The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #109049 Message #2868365
Posted By: Jim Dixon
20-Mar-10 - 08:17 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Don't Sign Up for War (Alistair Hulett)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Sign Up for War (Alistair Hulett)
Alistair Hulett sang DON'T SIGN UP FOR WAR on his album "Red Clydeside," accompanied by Dave Swarbrick on fiddle. Hullett's web site is still up although he died in Jan. 28 of this year. I didn't find lyrics, but there was a complete mp3 file: (Click to play.)
I did my best to transcribe it, and while I believe I improved on the previous attempt, there are still lots of gaps. I believe it will take someone more familiar with braw Scots than I to fill them in. I hope my spelling is acceptable:
1. See yon Arthur Henderson, heid bummer o' the workin' men.
When war broke oot, he pressed his suit and he ran tae catch the train.
He signed a deal in London: nae mair strikes until the fightin's done.
In Glesga toon the word gaed roon, 'Tak tent o' John Maclean!'
CHORUS: He said, 'A bayonet, that's a weapon with a workin' man at either end.
Betray your country. Serve your class. Don't sign up for war, my friend.
Don't sign up for war'
2. When they turned him oot at ??? Hall, John stood up at the fountain.
What he said was tailor made tae magnify the friction.
'Ye patriots can roar and bawl; it's nowt but braggart's fiction.
The only war worth fightin' for is war against oppression.' CHORUS
3. The polis ??? him oot o' there, and doon tae Queen's Park Station.
They telt him plain: 'Offend again an I'll mak ye rue the day, son.'
But Johnny didnae turn a hair. He ca'd for a demonstration.
A mighty thrang, ten thoosand strang, turned oot against conscription.
4. The next time that they came for him, John came fornent the pris'ners.
He didnae plea for mercy. He said, 'Gie me British justice.'
The justice that he ca'd for ??? intae silence.
When oot o' hell the hammer fell, three years was the sentence. CHORUS
5. The clamor tae release Maclean reached fever pitch and mair, man.
In a year and a half, they ca'd it off, but, Christ, it taxed him sair, man.
He came back old afore his time but he didnae seem tae care, man.
Be all ye can ??? will cause ye tae beware, man.
6. The last time that they jailed Maclean, he cam ??? close tae ???
Wi' a rubber hose put up his nose they kept him ???
Let him oot or keep him in, Red Clyde was our ???
??? the government was weel an' brawly ???. CHORUS