Today’s selection is the 365th piece I’m posting to this blog. If you’ve followed since the start, or just for a while, or you occasionally drop in, thanks for joining me here to share in music and a few stories!
“You’ll Never Walk Alone” was the biggest hit released by Gerry and the Pacemakers. The singer and bandleader, Gerry Marsden, had heard the song, a Rogers and Hammerstein number from the movie musical, Carousel, in a Liverpool movie theatre and told his band he wanted to record it. They released their cover of it in 1963, and it was one of their first hit songs.
Like the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers were from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein (1934-1967), and recorded by George Martin (1926-2016).
Marsden died yesterday at age 78. My sweety suggested the song as a post for today.
Reading up on Gerry and the Pacemakers, I was reminded that Marsden wrote “Ferry Cross the Mersey,” which the band recorded and released in the United Kingdom in 1964. I remember hearing that song in my head as Sweety and I took the actual ferry across the Mersey in 2012 when on a visit with my relatives in Liverpool and Birkenhead.
“You’ll Never Walk Alone” is also the anthem of Liverpool Football Club, a team that many of my relatives over there and a son here follow (with one notable exception — a cousin devoted to Everton FC). I can imagine a crowded Anfield Stadium with the fans all belting out the song at the start of the match. What a motivating experience that would be for the team and a stirring event to witness.
Tragically, due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the stands will again be silent at Liverpool’s next game; fans will not be able to join in song and celebrate the singer whose rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” came to represent the spirit of their beloved team.
“You’ll Never Walk Alone” is a song of showing perseverance and unity during adversity, so is perhaps a good song for our times, as well.
Now you know a little about why this is my song of the day for today. Thanks for joining me here, and please enjoy.
Here’s the video for the song from the Gerry and the Pacemakers official YouTube channel:
