Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan

Subject: Lyr Req: SONGS ABOUT ANEURIN BEVAN
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 18 Oct 06 - 04:48 AM

Does anyone know of any songs about Aneurin Bevan?

"Firebrand socialist and orator who is regarded as the father of the National Health Service". (quote found on web)...

If anyone does, please can you post the lyrics? Would help with a project.

Regards

E.W.I.S

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan
From: Wolfgang
Date: 18 Oct 06 - 06:46 AM

Songs about politicians

mentions Bevan as mentioned in Post World war II Blues.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan
From: sian, west wales
Date: 18 Oct 06 - 05:45 PM

Someone like Hywel Francis, MP, might know of some. He's a historian, apart from being an MP, and is the son of the union leader, Dai Francis who died around 1982-ish. (But you probably know that!) I think Hywel's done a lot about the history of unions in the coal and iron industries in Wales and would likely know some sources.

Dr Price might also be able to help if he sees this thread.

sian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 19 Oct 06 - 03:19 AM

Hi Sian.

Diolch yn fawr iti. Thank you very much.

Will keep on keeping on digging!

Ta ta.

EWIS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 20 Oct 06 - 03:21 AM

doesn't quite flow really...

but anyway... onwards

EWIS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan
From: sian, west wales
Date: 20 Oct 06 - 04:55 AM

Ella Suze, you might try the Miners Library in which Hywel Francis was involved when he was Adult Ed at Swansea U, IIRC.

sian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 20 Oct 06 - 05:48 AM

Cheers Sian...

Will do,

Regards,

EWIS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan
From: Piers
Date: 20 Oct 06 - 09:22 AM

GUY FAWKES' TABLE by Attila The Stockbroker

I'm sitting at Guy Fawkes' table
The day Parliament voted for war
Though the mass of the people oppose it
And it flouts international law
I'm sitting at Guy Fawkes' table
While American thugs flaunt their power
Egged on by a sad little muppet
And his craven and cowardly shower.

CHORUS

Aneurin Bevan, your party is dead
And the time for a new one is nigh
Will the last person Left please turn out the lights?
New Labour, just fuck off and die.

They won't be caught up in the carnage
They'll be pontificating right here
Their kids won't be Iraqi conscripts
Moved down while they're shitting with fear
Saddam was the yanks' chosen ally
On a whim, they now say he must fall
So they'll carpet bomb defenceless ground troops
But that's not 'mass destruction' at all...

CHORUS

I'm sitting at Guy Fawkes' table
As Bush and his muppet connive
And I'm filled with unspeakable anger
And I'm thinking of 1605
One message, Dishonourable Members
Who endorsed an illegal attack -
No, I don't want to bomb you like Guy did
But I'd love to send you to Iraq.

CHORUS

We need a new socialist party -
But not the Judean People's Front
Not another small sect, but a movement
With the power to change and confront
We need an electoral system
Which gives every voter a voice
'Cos we're fed up with voting for traitors
And we have the right to a choice!

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan
From: cobber
Date: 21 Oct 06 - 12:57 AM

I don't know the words but I remember watching his funeral on TV. They sang special words to Land of my fathers that were written for the occasion. It's a long time ago but I remember the chorus, instead of "Wales, Wales" began with "Nye, Nye". I doubt if that's much help but it might be traceable. Good luck. When I grew up, my father thought he was a saint and my mother thought he was working for the devil so their disagreements impressed him in my memory.

Subject: Lyr Add: BEVAN'S BABY
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 22 Oct 06 - 01:08 PM

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

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan
From: GUEST,Henryp
Date: 23 Oct 06 - 08:45 AM

This is from a review in the Living Tradition;

HUW & TONY WILLIAMS "Who Are All These People"
Tudor Crescent TCSCD1008

"Who Are All These People?" is the first album of theirs I have played since 1991's "Junction Twenty-Six", which left me somewhat underwhelmed. (I bought it so I won't review it ...). I am happy to say that the current CD is altogether more satisfactory, as if they are now striding along confidently rather than hesitantly casting around for directions. There is just one traditional instrumental featuring a typically restrained performance by guest Ric Sanders(!), and ten songs by either Huw or Huw and Tony. Five of Huw's are from a show about Aneurin Bevan called "Generous Anger" and if the drama is anywhere near as good as the songs, then it is well worth further investigation.

The whole operation from the skill of the songwriting and musicianship to the wonderful fold out panorama on the insert is just what one would expect from such popular and purposeful professionals.

Alan Rose

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan
From: GUEST,Huw Williams
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 01:49 PM

Hi, A friend of mine told me about the discussion on this site about songs regardin Nye Bevan. I wrote six altogether which were part of a show telling the life story of Aneurin Bevan. They all appear on the album 'WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE'. The story was written by Daniel Mordon and Tony and I supplied the music

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: a song about Aneurin Bevan
From: Cllr
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 03:37 PM

Errmmm in the interest of fairness it was the liberals idea. It was actually Beveridge who came up with the founding of the welfare state in 1942 with The Beveridge Report, which included the foundation for the NHS both Labour and conservative said they would adopt it if they got in to power and it was Attlee who of course won The new system was partly built on and partially fundeed bythe National Insurance scheme set up by Lloyd George in 1911. NHS came in 1948 obviously with Bevan at the helm Imm not having a go at him!But be fair it is the Liberals specifically Beveridge to thank with a big nod to Lloyd George

Cllr