In 1966, Alfie Bass hit the UK charts with a song called 'If I were a Rich Man', from the musical 'Fiddler on the Roof'. My Dad bought a copy of the record - a vinyl record that played on the gramophone at 45RPM (revolutions per minute). He bought hit singles occasionally so that he could learn up to date songs to play in his band.

I sat down in the living room with him to listen to the song. It was a song unlike any I had heard - or even taken notice of. It started with a simple riff and accompanied Alfie speaking:

"Oh Lord, you made many, many poor people. I realise, of course, its no shame to be poor… but there's no great honour in it either. So what would be so terrible if I had but a small fortune"

I found myself entranced by the notion of this song. As a child I had been taught to say prayers before bedtime but this was the first time I knew of a grown up praying. And then Alfie Bass started singing, "If I were a rich man. Ayaba derba derba derba derba zerba derba der. All Day long I viddibiddibum. If I were a wealthy man…"

I listened intently to every word and tone. It was a wonderful song with silly sounding words.

When it finished I asked my Dad if I could play it again. On the second time round I checked with everything that I had heard. I listened to the power of his voice towards the end when he beseeches of God, "Lord who made the lion and the lamb. You decreed I should be what I am. Would it spoil some vast eternal plan!?…"

A plan! God. There was obviously more to this God thing than I knew about. The words burned into my head like a computer download. "If… I were a weal-thy… maaaaaaaaan!"

The arm lifted off of the record and clicked back onto its mounting. I got off the chair in the living room and walked the few steps to the kitchen where both Mum and Dad were and said, "Mum. I know the words to that record".

Walking The Path is now available in paperback See http://www.shaneward.co.uk for details