Lyr Req: Scorn Not His Simplicity (Phil Coulter)

Subject: Lyrics to Scorn not his Simplicity?
From:
Date: 07 Dec 98 - 12:02 PM

I'm trying to track down the words to a song called Scorn not his Simplicity -- it was written by Phil Coulter a good 15/20 years ago and was recorded at some stage by Luke Kelly -- if anyone has the lyrics I'd appreciate it.

Niall

Subject: Lyr Add: SCORN NOT HIS SIMPLICITY
From: Paddy
Date: 07 Dec 98 - 02:49 PM

SCORN NOT HIS SIMPLICITY
(Phil Coulter)

See the child
With the golden hair
Yet eyes that show the emptiness inside
Do we know
Can we understand just how he feels
Or have we really tried

See him now
As he stands alone
And watches children play a children's game
A simple child
He looks almost like the others
Yet they know he's not the same

Scorn not his simplicity
But rather try to love him all the more
Scorn not his simplicity
Oh no

See him stare
Not recognizing the kind face
That only yesterday he loved
The loving face
Of a mother who can't understand what she's been guilty of
How she cried tears of happiness
the day the doctor told her 'it's a boy'
Now she cries tears of helplessness
and thinks of all the things he can't enjoy

Scorn not his simplicity
But rather try to love him all the more
Scorn not his simplicity
Oh no
Oh no

Only he knows how to face the future hopefully
Surrounded by despair
He won't ask for your pity or your sympathy
But surely you should care

Scorn not his simplicity
But rather try to love him all the more
Scorn not his simplicity
Oh no
Oh no
Oh no


Paddy

Luke Kelly did such a great job on this that noone else dares to sing it in Ireland !!

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Scorn not his Simplicity?
From:
Date: 08 Dec 98 - 03:02 AM

As far as I know it's a very personal story, Coulter having a mongoloid child. Hope this comment isn't seen as gloating. I think it may help appreciating the song. - Susanne

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Scorn not his Simplicity?
From:
Date: 08 Dec 98 - 10:04 AM

Thanks Paddy and Susanne. As far as I can remember even Luke Kelly didn't sing the song all that often, or maybe its that he only sang it on film once.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Scorn not his Simplicity?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 13 Dec 98 - 07:58 PM

I have somewhat mixed feelings about responding to this thread. As a parent of a child with Down Syndrome, the PC name for 'mongoloid', I don't know that I could ever sing this song - I have a version sung by Paddy Reilly. Like many parents in this situation I would prefer to concentrate on realising the true potential. I can appreciate however how as a new parent, the future can initially appear quite bleak.

Without getting too carried away about the achievements of my 9 year old son, I wonder whether Phil would now approach the song more as 'Scorn Not/Enjoy His Diversity'.

Regards
John

PS Susanne, thank you for your thread about the author. I certainly didn't view this as 'gloating'.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Scorn not his Simplicity?
From:
Date: 14 Dec 98 - 03:01 AM

The song is a few years old, I think (is it on 'Revolution', 1970?), and I agree with you, John, that perceptions probably have changed as to these children's potential. I have a friend who works with them as a teacher. She's often in despair - more often than not because it's the parents who don't support her efforts - but one child with potential can lift her out of it. I admire her greatly, and also the parents who raised her daughter in order to make her as independent as possible. She'll never be able to live alone, and you can't deny a certain 'simplicity' but she's able to take part in and enjoy life.
Incidentally, I didn't mean the use of the word 'mongoloid' in any way derogatory. My friend the teacher affectionately calls her charges 'my mongos', and she's devoted to them. Still, for parents who are faced with all the problems this condition brings with it this may sound as though others are making light of them. Sorry! - Susanne

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Scorn not his Simplicity?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 14 Dec 98 - 06:08 PM

Thanks Susanne for your lovely reply.

Regards
John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scorn Not His Simplicity (Phil Coulter)
From: GUEST,DTP
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 08:53 AM

As the parent of a 6 month old boy with Down Syndrome and an an Irish native I have mixed feelings about this song. I remember hearing it as a child and liking it, but now when I listen to it I realise how dated it is. Oh how times have changed. Now the song makes me sad because I feel his pain but wish his son had the same opportunities mine has. Anyway, never thought a song could envoke such emotions, but when I first heard this song I never realised I would be where I am today.

Subject: ADD: Standing Outside the Fire
From: Peace
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 05:24 PM

Dear DPT: Look for the video done by Garth Brooks: "Standing Outside the Fire". It'll be more than worth it.


Standing Outside The Fire
(Garth Brooks and Jenny Yates)

We call them cool
Those hearts that have no scars to show
The ones that never do let go
And risk the tables being turned

We call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always comes with getting burned

But you've got to be tough when consumed by desire
'Cause it's not enough just to stand outside the fire

We call them strong
Those who can face this world alone
Who seem to get by on their own
Those who will never take the fall

We call them weak
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it all

They're so hell-bent on giving ,walking a wire
Convinced it's not living if you stand outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire

There's this love that is burning
Deep in my soul
Constantly yearning to get out of control
Wanting to fly higher and higher
I can't abide
Standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scorn Not His Simplicity (Phil Coulte
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 06:02 PM

Never been too keen on Garth Brooks, but that looks like it'd be a good song. I see it's down as co-written with Jenny Yates.

Phil Coulter's song - I know how it feels (and I do know how it feels) but that's a song to write to get over a mood, when your head's down. It's not the way you want to encourage the outside world to see things, and it's not how things really are.