ADD: Ban the Bomb It's the Highest Priority

Subject: Lyr Req: Ban the Bomb It's the Highest Priority
From: GUEST,DalePetty
Date: 15 Nov 24 - 12:05 PM

Not sure of the title, but I'm looking for the rest of the lyrics to a song that starts out:

On the night of the Wembley Cup final, I had a most horrible dream
I’d just been invited to play for United and Matt put me onto the team
Like a regular hero I charged down the field, and the goal lay wide open ahead
The crowd bellowed “Shoot”, I’d the ball on me boot, when the ref blew his whistle and said….

Ban the bomb, it’s the highest priority
Don’t stand there kicking that ball
If some bloody mutton should sit on the button, there’d be no more soccer at all.
You who think nothing of scragging the ref, should get this idea in your head
So don’t stand around, while we’re still above ground
Let’s scrag old McMillstone instead.

I'm thinking it was written by Sydney Carter or Leon Rosselson, but I'm not certain.
Thanks, Dale

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ban the Bomb It's the Highest Priority
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 15 Nov 24 - 08:01 PM

First Things First... 60s Aldermaston marches. It's in a couple of the songbooks. Don't recall it making any of the big recordings of the day. Rosselson did, but with different songs. Couldn't say for sure though (see below.)

Sing Out Song Index
Vol.10, no.4, p.17, Dec/Jan 60/61
First Things First
Alex Comfort / John Hasted / Eric Winter

Abebooks: Songs From Aldermaston

Joe posted a different song of the same (sub)title here: ADD: Songs by Alex Comfort (1920-2000)
Much later take on Ytube, your lyrics... give or take. Don't remember dear ol' Maggie getting a mention in the original though: Ed Sweeney, First Things First

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ban the Bomb It's the Highest Priority
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 10:24 PM

bump...

Subject: ADD: First Things First (Alex Comfort)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Nov 24 - 10:57 PM

Ah, ain't teamwork great? Thank you for pointing this out, Phil and Vikki.

FIRST THINGS FIRST
(words by Alex Comfort, music by John Hasted & Eric Winter)

On the night of the Wembley Cup Final,
I had a most horrible dream.
I'd just been invited to play for United
And Mat put me into the team.
Like a regular hero I charged down the field,
The goal lay wide open ahead.
The crowd bellowed shoot,
I'd the ball on me boot,
When the ref blew his whistle and said:

"Ban the bomb! It's the highest priority.
Don't stand there kicking that ball.
If some bloody mutton should sit on the button
There'll be no more soccer at all.
O you who think nothing of scragging the ref
Just get this idea in your head.
The crowd that turns up when we play for the cup
Could scrag old Macmillstone instead."

Then I dreamed that I went to the Arctic
Exploring the wastes on a sledge
And whenever some ass fell into a crevasse
It was I pulled him back from the edge.
The Queen was so thrilled when I planted the flag
To the Palace I quickly was called.
She took out her sword to create me a lord
When in marched a penguin and bawled.

"Ban the bomb! It's the highest priority.
Someone should send for the cops.
They're all flying sorties in thirties and forties
Whenever a meteor drops.
It once was so peaceful up there in the cold
Now the bombers are swarming like lice.
Don't wait for some gupp to blow us all up
Let's put all the bastards on ice."

Then I dreamed I came home from a party
To a flat with a beautiful blond.
I'd reason to hope and I thought I could cope
And her ways were familiar and fond.
With feverish fingers I undid her hooks
And bundled her on to the bed
And I'd just reached the part where the asterisks start
When she fluttered her eyelids and said:

"Ban the bomb! It's the highest priority.
Then you can sample my charms.
With those things above I can't settle to love
And I don't want to die in your arms.
If anything slips you won't fancy my lips
And I shan't be worth taking to bed.
So don't mess around while we’re still above ground
Let's do old Macmillstone instead

from Sing Out! Vol.10, no.4, p.17, Dec/Jan 60/61


Reprinted from "Sing" Magazine


melody transcribed on request. [e-mail]

Subject: RE: ADD: Ban the Bomb It's the Highest Priority
From: cnd
Date: 25 Nov 24 - 07:53 AM

Sure makes the dream work! Good stuff Joe. I assume this means you've got more or less the whole Sing Out catalog by now? Or just a friendly local library with good access?

Subject: RE: ADD: Ban the Bomb It's the Highest Priority
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Nov 24 - 12:30 PM

Hi, cnd. Yes, I finally have almost the entire run of Sing Out!. I have paper copies of about half the issues from the 1950s, but I was able to find the others in digital form.
Joe

Subject: RE: ADD: Ban the Bomb It's the Highest Priority
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 25 Nov 24 - 01:16 PM

cnd: Heeeeyyy, hold da phone. So what do the initials stand for?!?

Subject: RE: ADD: Ban the Bomb It's the Highest Priority
From: cnd
Date: 25 Nov 24 - 02:17 PM

Haha, particularly fitting in this thread -- Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, right? -- but, being both young(er) and American, I wasn't aware of the org til someone else here pointed it out to me. Just an abbreviation of my and my brother's name back we used in the early days of the internet, when we shared accounts, that stuck around.

Subject: RE: ADD: Ban the Bomb It's the Highest Priority
From: Cool Beans
Date: 30 Nov 24 - 12:31 PM

Since no-one else has mentioned it...Alex Comfort was better known as the author of The Joy of Sex.

Subject: RE: ADD: Ban the Bomb It's the Highest Priority
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 04 Dec 24 - 10:04 PM

Brilliant, Joe! Thanks so much!

Subject: RE: ADD: Ban the Bomb It's the Highest Priority
From: GUEST,DalePetty
Date: 05 Dec 24 - 01:25 PM

Thanks so much for the information and links Joe and Phil! Part of this song has been running around in my brain for weeks and I really wanted the rest of it!