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6.28pm
20 February 2014
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I always thought “The Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp” was either inspired by Francis Bacon, the 20th century painter, or by Francis Bacon, the 17th century philosopher. I thought Harrison was making a joke, a play on words based on the idea of crispy bacon, particularly in view of his song “Piggies ,” the last line of which sees the animals “clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon,” and while I was dead wrong I have to imagine that others have made the same error for the same reasons.
Or am I out here on my own?
I have 7.004 billion brothers and sisters.
6.37pm
Reviewers
17 December 2012
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Sorry, but speaking just for me, when I first heard it, I wondered who Sir Frankie Crisp was, and discovered lots about him quickly. A most interesting man. A lawyer and very interested in microscopes, I found it interesting that it was him that drew up the contract for the cutting of the Cullinan diamond – still the most famous diamond(s) in the world.
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2.36pm
17 February 2014
Offline Maybe I am giving my age away, but I remember on the release of All Things Must Pass . George gave an interview explaining who Sir Frankie Crisp was. As the years have passed more information has been gathered about the “loony” that built Friar Park. It seems he was an eccentric genius.
6.40pm
20 December 2010
Offline ‘Friar Park’ was built with many oddities such as caves that lead to nowhere and waterways. The castle was owned by nuns before George purchased it in 1970. It was in bad shape and I believe may have been torn down but George bought it and fixed it up, re-did all the grounds and put it back in pristine condition. I have always wanted to see the inside of the entire house but there has never been any pictures posted or made available. I was always curious if they decorated the entire house or just a few rooms that they lived in. Sir Francis Crisp really created a unique set up which for me is why it is so special.
The further one travels, the less one knows
2.18pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline Up until I joined this Forum years back, I had not collected very many solo albums and was quite pleased with ATMP when I first heard it in its entirety. I absolutely love this song. It made me ‘Google’ good Sir Frankie and was amused (in a good way) to learn about him. There are several videos for this song on the web, but my favorite is one that features all of the different…well…features of Friar Park. It was as if George was the tour guide singing you through the house and grounds. I just looked for it, but I tire of looking for things if it takes more than a few minutes. If you find it, enjoy it!
To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
10.31pm
20 February 2014
Offline Thanks for the replies, all, which I’m just finding.
I’m still learning and adjusting my settings here, and had thought I’d be notified of any responses, but I’ll get there yet.
I have 7.004 billion brothers and sisters.
11.25pm
Reviewers
1 November 2013
Offline stuartgardner said
Thanks for the replies, all, which I’m just finding.I’m still learning and adjusting my settings here, and had thought I’d be notified of any responses, but I’ll get there yet.
You can subscribe to the topic if you want. That sends an email every time someone posts in this topic.
(This signature brought to you by Net Boy and Net Girl. Putting messages in modems since 1996.)
6.17pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
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Every time I hear this song, I feel like it creates a world in which I could step if I only knew how… something ineffably magical yet unattainable. It’s one of my top four favourite Harrisongs of all time, which is why I chose a line from it as my forum-location.
As mentioned elsewhere, I really really really wish I could visit Friar Park and tour the grounds. I imagine it’s as magical as George’s ode to it.
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6.23pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline Also, according to George’s official website and Wikipedia, the title of the song is ‘Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)’ without ‘the’. Sorry to be so nitpicky but… I’m being nitpicky. 
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12.42pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline Silly Girl said
Also, according to George’s official website and Wikipedia, the title of the song is ‘Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)’ without ‘the’. Sorry to be so nitpicky but… I’m being nitpicky.
According to the album as well… 
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Necko, BeatlebugTo the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
2.50pm
Moderators
Members
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20 August 2013
Offline At your service, SG. The thread title is now up to your standards. 
