The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #95641   Message #1865731
Posted By: Anglogeezer
22-Oct-06 - 01:08 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan
Subject: Lyr Add: BEVAN'S BABY
Hi, EWIS,
This song isn't about Bevan but the NHS. (Nobody else has come up with anything yet!!)
As you can see from the lyrics it was written way back when the Tories were in control, so it's a little dated.
Whats the project by the way ??

regards

Jake



****************************
                Bevan's Baby
                by Jake

Now, Bevan was the father proud of little N.H.S
He nurtured him and brought him forth with hopes of great success
In truth he had grand plans for him as any father might
To heal the sick, the halt, the lame and to the blind bring sight.

Throughout his tender growing years he had the best of care
And the people grew to love him more with every passing year
Until full grown he stood alone and proved a sturdy man
Well able to take care of all sick people everyone

As he grew to his maturity the people were quite pleased
To think that all their illnesses would very soon be healed
And to know their health was cared for from the cradle to the grave
By a system both acclaimed and praised throughout the whole world wide

But the Tories grew quite envious of this labour lad's success
And claimed he'd grown beyond control to realms of high excess
And they said that market forces would soon cut him down to size
So they instituted reforms and he changed before our eyes

He's leaner, fitter, stronger now, or so the Tories claim
But to those of us who loved him best, he'll never be the same
For his care for us is not the same as it once used to be
And best value for each pound he spends is his priority

It's now an upstairs downstairs service, of that I am quite sure
Two tiers of healthcare, them and us, the rich ones and the poor
We take our chance, we take pot luck with queues that never end
Whilst they sack the very staff upon whose skills our lives depend

Now Bevan's baby's gone from us, they've sent him far away
And for all the peoples healthcare needs we once again must pay
And once again the rich will live whilst the poor die from their ills
For it's cash up front, cash on the nail or else you'll get no pills!

Let me tell you where I found him, he's in intensive care
He's in many little pieces, each one fighting for it's share
Of the money that they offer for our nations health and care
It's a hand to mouth existence and it doesn't seem quite fair