Lyr Req: Shipbuilding (Elvis Costello)

Subject: 'Shipbuilding'
From: Scarlet
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 04:56 PM

Can anyone help me to find the lyrics to the song "Shipbuilding"? I believe it was first done by Elvis Costello in the early 1980s. It contrasted the waste of lives and resources in Thatcher's Falklands war with the decline of traditional British industry. Just basically a really beautiful song, any more information on it much appreciated. love and liberation, Scarlet

Subject: RE: 'Shipbuilding'
From: Bert
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 08:09 PM

REFRESH,

Come on guys, I want this one as well. I'm a fourth generation boilermaker and the first one that 'hasn't' been in shipbuilding or ship repair.

My Great GrandFather Joe Hansell worked on 'The Thunderer' which was the last ship built in The London Docks.

Bert.

Subject: RE: 'Shipbuilding'
From: Margo
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 01:57 AM

I don't know about the song but I'm building my first ship. Oh, it's not very big, and I'm supposed to put it in a bottle. Hmm........we'll see.

Margarita

Subject: RE: 'Shipbuilding'
From: Irish Rebel (inactive)
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 12:09 PM

I come from 2 generations of "Boilermakers" here in the Northearst Coast, USA, and several generations of Shipbuilers in Ireland. I play Accoustic Guitar (Celtic and Folk) and would like to have this information too!! Live Free or Die, Dave

Subject: RE: 'Shipbuilding'
From: Liz C.
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 06:04 PM

I don't have it by Elvis Costello, I have a cover version by Swan Arcade, on a cassette, hidden somewhere in the several rooms full of disorganised junk that I call my home.
I'll try to find it and write the words out - as the man said, 'I may be some time...'

Liz

Subject: Lyr Add: SHIPBUILDING (Clive Langer,Elvis Costello
From: Liz C.
Date: 13 Jun 99 - 11:57 AM

I hope this is what you want. Even if it isn't , I've rediscovered how good some of my old tapes are by looking for this, so thanks for that. From Swan Arcade's album 'Diving for Pearls'


Is it worth it?
A new winter coat and shoes for the wife
and a bicycle on the boy's birthday
It's just a rumour that's spread around town
By the women and children,
Soon we'll be shipbuilding

Well, I ask you, the boy said
'Dad, they're going to take me to task
, but I'll be back by Christmas
It's just a rumour that's spread around town.
Somebody said that someone got filled in
For saying that people get killed in
The result of the shipbuilding.

With all the will in the world, diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls

It's just a rumour that's spread around town
A telegram of a picture postcard
Within weeks of the re-opening, the shipyard
Are notifying the next of kin
Once again.
It's all we're skilled in.
We will be shipbuilding

With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls.

Regards
Liz

Subject: RE: 'Shipbuilding'
From: Brakn
Date: 13 Jun 99 - 09:22 PM

Though written by Elvis Costello, Robert Wyatt had a minor hit with it. I think!!

Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: 'Shipbuilding'
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 07:09 AM

The only thing I know about this song is that it was definitely not written by Elvis Costello. The actual author (can't remember his name, sorry) was/is disabled in some way - he also wrote a song quite popular in the mid-1980s called 'Wind of Change' about the decline of apartheid.

Subject: RE: 'Shipbuilding'
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 07:54 AM

The words+chords are here http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/tab.html

blue clicky (x-fingers) = here.">here.

Go to the above page & do a search on 'SHIPBUILDING' and Bob will be your uncle (a function which he performs with gusto).

Kris

Subject: RE: 'Shipbuilding'
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 07:57 AM

Oh B*******r. here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shipbuilding (Elvis Costello)
From: GUEST,jOhn
Date: 14 Mar 22 - 09:22 PM

https://youtu.be/50K-3uMbYLM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shipbuilding (Elvis Costello)
From: DaveRo
Date: 15 Mar 22 - 03:31 AM

Shipbuilding (song) - Wikipedia