Some of the nicest memories are being by the beach in Margate, Natal, South Africa. Every couple of years our parents would take us to the sea. There was such a nice vacation feeling down there. I saw the Cliff Richard movie of ‘Summer Holiday’ on TV in Canada in about 1980 . It was fun.
This was a hit song when I was a kid. I particularly like the verse where it says: “Ag pleez Deddy won’t you take us off to Durban, it’s only eight hours in the Chevrolet. Spans of sea and sand and sun, and fish in the aquarium, it’s a lekker place for a holiday.” We lived in a land locked country, so to go to the sea was a very big thrill. Unfortunately I don’t approve of some of the words in the song. When I sing it, I change the words. Here is Jeremy Taylor sing a part of his song.
I mentioned this one in Pat Boone’s page, but it fits in here too. It is still one of my favorite love songs. I often used to quote an English poet and say: “I long to go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky, and all I ask is a tall ship, and a star to steer her by.” I have just found out that the poet’s name in John Masefield, and he says: “I must go down to the sea again.”
I was working at a sign writing shop in about 1959 when I first heard this song. It seemed so fantastic. I had never heard of the Beach Boys before. This is one of the all time great songs.
Beyond the reef – Andy Williams
I heard Andy sing this song on the radio, and bought the record.
The pictures on this version are so beautiful. Such beautiful sea scenes. Anyway, you can click on many different singers doing this song.
I have the movie and a tape of this, and it is nice.
I like the pictures in Billy’s version. Nice music too.
This song is on other sections too, but it reminds me of vacation time by the sea.
I mentioned earlier how our parents used to take us on vacation to Margate in South Africa, so I have put on a link here so that you can see some of the places where I have been. Hope you enjoy the pictures.
Some of the songs that I listed on my sites have been taken off the net due to copyright problems or something. I also have a Gospel web site. If you want to check it out, go to: http://countrygospelandbible.com/