big ships

[dumdeedum]

the song the big ship sails down the alley alley o which film did it appear as the title track.

[jno]

A Taste of Honey? Sorry if I'm misremembering, it's been a long time...

[gary baldy]

No you are right jno!
Why - you may all ask?
Because (seeing as you asked) the song was written to celebrate the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal which of course features heavily in the film.

Another fascinating fact this time tomorrow viewers!

[Lakeslass]

I've been away and just seen the question about "the alley, alley o. We sang this whilst playing a game when I was a child. Can anyone tell me the words please. I remember that "The 20th of December" came into our version, though I have heard others.

[jno]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/pdf/wigglewaggle_summer_2006_programme06.pdf

Gary I notice that the claim that it was written for the Manchester ship canal has now been removed from the Wikipedia article on the song. (It used to be there.) Do you personally know it to be correct?