The famous song "The Ballad of Barry and Freda" or "Let's Do It" taken from An Audience With Victoria Wood in 1988. Click here to see the 2009 version... • Victoria Wood - Lets D...
Freda and Barry sat one night The sky was clear. The stars were bright The wind was soft. The moon was up Freda drained her cocoa cup She licked her lips. She felt sublime She switched off Gardeners' Question Time Barry cringed in fear and dread As Freda grabbed his tie, and said: Let's do it! Let's do it Do it while the mood is right! I'm feeling Appealing I've really got an appetite I'm on fire With desire I could handle half the tenors in a male voice choir Let's do it! Let's do it tonight! But he said: I can't do it I can't do it I don't believe in too much sex This fashion For passion Turns us into nervous wrecks No derision! My decision I'd rather watch The Spinners on the television I can't do it I can't do it tonight So she said: Let's do it! Let's do it Do it till our hearts go boom! Go native Creative Living in the living room This folly Is jolly Bend me over backwards on me Hostess trolley Let's do it! Let's do it tonight! But he said: I can't do it I can't do it Me 'eavy breathing days have gone I'm older Feel colder It's other things that turn me on I'm imploring: I'm boring Let me read this catalogue on vinyl flooring I can't do it I can't do it tonight So she said: Let's do it! Let's do it Have a crazy night of love! I'll strip bare I'll just wear Stilettos and an oven glove Don't starve a Girl of a palaver Dangle from the wardrobe in your Balaclava Let's do it! Let's do it tonight! But he said: I can't do it I can't do it I know I'd only get it wrong Don't angle For me to dangle Me arms 'ave never been that strong Stop pouting Stop shouting You know I pulled a muscle when I did that grouting I can't do it I can't do it tonight Let's do it! Let's do it Share a night of wild romance Frenetic Poetic! This could be your last big chance To quote Milton To eat Stilton To roll in gay abandon on the tufted Wilton Let's do it! Let's do it tonight! I can't do it I can't do it I've got other little jobs on hand Don't grouse Around the house I've got a busy evening planned Stop nagging I'm flagging You know as well as I do that the pipes want lagging I can't do it I can't do it tonight Let's do it! Let's do it While I'm really in the mood! Three cheers! It's years Since I caught you even semi-nude Be drastic Gymnastic Wear your baggy Y-fronts with the loose elastic Let's do it! Let's do it tonight! I can't do it I can't do it I must refuse to get undressed I feel silly It's too chilly To go without me thermal vest Don't choose me Don't use me Me mother sent a note to say you must excuse me I can't do it I can't do it tonight Let's do it! Let's do it! I feel I absolutely must I won't exempt you Want to tempt you Want to drive you mad with lust No cautions Just contortions! Smear an avocado on me lower portions Let's do it! Let's do it tonight! I can't do it I can't do it It's really not my cup of tea I'm harassed Embarrassed I wish you hadn't picked on me No dramas! Give me me pyjamas The only girl I'm mad about is Judith Chalmers I can't do it I can't do it tonight Let's do it! Let's do it! I really want to run amok Let's wiggle Let's jiggle Let's really make the rafters rock Be mighty Be flighty Come and melt the buttons on me flame-proof nightie Let's do it! Let's do it tonight! Let's do it! Let's do it! I really want to rant and rave Let's go Cause I know Just how I want you to behave: Not bleakly Not meekly Beat me on the bottom with a Woman's Weekly Let's do it! Let's do it tonight!
Thanks for this. There has always been a few lines I could not make out. Something made me come to watch this this evening. The energy and perfection of this piece always leaves me in complete awe :)
have you tried singin it ? i often wonder why she bounces on her seat ,its to get air in her lungs ,its hard man well hard to get all that out & play the tune ,she was amazing
I'm 16 and in January 2024 when I first heard of Victoria Wood my dad showed me this song and I died of laughter, then I figured out she died and just burst into tears, she is a pure genius and a comedy legend
I live in her hometown and we have a statue of her, dressed as she was in this performance as it was widely regarded as her best and most well- known. She made some things you can watch, try Dinnerladies if you haven't seen it. 🙂
When I was 16 I was lucky enough to see her in concert, that was a very long time ago but it's so nice to see that people are still discovering her now. She meant so much to so many of us and I'm watching this yet again with tears in my eyes myself. Take care and I hope you enjoy other things by Victoria if you watch them in the future.
I would personally say that she is one of the funniest comedians ever - so silly, but in a very educated way, and could be smutty but without coming over as being rude or swearing. Such a wonderful lady, and such a shame that she is no longer with us. I would have loved to have seen her live. 😢
The fact that she performed this in the company of fellow professionals & made them laugh so voraciously proves her true genius. Also, that it was almost 5 minutes is something many songwriters could aspire to.
I've watched this so many times and I still end up crying with laughter but end up with a tear or two in my eyes knowing she's not with us anymore. She went beyond the realms of legend. For the 27 dislikes that have appeared I doubt any comedy would make you laugh. God bless Victoria Wood
The problem (and very sad thing) is that when we lose people like this there aren't any to come along and replace them. Where are the Tommy Coopers, the Ken Dodds, the Benny Hills and so many greats like them?
