Wheels of Glory

"Wheels of Glory" is a  Longest Johns original, written by Robbie Sattin and released as track 1 on the EP The Longest Pony in collaboration with El Pony Pisador. The song is an homage to the Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling, an annual event in the village of Brockworth in Gloucestershire, England, wherein a 3-4 kg round of Double Gloucester cheese is sent rolling down an extremely steep hill and participants chase after it, with the first to reach the bottom of the hill winning the cheese.

## Factoids

The first written reference to cheese rolling dates to 1826, though some locals date the tradition at least to the mid-1700s, and others claim it is even older.

Cooper's Hill, the site of the race, is 200 yards long with a 1:2 gradient, and the cheese can reach speeds of up to 70 mph.

Due to the steep, uneven slope, injuries are a regular occurrence. Volunteers act as "catchers" to help stop those who reach the bottom of the hill on foot and provide first aid to those who don't, and ambulances are on hand to transport those requiring hospital treatment. Even so, the event has been called "the world's most dangerous footrace".

The record for most races won belongs to Brockworth native Chris Anderson, who won his 23rd cheese in 2022, despite claiming to only like cheddar. (He has auctioned off at least one of the cheeses for charity.)

## Lyrics

>
> The years have been tough
>
> And no one could blame you for feeling so rough
>
> You need a distraction
>
> A thrill for your body and mind
>
>
>
> So come on with me
>
> For I know a hill in the Gloucestershire trees
>
> We'll head to the top
>
> And we'll chase down some cheese
>
> Oh yes! You heard me correct
>
> As we fly...
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> Over stone and over fern
>
> Down the banks we're going
>
> Up the peak and back again
>
> Limbs are to-and-fro-ing
>
> Over stone and over fern
>
> Down the banks we're going
>
> Edam, brie, and cheddar, boys
>
> Just keep that cheese a-rolling!
>
>
>
> It's hard at the top
>
> So stretch out your hamstrings and pull up your socks
>
> And if you should fall
>
> May the landing be soft on your bones
>
>
>
> Hear victory's call
>
> It sounds like a siren across stony walls
>
> But greatest of all you could roll down that slope
>
> A living legend, a beacon of hope
>
> We'll make our mothers proud
>
> As we fly...
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> {Instrumental}
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Over stone and over fern
>
> Down the banks we're going
>
> Up the peak and back again
>
> Limbs are to-and-fro-ing
>
> Over stone and over fern
>
> Down the banks we're going
>
> Edam, brie, and cheddar, boys
>
> Roquefort, mozzarella, boys
>
> Jarlsberg, stilton, feta, boys
>
> Keep that cheese a-rolling!
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

* Amazon
* Anghami
* Apple Music/iTunes
* Deezer
* Spotify
* Tidal

#### YouTube Videos

* YouTube Album Animation

1. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/content/articles/2009/05/07/cheese\_rolling\_history\_feature.shtml
2. ↑ https://www.visitgloucester.co.uk/things-to-do/history-and-heritage/cheese-rolling-in-gloucester
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper%27s\_Hill\_Cheese-Rolling\_and\_Wake
4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris\_Anderson\_(cheese\_roller)