Lyr Req: Whatever you say, say nothing

Subject: Lyr Req: Whatever you say, say nothing
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 08:51 PM

While listening to The ABC Radio National broadcasting from the Port Fairy Festival a funny clever Irishman called Colin Sands sang a brillant song

Whatever you say, say nothing, when you speak about you know what
....
Don't let anyone hear you singing this song

This is a brillant political protest song - anyone know all the words?

Robin

Subject: Lyr Add: WHATEVER YOU SAY SAY NOTHING (Colum Sands
From: Stewart
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:02 PM

WHATEVER YOU SAY, SAY NOTHING
Colum Sands

CHORUS: Whatever you say, say nothing, when you speak about you-know-what,
For if you know who should hear you, you know what you'll get,
They'll take you off to you-know-where, for you wouldn't know how long,
So for you-know-who's sake, don't let anyone hear you singing this song.

Now you all know what I'm speaking of, when I mention you-know-what,
And I fear it's very dangerous, to even mention that,
For the other it is always near, although you may not see,
But if anyone asks who told you that, please don't mention me. CHORUS

And you all know who I'm speaking of, when I mention you-know-who,
And if you-know-who could hear me now, you know what he'd do,
So if you don't see me again, you'll know why I'm away,
But if anyone asks you where I've gone, here's what you must say. CHORUS

Well that's enough about so-and-so, not to mention such-and-such,
I'd better end my song now. I've already said too much,
For the less you say and the less you hear, the less you'll go astray,
And the less you think and the less you do, the more you'll hear them say: CHORUS


Colum is a great songwriter and storyteller. Saw him in Derry and bought his book "Between the Earth and the Sky" from where I got the words to this song. It's also on one of his CDs, "All My Winding Roads" I think.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Whatever you say, say nothing
From: GUEST,michaelr
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:05 PM

Great song. When singing it over the last couple of years, I've been dedicating it to Alberto Gonzalez (US Secretary of "Justice") and the National Security Agency.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Whatever you say, say nothing
From: Stewart
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:07 PM

Actually, it's on his CD "Talking to the wall with Sharon Aviv"
But I heard him sing this in Derry.

S.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Whatever you say, say nothing
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:18 PM

Thanks guys - is there easily available a tune around anywhere?

I'll have to track down his VDs sooner or later anyway, I suppose...


ah! that's CDs I hope...

Subject: Tune Add: WHATEVER YOU SAY, SAY NOTHING (C Sands)
From: Stewart
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:41 PM

Tunes take a little longer, but here it is:

X:1
T:Whatever you say, say nothing
C:Colum Sands
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=130
K:D
A,|DD D2D2E2|FF- F2z2FF|EE E2D C3|D6FF|
F2F F3G2|A2D2-D2z2|EE- E2^G2GA-|A2z2z2A2|
B2AA A2zF|ED- D2D2DD|DD D2-D2E2|F2z2z2FE|
D2DD- D2E2|F2FF- FE D2|E2E2ED C2|D4z2z|]

Copy and paste into Concertina.net
and click "submit" and you'll get the score and a midi file.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Whatever you say, say nothing
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:46 PM

Thanks again...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Whatever you say, say nothing
From: jeffp
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:59 PM

Thanks from me too!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Whatever you say, say nothing
From: r.padgett
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 03:05 PM

and me!

I heard this from Dohmnail McGillicot at Redcar Folk festival years ago

Ray