Liverpool Lullaby

Album: Surround Yourself with Cilla (1969)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Stan Kelly-Bootle will not go down in history as a prolific songwriter, but although he did enjoy some success as a folk musician, his day job was in the then nascent computer industry in which he enjoyed considerable success.

    "Liverpool Lullaby" is by far his most endearing and successful song. Recorded by the only person who could have recorded it, Cilla Black, with an arpeggio introduction and a full string arrangement, it was produced by George Martin of Beatles fame on their label, Parlophone backed by "Conversations," which was technically the A-side.
  • This song is also known by the far from endearing title "Oh You Are A Mucky Kid," from its first line. It remains to be seen how truly it reflects the life of an oppressed working-class Northern housewife. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments: 5

  • Ken Gordon from LiverpoolIt was the Lune and not the loom in liverpool lullaby my sister worked there
  • James from Liverpool I always think of my own long now departed
    Mum when I listen to this
  • Jayeff from Goteborg (ex-bristol)Strawberry jam tufts in your hair
    When Littlewoods provide the cash (Liverpool-based football pools - i.e. gambling - company)
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 25th 1963, Cilla Black appeared at the Cavern Club in Liverpool for the first time...
    Nine months later in October her debut charted record, "Love of the Loved", would enter the United Kingdom's Top 40 chart...
    Exactly six years later on January 25th, 1969 she married her manager, Bobby Willis, it was also the day of Mr. Willis' 27th birthday...
    R.I.P Ms. Black {1943 - 2015} and Bobby Willis {1942 - 1999}...
    {See next post below}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm
    British singer and television host Cilla Black was discovered dead Sunday morning, August 2nd, 2015 at her summer home in Estepona, Spain...
    She was 72...
    An investigation is ongoing but it is believed she died of natural causes...
    Born Priscilla White in 1943 in Liverpool, Cilla worked as a hat check girl at the city's famous Cavern Club where she became friends with many of the up-and-coming stars, including the Beatles...
    Invited to perform from time-to-time she caught the eye of many, including the promoter of the Casanova Club, who hired her to perform, songwriter Bobby Willis-- who eventually married her (he died in 1999) and Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who signed her as one of his clients...
    A magazine article mistakenly called her "Cilla Black" and she decided to use that as her stage name...
    Signed to the Beatles label, Parlophone, in 1963, Cilla's debut with "Love Of The Loved" three weeks later was inauspicious (#35), but her follow-up with the Dionne Warwicke tune, "Anyone Who Had A Heart," soared to #1 in England and was followed by the chart-topper "You're My World" --both in 1964...
    Cilla was signed to Capitol, the Beatles label in America, as well, though "You're My World" proved to be her only top 75 hit in the states (#26-1964)...
    In the U.K., however, she amassed nine more top ten records, including "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (#2-1965), "Conversations" (#3-1969) and "Something Tells Me" (#3-1971). In 1968, she hosted her own variety TV series for the BBC entitled "Cilla", it ran 66 episodes over the next 8 years...
    She appeared in "Cilla's Comedy Six" and "Cilla's World Of Comedy" as a actress for the network in 1975 and 1976...
    She also hosted the shows "Blind Date" for eight years and "Surprise Surprise" for seven years for London Weekend Television...
    Her autobiography, "What's It All About," was published in 2003...
    May she R.I.P.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Richie McDonald of Lonestar

Richie McDonald of LonestarSongwriter Interviews

Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.