5090 by FAWM: "(Sunderland's got) Jackie from the bank"

(Sunderland's got) Jackie from the bank

Liner Notes

This was one of these songs that has been niggling at my brain for a couple of days and I just had to get it out of my head.

General background here https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/04/rapid-results-uk-ballot-counters-braced-for-race-to-declare-first-winner
with more about Jackie here https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/sally-nugent-bbc-election-sunderland-29478138

It's ridiculous. #acousticonetake

Lyrics

General election night
Some of the seats were gonna be tight
Though overall we were quite sure
The Tories would be out the door

The TV coverage struggling
To find anything interesting
They hone in on the hard-fought race
To bring the results in first

Newcastle came first the last two votes
And Sunderland's the fastest yet
Northumberland is third in line
And newcomer Blyth has hopes so high

Sunderland's got Jackie from the bank
With her crack team of counters; you've never seen the like of it
Sunderland's got Jackie from the bank
And teenagers running ballot boxes, dressed in their PE kit

The tension's high on BBC
As coverage has nowt to say
The exit polls are looking good
But hours before we'll see for sure

So they go to Blyth and Sunderland
With Naga and Sally speculating
What makes for a good speed count
And which north-east town will win out

Comments

@berni1954 7w

I wasn't in the UK during the election, but this song makes up for that. 😉 You really capture the feelings of the night, canny lass!

I love the North East I used to have a lot of contact with some great folk singers from the region - Jim Mageean, The Wilsons, The Unthanks etc. I sang with Shanty group The Keelers when the tall ships first came to Newcastle. Fond memories of the era.

@sheslin 9w

Lovely to hear another song about the election - I enjoyed David Taro's also. I love a nice acoustic one-take of a freshly written song, and this one certainly sounds magical. I don't totally get what it is about, but I love the energy in your guitar strumming, and the rapid fire vocals really convey the whole election night buzz which I can totally relate to.

@davidtaro 10w

Haha, what an excellent ode to a beautifully niche and weird part of election night! Naga looked incredibly cheesed off that her count lost the race. Love the frantic strumming, which really conveys the (totally uneccessary) urgency with which the whole thing is carried out. Also, for some reason I can't quite put my finger on, I love the way you sing 'Sunderland' :)

@val 10w

Probably felt good to get all that out of your head. Your voice sounds amazing as always.

@everythingben 10w

I think you've nicely documented one of the most ludicrous aspects of election night!

@atitlan 10w

Brilliant song from meagre subject matter - your lyrics captured all the 'action' and your vocal delivery is great. I remember BBC coverage spending about an hour with their fake presenter rivalry (ah, Naga and Sally as mentioned in your song) and constant mentions of Jackie from the bank.

@beacon 10w

What an interesting story, and thanks for the links. Reminds me of Dixfield Notch, New Hampshire, which has a voting booth for each of its 8 voters at midnight on voting day, and they have the first official results by 12:10 am. Great for putting all the details in there to make it come alive.

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(Sunderland's got) Jackie from the bank

Liner Notes

Lyrics

Comments

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