Lyr Add: Judgements / Judgments (Leon Rosselson)

Subject: Lyr Req: Intriguing song-Flagellation of younger
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Jun 20 - 02:00 AM

Interesting email request:

Because of the current lockdown I have been spending much more time on my computer than I normally would have done and lately I was researching a song that I half recall from 50/60 years ago. I have not been able to pin it down anywhere at all but I did come across your site this week when I was looking for any potential forum to discuss the lyrics and so, here I am attempting to join if you’ll have me. I sing to myself in my head lots of times on most days (strangely, quite often when I’m doing all sorts of other things at the same time) but then my wife often tells me that I’m odd (but so is she – left handed and vegetarian – I rest my case). I seem to be able to recall at least half of this song but not its title nor who wrote it/sang it and for interests sake I’ll present below that which I can recall in the hope that you’ll be able to help me with the rest…..

When I was young I always was keen on judging others
I used to practice flagellation on my younger brothers
From there my path was straight and true my school was right my college too
I joined the most exclusive clubs and mingled with the noblest bloods
My views were strictly orthodox and quite above suspicion
In the art of legal strategy I was soon a skilled tactician
And so today above the fray in my exalted state
I judge the crimes of mortal man a messenger of fate

Give that fellow fifteen years my liver’s bad this morning
Chop off that lying peasant’s ears we’ll give them all a warning
‘Cos punishment’s the only way to teach the plebs crime does not pay
And every day is judgement day
Hey ding a ding I love the spring when the pretty birds sing so gaily
I don my wig and I dance a jig and I dole out judgements daily


That’s it - I think that I have the first full verse and the ‘middle eight’ but I’m probably missing another full verse. I’m quite sure of the tune (tricky though it is) but I can’t specify chords or notes as my only real musical skill is to be able to hold a tune in my head and occasionally sing it correctly. I’ve tried googling various lines from the above in the hope that all of it would magically appear but nothing at all has come to light.

Hoping for some help, I am, yours gratefully

Ron

---

OK, admit it, that is the most intriguing song you've heard all week. Anybody know it? Mr Google isn't helping.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Req: Intriguing song-Flagellation of younger bros.
From: Jos
Date: 23 Jun 20 - 02:21 AM

Rather than an eight-line verse and a six-line verse, that could be three four-line verses plus a two-line chorus.

Subject: RE: Req: Intriguing song-Flagellation of younger bros.
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 23 Jun 20 - 02:48 AM

Might be a darker version of The Judge's song from Gilbert & Sullivan's Trial By Jury.

The Judge's Song

The penultimate line "Hey ding a ding I love the spring when the pretty birds sing so gaily" might be referencing Shakespeare's song It Was A Lover And His Lass from As You Like It:

It was a lover and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey-nonny-no,
That o'er the green cornfield did pass
In springtime, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, Hey ding a ding, ding.
Sweet lovers love the spring.

LFF

Subject: RE: Req: Intriguing song-Flagellation of younger bros.
From: Snuffy
Date: 23 Jun 20 - 03:23 AM

Intriguing. Not by Tom Lehrer, but it certainly has echoes of his style.

Subject: RE: Req: Intriguing song-Flagellation of younger bros.
From: GUEST,Georgina Boyes
Date: 23 Jun 20 - 04:20 AM

It's by the magnificent Leon Rosselson, I think it's called "The Judge's Song".

Subject: RE: Req: Intriguing song-Flagellation of younger bros.
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 23 Jun 20 - 05:20 AM

Georgina has it right - the actual title is "Judgements"

Leon Rosselson - Judgements

LFF

Subject: RE: Req: Intriguing song-Flagellation of younger bros.
From: GUEST,Fast Forward
Date: 23 Jun 20 - 05:17 PM

Great, thanks LFF. I can recall seeing Leon Rosselson in the 60's at the folk club in Cleethorpes. That must be were I heard it. I'll note down the rest of the lyrics and master the rest of the tune. Thanks again - Ron.

