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Lyr Add: England Oh England

23 Nov 02 - 07:07 PM (#833521)
Subject: Lyr Add: ENGLAND OH ENGLAND
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull

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


23 Nov 02 - 07:14 PM (#833527)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: greg stephens

Have a bear itll chear you up


25 Nov 02 - 09:50 PM (#835046)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull

Cheers Greg, I'll have a Guinness!


26 Nov 02 - 08:32 AM (#835335)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: MMario

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


26 Nov 02 - 09:02 AM (#835359)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: GUEST,Geordie

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


26 Nov 02 - 11:08 PM (#835659)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull

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


27 Nov 02 - 07:52 PM (#836083)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: smallpiper

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?


27 Nov 02 - 08:00 PM (#836086)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull

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.


30 Sep 03 - 01:53 AM (#1026531)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull

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


25 Jan 04 - 12:58 AM (#1100776)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull

refresh


25 Jan 04 - 05:01 AM (#1100829)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg

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.


25 Apr 04 - 02:32 AM (#1170229)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: England Oh England
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull

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