Mum would shout and scream when dad would come home drunk
   When she asked him where he'd been, he'd say "Up the Clissold Arms"
   Chatting up some huzzy, but he didn't mean no harm
   Sunday morning drives, just to get away
   Ramsgate or Southend, it would always be a laugh
   Paddling by the sea, trousers rolled up to the knees
   Walking by the sea, full of dreams, eating ice cream
   Grandma's burnt her cheeks getting brown, turn her over
  
   Fortis Green, memories of days when I was young
   It can only be a memory. A time that now has gone
  
   There's Uncle Frank tellin' stories from the war
   Frightening all the kids, yet we'd heard it all before
   While the bombs were droppin' round, there were parties underground
   Aunt Lil's at the gin, while Mum's singing songs
   From the 40's when variety, Max Miller was going strong
   All the characters are gone, oh, what a blooming shame
   I wish that it could be like it was in the old days
   Sat on Auntie's knee, toasting bread in the fire-place
  
   Fortis Green, memories of days when I was young
   It can only be a memory. A time that now has gone
   Memories of Fortis Green, when I was just a lad
   Collecting bottle tops, threepenny bits. Fishing with my Dad
  
   Sister's in the doorway, snogging with her bloke
   Scared to put the cat out 'case I put him off his stroke
   But she wouldn't be denied, I got a shilling as a bribe
   I used to do my courting on an old kitchen chair
   The girls were all so sporting, but I only really cared for my little Katie-Sue
   There was nothing she wouldn't do
   Sunday after tea we would listen to the wireless
   Hancock's half-hour, Luxembourg. We'd sit for hours
  
   Fortis Green, memories of days when I was young
   It can only be a memory. A time that now has gone
   Fortis Green, memories of days when I was young
   Collecting bottle tops, threepenny bits. Fishing with my Dad
  
   That's it