Subject: RE: Req: Intriguing song-Flagellation of younger bros.
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 23 Jun 20 - 06:13 PM

You’re welcome, Ron

LFF

Subject: Lyr Add: JUDGEMENTS (Leon Rosselson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Jul 20 - 10:57 AM

I did my best to transcribe this, but several phrases are missing or questionable, and corrections are welcome. The decision of where to put stanza breaks was somewhat arbitrary, but the line breaks are chosen to emphasize the rhyme.


JUDGEMENTS*
(Leon Rosselson)
As recorded on the album by Adrian Mitchell and Leon Rosselson: "A Laugh, a Song and a Hand-Grenade" (1968)

Since I was young, I've always been keen on judging others.
I used to practice flagellation on my younger brothers.
From there, my path was straight and true;
My school was right; my college, too.
I joined the most exclusive clubs
And mingled with the noblest bloods.

My views were strictly orthodox, quite above suspicion.
In the art of legal strategy, I was soon a skilled tactician;
And so today, above the fray, in my exalted state,
I judge the crimes of mortal men, a messenger of fate.

Give that fellow fifty years;
My liver’s bad this morning.
Cut off that lying peasant’s ears
And let that be a warning!
For punishment’s the only way
To teach the plebs crime does not pay,
And every day is judgment day.

Hey, ding-a-ding-ding! I love the spring when the pretty birds sing so gaily.
I don my wig and dance a jig and dole out judgments daily.

In ordinary clothes, I'm an ordinary man, but dressed in my regalia,
I chastise every law breaker and castigate each failure.
Jail that drunk; divorce that wife!
Adultery's pollution!
Put that man away for life.
It's time for retribution!
Burglars, rapists, sex perverts,
Let every man get his deserts.
My duodenal also hurts.

Hey, ding-a-ding-ding! I love the spring when the pretty birds sing so gaily.
I don my wig and dance a jig and dole out judgments daily.

For I am the man, yes, I am the man whose word is consecrated.
My word is the word of the law, and the word of the law is sacred.
By punishing, we will deter.
The law is a corrective.
Bring back the executioner
To make it more effective.
Bring back the noose, and then bring back
The birch, the stocks, the stake, the rack.
Oh, God! I've got a heart attack!

And now …
With duty garland, functions clear,
I will not have a thing to fear,
For, Lord, I'm sure that by and by
We'll be together there on high
Comparing notes, just you and I.

Hey, ding-a-ding-ding! I love the spring when the pretty birds sing so gaily.
I don my wig and dance a jig and I dole out judgments daily.

- - -
My spell-checker insists on JUDGMENTS although the title has it JUDGEMENTS, according to Spotify, YouTube, and Discogs.com.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Judgements / Judgments (Leon Rosselson)
From: Joe_F
Date: 18 Jul 20 - 05:28 PM

"Judgment" prevails in the US (AHD gives it first); "judgement" in the UK (OED gives it first).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Judgements / Judgments (Leon Rosselson)
From: cnd
Date: 18 Jul 20 - 08:58 PM

The lines you're having trouble with Jim is:

And now, oh Lord, my end is near
With duty down and functions clear

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Judgements / Judgments (Leon Rosselson)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 21 - 11:16 AM

it is on an album called a laugh a song and a hand grenade . which I have .

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Judgements / Judgments (Leon Rosselson)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 21 - 11:14 AM

My duodenal ULCER hurts.
My word is the word of the law, and the word of the LORD is sacred
With duty DONE and CONSCIENCE clear

As printed in his book, Look Here (Harmony Music Ltd., 1968... yaaaagh, yes really that long ago, so old it doesn't have an Ibsen number).

Book includes recently- topical songs like "Dear John Profumo", "The Battle Hymn of the New Socialist Party" (we'll sing the Red Flag once a year... they don't even do that now), and his song about the U2 incident, Vile Violation, which breezily uses a metaphor of rape... times and sensibilities change...