Lyr Req: A Man of Convictions

Subject: Lyr Req: A Man of Convictions
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 03 Aug 18 - 08:29 AM

Hi all,

I have just found some lyrics in an old notebook with the title "A Man of Convictions" (not to be confused with the title "A Man of Conviction" by Brandon Rhyder). I can't remember where I heard it nor do I know who wrote it ... any information would be welcome (can't find anything about it on Mudcat).

If anyone has the correct lyrics I would be most grateful.

I believe the first verse starts ...

I was first led astray when I sat in the inn and these folksingers started to carol,
They sang out of tune of cider and gin and the joys to be found in the barrel.

And the chorus goes ...

I'm a man of convictions, I'm righting all wrongs
And no contradictions will make me less strong.
Despite your restrictions I will sing my song,
And some day I'm going to be free!

If anyone can help with the tune (which I think is quite a well known one?) that would be great. Chords?

Thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Man of Convictions
From: Steve Lane
Date: 06 Aug 18 - 07:47 AM

It is a song by Chris Sugden (Sid Kipper) from a CD of the same title he made with Dave Burland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Man of Convictions
From: vectis
Date: 06 Aug 18 - 06:08 PM

I have the book but it does not have the chords in it. It does have the tune and I could send you a copy with the tune as a PDF or Noteworthy file via e-mail.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Man of Convictions
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 07 Aug 18 - 06:33 AM

Steve, thanks for that info. Typical Chris Sugden humour! And so clever with words!

Vectis, it would be great if you could send email . . . but how does the process work? I'm not a member at the moment but that is easily remedied! Please advise.

Thank you both for your replies . . . big hug!

---

If you'd like to join, contact me by email. Or, if you like, I can forward an email to vectis for you.
-Joe Offer [e-mail]-
Mudcat Music Editor

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Man of Convictions
From: vectis
Date: 07 Aug 18 - 05:54 PM

If you join you can PM me your e-mail address privately.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Man of Convictions
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 08 Aug 18 - 05:21 AM

Hi Vectis,

My membership application is with Joe now. Will pm you when I'm "fully fledged"!!!

Cheers!

Subject: Lyr Add: MAN OF CONVICTIONS
From: Reinhard
Date: 18 Aug 18 - 06:41 AM

Man of Convictions

I was first led astray in the pub one night when
These long-haired blokes started to sing
About magic dragons and tambourine men,
And other peculiar things.
So I smoked this fag, which didn’t half make me cough,
They said it would soon set me free;
But when I knocked Constable John’s helmet off
It did quite the opposite for me.
    I’m a man of convictions, but I was confined;
    I got one night's restriction for stepping out of line.
    Then came the infliction of a twenty-pound fine;
    In that jingle, jangle morning I’ll come following you.

When I next heard them sing 'twas the landlords they scoffed,
They sang “This land is my land and yours.”
So I went out next morning, and fenced a bit off,
And used it for grazing my horse.
But then Colonel Heart said the land was his own,
And forced me to take down the fence.
Well the Lord forgives trespass, but the magistrates don’t,
And Heart was the chair of the bench.
    I'm a man of convictions, I told them with pride,
    And your jurisdiction I hereby deny;
    Impressed with my diction they gave me three months inside,
    But the times, they are a changin’.

When I’d finished my sentence I swore I’d be deaf
To the songs they were singing to me.
But when they sang one about how property’s theft,
I jumped up and cried, “Glory be!”
For now I could see that the reason I’m poor
Is because someone else has stolen it all,
So I stole it back, plus a little bit more,
And here’s what I said at the trial:
    I'm a man of convictions, it can’t be denied,
    It’s just contradiction that caused me to slide.
    But they said that’s fiction, take two years inside,
    But you know that was the last thing on my mind.

Now older, but wiser, I came out today,
And I went for a nice quiet drink,
But those blasted folk-singers they started again,
And once again set me to think.
They sang that for freedom of speech they’d a lust,
And how for that freedom they’d fight;
They swore to that end they would die if they must,
So I just helped them prove they were right.
    I’m a man of convictions, I don’t think I did wrong,
    By means of constriction I ended their song,
    My lawyer’s prediction is bleak from hereon,
    But we shall overcome, some day.

Source:
Man of Convictions
The Life and Work of George Kipper
Sinner/Songwriter
Edited by Chris Sugden and Sid Kipper
Norwich: Mousehold Press, 2003