Writers are nosy beasts by nature, so listening in on other conversations in public spaces is a given. Mostly it is snippets. Those ‘And I said to her…’ moments. All grist to the writing mill.
Now and then you get to hear a whole conversation and very very occasionally you feel compelled to step in because you can stand it no longer.
Overheard today in a high street charity shop between two ladies of middle years, one o
f them at least old enough to have been around when the record in question was released…
DJ on radio: …and after the news we’ll have that oldie – Lady Madonna.
Charity Shop Customer (CSC) : Lady Madonna? Lazy more like. She’s no better than she should be.
Charity Shop Assistant (CSA): Well I’ve always though she had a nerve calling herself that.
CSC: Yeah – flippin cheek (pauses) Here… you don’t think they’re gonna knight her do you? That would be stupid. She’s done nothing to deserve it.’
CSA : Only dress up like a I don’t know what. And she’s not even English! 
Me (unable to stand the ‘stupid’ any longer) : Lady Madonna the song. (blank stares) By the Beatles?
(Tumbleweed moment as both continue to stare at me.)
CSC : Never heard of it.
Me (Facepalm) : It was an early hit. It was huge… Been used on umpteen tv shows and films.
CSA: Not heard of it – and (sarcastic) I’m not a Beatles fan anyway.
Me : No, nor am I – but even so…
CSC and CSA : Never heard of it…
At which point I admitted defeat and went home to check what century I was living in. I realise the song was a while back, but still…
Jan Edwards 