Description
John A. Glover-Kind (1880-1918) wrote the classic number I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside in 1907 and it became extremely popular after the music hall comedian and singer Mark Sheridan recorded it in 1909. The song remains almost a signature tune of many UK seaside resorts.
The song was written at a time when the British working classes flocked to English seaside towns such as Blackpool and Morecambe for day trips and annual holidays. The song speaks of the singer’s love for the seaside, and his wish to return there for his summer holidays each year:
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.
I do like to be beside the sea.
I do like to stroll along the prom, prom, prom,
Where the brass bands play Tiddly-om-pom-pom.
So just let me be beside the seaside!
I’ll be beside myself with glee
And there’s lots of girls beside, I should like to be beside
Beside the seaside, beside the sea!
In this arrangement the upper part may be played by either a flute or an oboe. The parts are identical save from a few octave changes.
And here’s a wonderfully fun performance by members of the Orchestra of the Swan, produced specially for young children and those with special educational needs. ‘I do like to be beside the seaside’ starts at 15:07
