Mark Ryan emailed recently with a heartwarming story regarding one of Paul’s songs from the first Mungo Jerry album. He wrote:

“I’ve waited half a century to say thank you. I stole your lyrics from ‘Tramp’ to pass my English ‘O’ level in the 1970s. I was running out of time and still had to write a poem. So I stole your poetry. They gave me an “A. Sorry and thanks. I think I owe you a pint.“

Paul responded by saying:

“Glad the lyrics of my song got you an A. I got the inspiration when I was sleeping rough on a pathway under a bridge on the river Seine  in Paris  busking my way back to the UK after being released from Alicante Prison for singing in public. There was an old man lying a few metres from me, sipping a bottle of meths, wrapped in newspaper and cardboard to keep out the cold. I wrote the song the next day and funny enough played it for the first time for some years in an ‘open-mike’ night where a couple of the organisers said it reminded them of Ralph McTell‘s ‘Streets of London’. I actually released the song sometime before that and it was supposed to be on the ‘b side’ of ‘In The Summertime’ but like an idiot I wanted it on the album, and as a result lost a fortune.”

Mark later wrote to acknowledge the ‘wonderfully bohemian story’ behind the song and that his partner Kate had seen the tears in his eyes.
‘Tramp’ has a very special meaning for Mark and remains a strong favourite among all fans.

If you have any memories or stories you would like to share regarding Paul’s songs, gigs or other events we would love to hear from you.