People like you are why YT felt they had to protect everyone from the nasty dislike option. I LOVE VW but will defend 100% the rights of anyone to dislike something I don't But now they can't because of butt hurt snowflakes.
It's hard enough to write a song over five minutes, but for a stand-up comedian to write this iconic song is something future comedians should learn from And to perform that well in front of likeminded comedians takes skill.
she's an excellent painist. and this is a masterclass in comic drawing room songs. she references old music hall greats like gracie fields and noel coward but delivers it in the classical musical brillliance of cole porter while making it about the mores of english culture in the 1980s. its really clever and lovable.
I was going to point out she did manage to hurt her finger as a joke, but it wouldn't be funny, your comment is 7 years old, and two people have already added mediocre at best comments, so never mind
Definitely one of the jewels in Victoria's crown is "The Ballad Of Barry & Freda". Each verse going over the top, her performance getting more and more manic till she hits the climax at the end. An absolutely astonishing talent gone way too soon. We miss you, Victoria Wood!
Fantastic. What a star she was. Lost too young. Julie Walters and Victoria, Acorn antiques with Ms Imrie the wonderful actress in Nanny McPhee. Thanks for the memories.❤
Brilliant. Made in 1988 for LWT. I remember reading an interview that Victoria did a few years before she died. She said that the Ballad of Barry and Freda "was a joy to write, but an absolute bugger to perform" The tempo goes up a notch with each verse. And she was pregnant at the time.
@@Monothefox The pitch going up strains the voice all the more, but it also means that the accompaniment lies under the fingers completely differently.
I can remember laughing helplessly at this as a kid (though I didn’t understand it all at the time). ‘Bend me over backwards on me ‘ostess trolley...’ 😂 Watching it now, it’s genius, actually. Her observations were always spot on and I love how good-matured her humour was, gently poking fun rather than excoriating her subjects like some comics. Very talented lady, and sadly missed. RIP Victoria ❤️
Same. I knew it was rude, but I didn’t understand why. I just thought it was really funny! Same with Lily Savage’s Marlene Deitrich “there’s a lamp post attached to my mac” song. I thought it was one of the most hilarious things I’d ever watched as a kid. I watched it again when Paul O’Grady passed away & noticed all of the lesbian references that went completely over my head as a child. RIP to Victoria & Lily/Paul. Two delightful comedy legends.
BRILLIANT, brilliant, brilliant writing..." Smear an avocado on mi' lower portions..." AND .."Beat me on the bottom with a woman's weekly...." Just make me howl with laughter... Oh Victoria Wood you utter genius... :0)x
"She switched off Gardener's Question Time" - isn't that so British! Definitely one of the classics of the 20th century. I want it at my funeral, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that!
Oh my, I'd forgotten how funny that was. Thank you Vernon Kay on R2 this morning for reminding us and suggesting we came here. Such a talented women. One of a kind.
Comedy genius, there was nothing she couldn’t turn her hand too! National treasure in every sense of the word, this song has me howling everytime, no other comedian has even come close
The Unmistakable Brilliant Comic Genius Of Miss Victoria Wood. Thank You And God Bless Miss Wood For This And Many More Monumental Memories You Have Left Us All To Enjoy.
Still laugh as hard now as I did when I first seen this on TV years ago when it first came out. Every verse just gets better and better. Laughing all the way through it but in the back of your head you still can't believe she's passed away ❤️❤️❤️
This never, ever fails to bring me to tears of laughter. Every time from the very first to just now. This wonderful lady was a genius and a legend. There are no words to say how much I miss her.
Well here I am at 3am in the morning listening to this, all because for some reason I woke up and this song was going round in my head, not Oasis or chilli peppers but Victoria wood! How random but she was brilliant and so funny! I first heard this at around the age of 12 and I'm 42 now. It will never get old even the womans weekly is still going I think?? RIP Victoria 🙏 never forgotten!
got to say similar, i was walking out of the front door of a store today and the line "beat me on the bottom with a womans weekly" popped in to my head for NO reason whatsoever!
Whenever I feel down I give this a quick play. The woman was a comedy genius. Unfortunately I am of a certain age and I recognise nearly everyone in the audience and they are all media types, producers actors and even her long time partner Julie Walters and she has them all in stitches. Simply the funniest song I have ever heard.
Her piano accompaniment sounds simple enough, but she plays it in several keys. And all the time singing this song with so many verses -- sounds as if it must've been a bear to memorise.
This lady is a true comedy genius she was totally amazing and work still remains and makes us laugh so much I remember my mum watching this and laughing so much she was crying with laughter. Thank you so much Victoria Wood ❤❤❤❤❤❤
A friend of mine just mentioned grouting, and my mind instantly came here! And just watched the whole two seasons of Dinnerladies...what a talent and immensely missed :( x
Karen Nuckley someone referenced this in a review of the terrible 50 shades movie. I had totally forgotten it...its so funny...and she has a great voice and can really play
Just incredible talent. Her vocal diction and piano accompaniment alone are exceptional but add all her energy this is a standout performance. An inspiration to so many.
