In memory of that lost age when boys grew up playing with Meccano
and making things out of odds and ends, and when the radio was a
huge box in the corner that had to have time to warm up, and had a
glowing "dial" engraved with the names of far away and unlikely
places.

Crystal Sets
(Tune Gaudete)
Words Jim Lawton
dedicated to David Williams

The airwave, the airwave,
Crystal sets start us.
A cat's whisker lets you play the airwave.

The airwave, the airwave,
Crystal sets start us.
A cat's whisker lets you play the airwave.

First you need an antenna,
Hang it from the roof-ridge,
Let's you hear the distant voice,
Of Hilversum or Droitwich.

#chorus

If you want a simple set,
All you need's a diode,
Fix it too a plastic board,
Or a piece of plywood.

#chorus

If you want to amplify,
Then you need a triode,
Add it as a second stage,
To your first-stage diode.

#chorus

Try to build a superhet,
The name has such a bold ring,
Never do quite finish it,
There's far too much sold'ring.

#chorus

Mum won't have it in the house,
Sling it in the attic,
Find it when you're fifty-two,
And get all nostalgic.

#chorus x 2