Boys Will Be Boys
In the 1980s, Leon would be a regular performer and supporter of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, for which he wrote at least one song especially. His performance in 1980 included this new song, which was duly released on the festival's Canadian LP. It remained unavailable elsewhere for about a year, when another live version was released on For the Good of the Nation, bringing it to the UK for the first time.
In the song, Leon pokes fun at the traditional way boys and girls are treated in kids' books, and illustrates how they are brought up in such an image. (It's no coincidence that the names of the children are Peter and Janey, pointing at the Ladybird "Peter and Jane" series.) The song takes a humorous twist as the little girl starts boxing her brother, who prefers pushing a pram to fighting.
A later studio recording was made, to secure the song in Leon's latter-day CD discography.
In the song, Leon pokes fun at the traditional way boys and girls are treated in kids' books, and illustrates how they are brought up in such an image. (It's no coincidence that the names of the children are Peter and Janey, pointing at the Ladybird "Peter and Jane" series.) The song takes a humorous twist as the little girl starts boxing her brother, who prefers pushing a pram to fighting.
A later studio recording was made, to secure the song in Leon's latter-day CD discography.
"This is the song of the book, or rather series of books from which my children learned to read at primary school - the Ladybird books with their imaginative titles: 3a, 4b, 6c..." - LR (sleevenotes to Guess What They're Selling at the Happiness Counter, 1992)
Recordings
Version 1 (1980)
Version 2 (1981) Second live version. Includes lengthy introduction by Leon
Version 3 (1992) Studio recording with Martin Carthy
- Vancouver Folk Music Festival Canadian LP of live material by various artists
Version 2 (1981) Second live version. Includes lengthy introduction by Leon
Version 3 (1992) Studio recording with Martin Carthy