Lyr Add: England Oh England

Subject: Lyr Add: ENGLAND OH ENGLAND
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 23 Nov 02 - 07:07 PM

When I woke up this morning, it was then that I heard
The sweet song of an African bird.
As its singing was swallowed by a jet fighter's roar,
I wondered what it had flown over for.
Was it some old colonial come to pay its respects
And pay duty in taxes of eggs,
Or more likely a mourner come to pity and grieve
Over what the great ape has achieved?

The wounds cut in hillsides left open to scar
By the bastards of minerals and ores
To carry the commerce for the wealth and the shame
Of the top of the fast funk food chain
As the wire on the wood brings his faceless unknowns
Talking in ivory peepshows
While the iron men sing of the power that they breathe
And cast shadows on more than fields.

CHORUS: And England, o England, you arrogant whore,
What on earth was your empire for?
As your last wicket falls,
What on earth was your empire for?

But don't moan for those pastures that steel and brick need;
They're the children of rapists and thieves
Who cut down the heart forests that covered our land,
Left her naked and abused by the damned,
So the springheads and the rivers that ran crystal and bright
Stand choked up with Johnnys and shite.
When the otters come swimming and badgers to drink,
What must the poor buggers think? CHORUS

I saw Eden torn by greed.

Repeat chorus to fade.

JE

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: greg stephens
Date: 23 Nov 02 - 07:14 PM

Have a bear itll chear you up

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 25 Nov 02 - 09:50 PM

Cheers Greg, I'll have a Guinness!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: MMario
Date: 26 Nov 02 - 08:32 AM

John - thanks for posting this. As I mentioned in the chatroom it certainly expresses the anger many have for the devastation of our environment

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: GUEST,Geordie
Date: 26 Nov 02 - 09:02 AM

Who wrote the lyrics...they're dreadful. Is this a song ? I am just curious, help me out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 26 Nov 02 - 11:08 PM

GUEST Georgie-Thank you for your helpful and constructive comments.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: smallpiper
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 07:52 PM

Guest Geodie - yes its a song and a very poweful one too (as you would know had you heard it - and I have to admit its much better heard than read) don't know who wrote it but Cowfish (a band which I think is based is East Yorksihre) do an excellent version of it, perhaps jOhn can tell us who wrote it?

I wonder if in a couple of years we can change England to America?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 08:00 PM

Sorry smallpiper, I should have said in the first post, this song was written by Tim O' Connor, lead singer with the exellent Hull folk rock band Cowfish.Smallpiper is right, it is an exellent song and desreves to be heard, it is available on CD, if anyome wants a copy send me a PM as the only contact details I have for Tim are his home address and I won't post that here.Cowfish play an accoustic session at The Oddfellows in Beverley at 6 PM on Sundays, they are also available for gigs, if anyone wants to book them just let me know.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 01:53 AM

Cowfish web site =www.fsnet.cowfish.co.uk

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 12:58 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 05:01 AM

The song lacks focus. I'm not sure if the words are attacking England (or maybe Britain?)or sympathising with the devastation of it's landscape. Whoever wrote it should listen, and study, Leon Rosselson or Bob Dylan to find out how to write these things.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 02:32 AM

quoite" this song lacks focus", blar, blar, blar, how many songs did you write then, moany?
its a good song so just get lost.