Superb song- captures the essence of England's best city. The world's first industrial city and the new digital heart of the country. Fastest growing city in the UK with the best vibe.
Im from Withington Manchester but live in the States now, Philadelphia. This song sums up Manchester perfectly. The people are the best in the world. The best humour.
I used to live on Mauldeth Road West just before Princess Parkway and went to Old Moat Primary School, my Mum and Sisters still live in Withington, Dennison , Longport and Minehead Avenue, many happy times in Withington Baths, Village too .
I left England more than 40 years ago to make a new life in Mexico. However, my heart still lingers on in The North (Marple, about a 25 min. train ride from Piccadilly). I studied in Manchester and this song breaks my heart, especially when we take students from our English school here in Tabasco on a biannual trip to take a photo in our logo (Marple Viaduct /Marple School of English) and we stay a couple of nights in Manchester…
From Northenden to Partington, it's rain From Altrincham to Chadderton, it's rain From Moss Side to Swinton, hardly Spain It's a picture postcard of 'Wish they never came' And whilst that deckchair in the garden it makes no sense It doesn't spoil the view or cause offense Those Floridas, Bavarias and Kents Make gentlemen wear shorts but don't make gents So convertible stay garage bound Save after sun for later If rain makes Britain great Then Manchester is greater As you dry your clothes once again Upon the radiator What makes Britain great Makes Manchester yet greater From Cheetham Hill to Wythenshawe, it's rain Gorton, Salford, Sale, pretty much the same As I'm caught up without my jacket once again The raindrops on my face play a sweet refrain And as winter turns reluctantly to spring For the clouds above the city there's one last fling Swallows build their nests, chaffinch sing And the sun strolls into town like long lost king So convertible stay garage bound Save after sun for later If rain makes Britain great Then Manchester is greater As you dry your clothes once again Upon the radiator What makes Britain great Makes Manchester yet greater And the mood of this whole sodden place is melancholy Like the sun came out to play, shone through the clouds But dropped its lolly And everyone looks so disappointed, so, so sorry Like the rain blew into town, kidnapped the sun And stole its brolly So convertible stay garage bound Save after sun for later If rain makes Britain great Then Manchester is greater As you dry your clothes once again Upon the radiator What makes Britain great Makes Manchester yet greater
Hey, hey hey guys! This is not a football song - it is a celebration of the city of Manchester and not one of its football teams - in fact it is more than that - it is a celebration of Britain, in all its sullen, sodden, windswept, lachrymose beauty. Its about our weather, our humour, our approach to life. So instead of concentrating on the things that divide us, lets look at the things that connect us, on the things that tie us together because, despite our differences, we are all one people.
I miss Manchester too. I wasn't there long time but I have lot of memories from there. My daughter first steps and walks in Heaton park. Just simple life... Miss those days a lot
MANCHESTER: Bombarded, precipitated on frequently, targeted, belittled, loved, hated, rich, poor, fantastically diverse, robust, progressive whilst steadfast and without doubt: GREATER! ( with a song dedicated to this fantastic place by a humble man from Hull, thank you Paul Heaton! ) FOREVER MY HOME AND WHERE MY HEART IS.
I m a German that lives now in f.. Portugal since 20 years. My hometown in Germany was like Manchester a rainy part of Germany. Now I hear that song twice a day and remembers me the rainy days when I'm in the sun. The song gives me a feeling that I can't describe but I understand completely the song and never been in UK. I change in my mind Manchester with Münster.
I used to live on Princess Road in what used to be called Chorlton-cum-Hardy, not far from what used to be Mersey Hotel/The Snooty Fox/Mersey Lights. Brings back childhood memories of Moss Side and Wythenshaw. My Gran used to live in Cheetham Hill. I was born in Clayton. My dad was a bus driver and now I follow in his footsteps (tyre tracks) but in Exeter, Devon.
It must be the sea air down here Brian! As a kid in the 60`s I was brought up in Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, at one time it was the largest council estate in Europe. I remember the Snooty Fox. I have lived in Heaton Chapel, Chorlton, Edgeley, Bolton and Leigh, to name but a few. I loved Manchester in the 80`s and 90`s...a great time for music and the Madchester scene. Circumstances changed which then brought me down to Exmouth!
@@brian99ify When people say its a small world...one of my neighbours is from Breightmet in Bolton and a guy who works in our local shop is from Atherton!
@@999billywhizz Yes, when I first started at Stagecoach here in Exeter back in 2008 (my father worked for Greater Manchester Transport out of Fredericks Road depot as a bus driver), I met up with a guy who's father was my dad's inspector!