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8.21pm
8 January 2015
Offline It’s my favourite track on the album. Its unorthodox placement of instruments evokes a mysterious atmosphere that grabs you, and for once the massive reverb works which gets a bit in the way of some of the other tracks. That mix of organ, electric piano and piano is really interesting, together with the distinctive sound of a pedal steel guitar. Going from left to right across the stereo image I hear a kick drum far left, snare and organ to the right, electric piano, acoustic guitar and vocals fairly centre, bass guitar just right of that and the pedal steel just right again and piano and a tambourine far right. Often the vocals will be doubled out to widen its reach (and there’s those spooky whispers starting in the middle and later panning alternately left and right). The electric piano and the pedal steel are playing complementary arpeggios and the organ is playing those thick chords and little licks in the verses on the left while the piano plays its chords and little licks on the right. What gives the song that enormous sound is the huge reverb on the pedal steel (there’s a bit on the other instruments too, but the steel is just drowned in it), as it almost solos during the verses. It takes a lot of panache to carry this off, a simple idea with difficult execution, there’s few successes like it in George’s catalogue.
There’s this video which isn’t a bad guide to the wild variety of views of the grounds/house over George’s life:
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Beatlebug, Father McCartneyI'm like Necko only I'm a bassist ukulele guitar synthesizer kazoo penguin and also everyone. Or is everyone me? Now I'm a confused bassist ukulele guitar synthesizer kazoo penguin everyone who is definitely not @Joe. This has been true for 2016 & 2017 
but I may have to get more specific in the future.
8.31pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline Amazingly perfect description, @ewe2. The production really makes the song here– I can’t imagine it without all those myriad mystical sounds.
It is really strange to see stills from the Crackerbox Palace vid over Let It Roll; completely out of place.
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8.48pm
8 January 2015
Offline That’s true but Crackerbox Palace (and to some extent Ding Dong, Ding Dong ) are the best videos to quote about Friar Park.
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12.35pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline Not sure where I posted this before but…
Once, while waiting for a TV show to come on, I caught the last 5 minutes or so of an episode of How I Met Your Mother . I normally don’t watch that show, so I didn’t pay attention…until this song suddenly sprang to life. I was truly and happily amazed. I never hear it on the radio let alone on a TV show. I kept thinking, “I wish the characters would shut the Hell up so I can hear the song”.
Over the years, I’ve had a few signatures in my profile, but “To the fountain of perpetual mirth…” sounds so perfectly George – and me! It won’t change anytime soon, if at all.
@ewe2 , that video you posted is very close to the one I described upthread (#5). The one I remember more closely mirrored the lyrics. It may have been taken down, because I just can’t find it. Bummer.
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2.32pm
Moderators
Members
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20 August 2013
Offline Here’s a stroll down Memory Lane for you, @Zig.
January 2013 https://www.beatlesbible.com/f…..63/#p62892
March 2014 https://www.beatlesbible.com/f…..8/#p109229
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3.14pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline Zig said
Not sure where I posted this before but…Once, while waiting for a TV show to come on, I caught the last 5 minutes or so of an episode of How I Met Your Mother . I normally don’t watch that show, so I didn’t pay attention…until this song suddenly sprang to life. I was truly and happily amazed. I never hear it on the radio let alone on a TV show. I kept thinking, “I wish the characters would shut the Hell up so I can hear the song”.
<snip>
The comments on YouTube are full of ‘”how i met your mother” brought me here!’ type things. Well, as long as they’re here.
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10.14am
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline Ahhh Girl said
Here’s a stroll down Memory Lane for you, @Zig.January 2013 https://www.beatlesbible.com/f…..63/#p62892
March 2014 https://www.beatlesbible.com/f…..8/#p109229
@Ahhh Girl
Hahaha – whenever I type something like “can’t remember where/when/if I posted”, just know that the “Help me AG” is implied. You never disappoint!
With a friend/Mod like you, who needs a memory?
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Ahhh Girl, ewe2, natureaker, BeatlebugTo the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
3.00pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline I really enjoy watching ‘How I Met Your Mother ‘ and one of the coolest aspects of it is the use of ‘Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)’ in the series. It’s not one of my favourite George tracks but it’s a delight to hear it during the episodes at key moments of Marshall and Lily’s life.
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2.04pm
31 March 2008
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Fools illusions everywhere
Joan and Molly sweep the stairs
I assume Joan is Derek Taylor’s wife. Anyone know who Molly was? Maybe they were just George’s housekeepers, and that’s not a reference to Joan Taylor after all. Who knows?
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