Rambling Syd Rumpo
Encyclopedia
Rambling Syd Rumpo was a folk singer
character played by English comedian
Kenneth Williams
in the radio comedy series Round the Horne
.
The Rambling Syd sketches generally began with a short discourse on the nature of the song which would inexorably follow; these discourses in their own right would have assured Rambling Syd Rumpo a place in radio history as masterpieces of suggestivity and double-entendre. For this, Rambling Syd was customarily introduced by Kenneth Horne
, who would set things up by (for example) inquiring as to the nature and origin of the song. Rambling Syd would (usually) respond with an "Ullo, mi dearios" before launching into the ensuing detailed explanation which left a great deal to the imagination.
The songs themselves pushed and extended boundaries of acceptable sexual suggestivity way beyond the narrow confines of a Sunday lunchtime radio slot, using nonsense (or little-known) words like 'moolies' and nadgers in suggestive contexts.
Williams later starred (with Leslie Phillips
and others) in the short-lived Radio sketch show Oh, Get On with It (based on a pilot episode entitled Get On With It), which also featured appearances as Rambling Syd.
Many of the words used by Rambling Syd were invented by the Round The Horne scriptwriters Barry Took
and Marty Feldman
, whilst some were existing words used in a suggestive context, such as 'artifacts' (often used in an archaeological context for things such as grave goods) and 'nadger', which had already appeared in The Goon Show
.
An excerpt from a Christmas episode, Cinderella, first broadcast on Christmas Eve 1967, and rebroadcast in December 2009:
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
character played by English comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Charles Williams was an English comic actor and comedian. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the Carry On films, and appeared in numerous British television shows, and radio comedies with Tony Hancock and Kenneth Horne.-Life and career:Kenneth Charles Williams was born on 22 February...
in the radio comedy series Round the Horne
Round the Horne
Round the Horne was a BBC Radio comedy programme, transmitted in four series of weekly episodes from 1965 until 1968. The series was created by Barry Took and Marty Feldman - with others contributing to later series after Feldman returned to performing — and starred Kenneth Horne, with Kenneth...
.
The Rambling Syd sketches generally began with a short discourse on the nature of the song which would inexorably follow; these discourses in their own right would have assured Rambling Syd Rumpo a place in radio history as masterpieces of suggestivity and double-entendre. For this, Rambling Syd was customarily introduced by Kenneth Horne
Kenneth Horne
Kenneth Horne was an English comedian and businessman. The son of a clergyman and politician, he combined a successful business career with regular broadcasting for the BBC. His first hit series Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh written with his co-star Richard Murdoch arose out of his wartime service as...
, who would set things up by (for example) inquiring as to the nature and origin of the song. Rambling Syd would (usually) respond with an "Ullo, mi dearios" before launching into the ensuing detailed explanation which left a great deal to the imagination.
The songs themselves pushed and extended boundaries of acceptable sexual suggestivity way beyond the narrow confines of a Sunday lunchtime radio slot, using nonsense (or little-known) words like 'moolies' and nadgers in suggestive contexts.
Williams later starred (with Leslie Phillips
Leslie Phillips
Leslie Samuel Phillips, CBE is an English actor with a highly recognisable upper class accent. Originally known for his work as a comedy actor, Phillips subsequently made the transition to character roles.-Early life:...
and others) in the short-lived Radio sketch show Oh, Get On with It (based on a pilot episode entitled Get On With It), which also featured appearances as Rambling Syd.
Many of the words used by Rambling Syd were invented by the Round The Horne scriptwriters Barry Took
Barry Took
Barry Took was an English comedian, writer and television presenter. He is best remembered in the UK for his weekly role as presenter of Points of View, a BBC TV programme in which viewers' letters criticising or praising the BBC were broadcast...
and Marty Feldman
Marty Feldman
Martin Alan "Marty" Feldman was an English comedy writer, comedian and actor who starred in a series of British television comedy shows, including At Last the 1948 Show, and Marty, which won two BAFTA awards and was the first Saturn Award winner for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Young...
, whilst some were existing words used in a suggestive context, such as 'artifacts' (often used in an archaeological context for things such as grave goods) and 'nadger', which had already appeared in The Goon Show
The Goon Show
The Goon Show was a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme...
.
An excerpt from a Christmas episode, Cinderella, first broadcast on Christmas Eve 1967, and rebroadcast in December 2009:
- Good King Boroslav looked out,
- on the night of grungers.
- Saw them wurdling round about,
- Armed with rubber plungers.
- Brightly shone their artefacts,
- Red their possets glowing.
- He knew not from whence they came, (switching back into suggestive accent)
- But 'e knew where they were going!
Memorable songs
- The Ballad of the Somerset Nog (to the tune of Widecombe FairWidecombe FairWidecombe Fair takes place annually on the second Tuesday in September, attracting thousands of visitors to the tiny Dartmoor village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor...
) - D'Ye Ken Jim Pubes (to the tune of D'ye Ken John Peel)
- Green Grow My Nadgers O! (to the tune of Green Grow The Rushes-O)
- The Ballad of the Woggler's Moulie (to the tune of Oh My Darling, ClementineOh My Darling, ClementineOh My Darling, Clementine is an American western folk ballad usually credited to Percy Montrose , although it is sometimes credited to Barker Bradford. The song is believed to have been based on another song called Down by the River Liv'd a Maiden by H. S...
) - The Taddle Gropers' Dance (to the tune of Here We Go Round The Mulberry BushHere We Go Round the Mulberry BushHere We Go Round the Mulberry Bush is a 1967 British film made based on the novel of the same name by Hunter Davies. It was listed to compete at the 1968 Cannes Film Festival, but the festival was cancelled due to the events of May 1968 in France....
) - What Shall We Do With The Drunken Nurker (to the tune of Drunken SailorDrunken SailorDrunken Sailor is a traditional sea shanty also known as What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?It begins with the question, "What shall we do with a drunken sailor, early in the morning?" Each verse thereafter suggests a method of sobering—or castigating, or simply abusing—the sailor.The song...
) - The Song Of The Bogle Clencher (to the tune of The Lincolnshire PoacherThe Lincolnshire Poacher"The Lincolnshire Poacher" is a traditional English folk song.The Lincolnshire Poacher can also refer to:*Lincolnshire Poacher , a numbers station*Lincolnshire Poacher , a type of cheese...
) - Twas On The Good Ship Habakkuk
- Clacton Bogle Picker's Lament
- Runcorn Splod Cobbler's Song
- Granny Went a-Wandering
- Song Of The Australian Outlaw
- The Black Grunger of Hounslow
- Gladys Is At It Again
- The Grommet Tinker's Song
- My Grussett Lies a Fallowing-oh
- Bind my Plooms with Silage
- The Russet-banger Ditty
- The Lung-Wormer's Gavotte
- Good King Boroslav