From Northenden to Partington, it?s rain From Altrincham to Chadderton, it?s rain From Moss Side to Swinton, hardly Spain It?s a picture postcard of 'Wish they never came' And whilst that deckchair in the garden it makes no sense It doesn?t spoil the view or cause offense Those Floridas, Bavarias and Kents Make gentlemen wear shorts but don?t make gents So convertible stay garage bound Save after sun for later If rain makes Britain great Then Manchester is greater As you dry your clothes once again Upon the radiator What makes Britain great Makes Manchester yet greater From Cheetham Hill to Wythenshawe, it?s rain Gorton, Salford, Sale, pretty much the same As I?m caught up without my jacket once again The raindrops on my face play a sweet refrain And as winter turns reluctantly to spring For the clouds above the city there?s one last fling Swallows build their nests, chaffinch sing And the sun strolls into town like long lost king So convertible stay garage bound Save after sun for later If rain makes Britain great Then Manchester is greater As you dry your clothes once again Upon the radiator What makes Britain great Makes Manchester yet greater And the mood of this whole sodden place is melancholy Like the sun came out to play, shone through the clouds But dropped its lolly And everyone looks so disappointed, so, so sorry Like the rain blew into town, kidnapped the sun And stole its brolly So convertible stay garage bound Save after sun for later If rain makes Britain great Then Manchester is greater As you dry your clothes once again Upon the radiator What makes Britain great Makes Manchester yet greater Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Dave Rotheray / Paul Heaton
Just say Paul Heaton at the 02 London last night. Hey performed this. I had never heard it before but I can't get it out of my head now. Great song from a great song writer
I left Swinton 60 years ago to come to Canada, But I left my heart there, I still miss home greatly even after all these years, Swinton will ALWAYS be home to me.
Canada is fab, though! Did you know the Reidys in North Drive? My mum has lived in southern England for about 50 years but has never forgotten Manchester/Swinton
England's finest contemporary songwriter, celebrating the great unwashed. The cranky old bugger consistently takes me back to my roots. Thanks Paul, I had the good luck to catch you in Ullapool at the Arch on your 50/50 tour with a crowd of about 50, purely by accident when i was travelling through after 6 years in Saudi. A great evening
Dear lord how many years ago are you talking? It has been a derelict shell for years and was demolished a while back now. There isn't a single pub in the area now.
I admit that is a new one on me I was living in the area at the time, and I still am and no one I knew though tis was anything special just your average local boozer. Other than Seacombe and Toxteth I have yet to meet a more upfront bunch of people. The only thing that makes me regret moving here is that the ones who were kids when I moved here are now adults some of them remember me, though to be fair I am hard to forget given how horrific I look, and hard to believe even like/d me. Only because it reminds me how old I am, especially as some of them are parents now. :-)
Ha ha - the young ones snogging the faces off each other in the corner of the pub!! Reminds me of being a teen/twenty-something in the 90s! This is my first time hearing/seeing this and I love it! I live on the Isle of Skye and it rains like a bastard, but this could be about any place in Britain and that's why it's a great song! Love that wee Paul Heaton too....I could wrap him in a blanket and cuddle him all day long! Rawr!
I lived in Colly when this was filmed, how the eff did I miss that going on? I have lived here for over 20 years. It is not the best area stat wise, as it is in the top 1% of the most deprived areas in the UK, but what makes it a great area to live in is that when you are in need your neighbours are the first to come to your aid. Due to the bedroom tax I had to move from one of the tower blocks to what is now my home, while I was decorating, and this was before I moved in, I had neighbours knocking and asking me if I was short of any furniture or fittings (curtains), or just knocking to say hello and introduce themselves. That never happened anywhere else I have lived.
Nice one Paul.Paints a picture of our city - proper characters, top pubs, hard estates and, yes rain - without being patronising. You deserve to be an honourary Manc! Love it.
@@jamiedavies4545 like any other city it does have a few dodgy areas. But if your visiting the city centre you’ll be totally fine. Take care and enjoy the best city in the world
From a younger Beautiful South fan from MIDDLETON, MANCHESTER. Greetings. Northern Solidality :) it may be rainy up here but we ARE united through thick and thin. Rather be here than in London, i came back from a day there and my tracheotomy tube was FILLED with soot. No offense.
Technically you would need to book for Collyhurst and believe me what you see in the vid sadly no longer exists. I have lived here for more than half my life and I love the area as it is the people that make it. Sadly we can not support a chippy let alone a pub at the moment. That may change but it also includes a change of the area as the council want to socially cleans the area as we are an embarrassment to them.
@@Dermacrosis Oh well I guess it’s back to Cumbernauld, Scotland then. I must say I enjoy the scenic back to nature vibe that the town and its gentle folk possess.
That looks like collyhurst they filmed, if so, pulled down now. Saw the lead singer in a supermarket in didsbury a few years ago shopping and stood next to me. Would have asked for his autograph but he looked abit miserable lol
Manchester gets around the same rainfall as Liverpool. It's about average for the UK. Cardiff, Bristol, Sheffield and the whole of Scotland gets more rain than Manchester. Our rain is just that bit more special ;)
