Underground is a place of “enchantment” and “magic”.

Buried deep within Scotland’s cultural life is a world underground. It’s a place of “magic” that “can thrill you through and through”; “there’s places far away like a song that’s sweetly sung” but “unless you looked you’d never notice it at all”.

“There’s Partick Cross and Cessnock, Hillhead and Merkland Street,
George’s Cross and Govan Cross where all the people meet
West Street, Shields Road, the train goes round and round
You’ve never lived unless you’ve been on The Glasgow Underground.”

From the 1950s to 90s music hall duo Francie and Josie would take you to a world free from the everyday troubles of city toil and strife to a wonderful, happy, care free place- perhaps elixir-fuelled.

“I know a lot of folks go to fancy places at the Fair,
They like to sail on steamers or go hurtling through the air
But I’ve a favourite route that goes to many ports of call
Although unless you looked you’d never notice it at all

Chorus:
There’s Partick Cross and Cessnock, Hillhead and Merkland Street…

They tell me that Majorca is a dandy place to be
Or Switzerland or Italy or even “gay Paree”,
There’s many lovely beauty spots upon the Clyde of Firth
But I would rather always travel doon below the earth.

Chorus:
There’s Partick Cross and Cessnock, Hillhead and Merkland Street…

There’s names that ring like magic that can thrill you through and through
They seem to call you back wi’ an enchantment never knew
There’s places far away are like a song that’s sweetly sung
You’ll roll them round your mooth and feel them slidin’ aff yer tongue.

Chorus:
There’s Partick Cross and Cessnock, Hillhead and Merkland Street…

I never liked the stourie winds, the showers or the snaw,
The sun can get too burny and the sleet’s no nice at a’
But I don’t mind the climate now as on my way I go
The dolce vita’s waiting there a hundred feet below.

Chorus:
There’s Partick Cross and Cessnock, Hillhead and Merkland Street,
George’s Cross and Govan Cross where all the people meet
West Street, Shields Road, the train goes round and round
You’ve never lived unless you’ve been on The Glasgow Underground.

‘The Glasgow Underground Song’

performed by Francie and Josie

written by Cliff Hanley