she and her mother got some sleep, until the next feed. Today she plays the 'cello and nurses two children of her own. The Ballad of the Northern SuburbsThe Northern Side Of Town |