Lyr Add: John McLean

Subject: John McLean
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 10:16 AM

Some weeks ago in a thread I don't refind Jim McLean has mentioned this song. I recollect (and hope I'm not far off) that this was a contemporary poem about John McLean and that Jim has written a tune for it, so now it is a song.

I have the song on tape, I like it a lot and that's why I post it. It is my transcription so here might be errors left. I'd appreciate corrections.

The John McLean March can be read as a sequl to the song below, for the song below describes the time when McLean was in prison and the John McLean March describes his coming home from Peterhead prison.

If you want to read a bit more, you'll find a fine compilation of informations at the respective page in Susanne's Folksong Notizen

Wolfgang

JOHN MCLEAN

1. When you've passed your declarations and you feel you've done your bit
and you think there's nothing more that you can do
why not act and in your actions emulate the grit
of the man in Peterhead who acts for you.
(last line repeated in each verse)

2. He is grateful for your money he appreciates your cheers
your sympathy is ample for his needs
but there are more important things than resolutions, casual tears
why not give just a sample, say, of deeds.

3. 'Twas for you he gathered knowledge, sacrificed his very youth
he worked for you until his head was grey.
They are killing him by inches just because he thought the truth
And having thought it had the guts to say.

4. For the truth's a kind of virtue that the ruling classes fear,
by the foulest means to crush it they have tried.
For truth the stones of hate were hurled at prophet and at seer
(this line now seems to be missing in my transcription; I'll come back)

5. He will pay you back in plenty it's you who stand again
his lion heart is yours if he is spared.
So, workers, for your own sakes, liberate McLean,
you could do it, aye, tomorrow, if you dared.

6. Will you suffer his destruction on the tyrants' battleground
will you let the cursed wrong defeat the right.
He is one against an army are you going to see him downed,
are you going to let him die without a fight.

7. He will pay you back in plenty it's you who stand again
for his lion heart is yours if he is spared.
Then workers, for your own sakes, liberate McLean,
you could do it, aye, tomorrow, if you dared.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John McLean
From: weerover
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 10:47 AM

There is also a fine song by Matt McGinn, "Ballad of John McLean", recordings still fairly available

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John McLean
From: weerover
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 02:01 PM

Wolfgang, your transcription is pretty accurate from my recollection, but a couple of corrections: (verse 1) for "declarations" read "resolutions", (verse 2) "resolutions, cash or tears" (verse 3) for "gathered" read "garnered" - I think, (verse 4) last line is "for truth the gentle Christ was crucified"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John McLean
From: Jim McLean
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 05:55 PM

Weerover corrected most of the transcription errors, Wofgang. In verse 5 an 7 the words are 'it's you who stand to gain'. The tune it is set to is almost the same as Tom Joad. I produced and recorded this song for the first (and only?) time in 1973.It was sung magnificiently by Alastair McDonald on Scottish Battle Ballads, NEVIS records. Regards, jim McLean

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John McLean
From: weerover
Date: 20 Sep 02 - 07:19 AM

Sorry I missed that bit Jim. My recollection is that it was on 2 albums by Alastair on your label, both of which I still have somewhere. Oh, and thanks again for the Bo'ness Rebels songbook (yes, it's me).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John McLean
From: Celtic-End Singer
Date: 20 Sep 02 - 07:57 AM

The second verse line ought to be "But there are more important things than resolutions, cash or tears" as opposed to "...casual tears".

The last line of the fourth verse is "For truth the gentle Christ was crucified".

The last line of the fifth verse is "You could do it by tomorrow if you dared.", not "...do it, aye, tomorrow,".

I posted the lyrics to this song here on 10 Aug 99.

PS The man in question's name is spelled "MacLean" (highland Scots) and not the Irish or lowland Scots way "McLean"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John McLean
From: Celtic-End Singer
Date: 20 Sep 02 - 07:59 AM

PPS It is a bloody good song right enough!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John McLean
From: Celtic-End Singer
Date: 20 Sep 02 - 08:04 AM

PPPS Hugh MacDiarmid's remarks were on the back of the record sleeve by the way.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John McLean
From: weerover
Date: 20 Sep 02 - 08:14 AM

Actually, I heard it as "...you could do it, aye tomorrow if you dared" and still think that's how Alastair McDonald sings it. Agree with Celtic-end Singer, a damn fine song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John McLean
From: Wolfgang
Date: 23 Sep 02 - 06:26 AM

Thanks a lot for the corrections of the lyrics and of the spelling of the name. Wrong name spelling prevented my finding of the earlier addition. Sorry.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John McLean
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Sep 02 - 06:41 AM

Two points. Wolfgang, I re-issued Battle Ballads, a Major Minor LP (1969), as Scottish Battle Ballads on Nevis (1973). The John MacLean song was only on the Nevis LP. Weerover: The Mc rather the Mac is not Irish or Lowland Scottish. It's throwback to the introduction of printing the name. All Mac names tended to be printed as M' and soon the ' was percieved to be a small c. You'll see hundreds of examples of this in books printed mainly in Victorian times or previous. Slainte, Jim McLean