Lyr Req: Anti-Carol (John Pole)

Subject: Lyrics: Frankie Armstrong song?
From:
Date: 17 Jul 98 - 12:16 PM

I thought it was performed by June Tabor, but I now believe it was Frankie Armstrong.

The first line is " It was no picnic, it was no picture postcard..."

A powerful song . I heard it around 1974 on wxpn out of Philly on a folk show, and have been looking around for it ever since.

Cheers

Chris

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Frankie Armstrong song?
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Jul 98 - 04:03 PM

Isn't that her Christmas anti-carol?? Gotta go find the album...

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Frankie Armstrong song?
From: cbs
Date: 17 Jul 98 - 04:26 PM

Right-O, that is the one. I looked in the database to no avail. Maybe if you find the album I will treat myself to a copy if it is re-released on cd. I have never heard anyone cover this song. Thanks, and cheers

chris

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Frankie Armstrong song?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 17 Jul 98 - 06:52 PM

I have the record. I'll try to scribe it down, but if someone has it handier, post it first.

Subject: Lyr Add: ANTI-CAROL (John Pole)
From: Susan of DT
Date: 18 Jul 98 - 12:51 PM

ANTI-CAROL
(John Pole)

It weren't no picnic
It weren't no picture post card
It was cold as 'taters in the mould
When the couple come lookin' for a room
Cold shouldered they were when the landlords looked at her
And saw the baby in her womb
Cold comfort they got
Was there a room? There was not
The town was crowded for a start
And it was cold, cold, cold, cold
Cold as a beggar boy's heart

It could have been in Jo'burg, Detroit. Chittagong, Calcutta
So long since it happened
I'm wrong! It happened yesterday
It happens now more and more...
Then somebody said he could lend them a shed
Crashing down on the floor
Just concrete and iron and a blanket to lie on
They'd been walkin' all day
And their home was such a long, long, long, long Long way away

They never heard no angels
Just the big police siren
When the light come fumblin' through the night
Her waters broke. The kid begun to come
"Is there a doctor?" "No fear,
Only poor people here
What would you pay him with, chum?"
There was ice on the door.
She sweated; he swore
He saw the head of his child
And then together him and her
Helped it into the world

There weren't no cattle watching
Just a rat and twenty cockroach
The kid cried. His dad soon had him washed and dried
When his mother woke she give him breast
He shared his parents' love
And he was heir to their poverty
It war all they possessed
And then the rumors got 'round
There were soldiers in town
With orders "Search and Destroy"
They didn't want to get wasted
They left town a bit hasty
The man, his wife and their boy, boy, boy, boy,
Young wife and new baby boy

He was theirs they made him
Out of love, hope, and suff'ring
God's son? Or just another one!
More like millions born to slave, starve, and die
Oh p'raps when he grows and sees how the world goes
He'll help to change it by and by
Let's hope the soldiers don't hang this new son of man
Like they done one before ...
Will he bring peace or a gun?
When his kingdom does come
It'll belong to the poor, poor, poor, poor.
The homeless and poor

Copyright John Pole 1972
Recorded by Frankie Armstrong on Out of Love, Hope and Suffering
Filename[ ANTICARL
SOF

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Frankie Armstrong song?
From: cbs
Date: 20 Jul 98 - 12:13 AM

Thanks so much...cheers,cbs