Lyr Req: The Button Pusher (Dubliners)

Subject: Dubliners -- need lyrics to
From: Jennifer Burdoo
Date: 11 Nov 98 - 05:45 PM

Heard this on a Dubliners "best of" compilation -- an Anti-Bomb song. The chorus goes --

I am the man, the well-fed man, that handles the terrible knob
The most pleasing thing about it, it's almost a permanent job
When the Afton (?) war is over and the world is split in three
A consolation I've got, well maybe it's not, there'll be nobody left but me

Thanks, Jennifer

Subject: RE: Dubliners -- need lyrics to
From: AndreasW
Date: 12 Nov 98 - 02:20 AM

Hi Jennifer,

Are you sure about the title "Well Fed Man"?

Just from reading the first verse I'd say it is the song I have on two Dubliners CDs ("Luke Kelly Collection" and "Collection Vol. 1") under the title "The Button Pusher".

As I am at work right now, and the CDs are at home, I can't check right now, but will do so this afternoon.
I think the "Afton" in the 3rd line should read "atom"

Tomorrow I'll be back with more info
cu,
Andreas

Subject: RE: Dubliners -- need lyrics to
From: Jennifer Burdoo
Date: 12 Nov 98 - 04:11 PM

Yes, Andreas, it is "Button Pusher." I heard it on one of the "Best of" collections, which I no longer have, so any help is appreciated.

Thanks, Jennifer

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BUTTON PUSHER ^^
From: AndreasW
Date: 13 Nov 98 - 01:35 AM

Hi Jennifer,

I did a session yesterday afternoon listening to the song and
typing it. It was quite hard at the beginning, as English is
not my native tongue, but after I found out that the
"ol' fiddler" in the 1st verse 2nd line actually meant
"Adolf Hitler" (which took some time and
many repeatings of listening to the same line)
the rest was quite easy.
I have the song on two CDs of the Dubliners,
1) The Luke Kelly Collection
2) Collection Volume 1
Both recordings of this song are identical.
cu,
Andreas

Here we go:
(1st verse 2nd line, strichnine is pronounced like strichanine,
to make it rhyme with machine)

THE BUTTON PUSHER

Chorus [before each verse, first time starting without "Well"]
Well I am the man, the well-fed man, in charge of the terrible knob,
The most pleasing thing about it, it's almost a permanent job,
When the atom war is over, and the world is split in three,
A consolation I got, well maybe it's not, there'll be nobody left but me.

I sit at my desk in Washington in charge of this great machine
More vicious than Adolf Hitler, more deadly than strichnine
And in the evening after a tiring day just to give myself a laugh
I hit the button a playful belt and I listen for the blast

If Breshniev starts his nonsense, and makes a nasty spell
With a wink and a nod from Nixon, I'll blast them all to hell
And as for that Fidel Castro, him with the sugar cane,
He needn't hide behind his whiskers, I'll get him just the same.

If my wife denies me conjugular rights or my breakfast milk is sour
From eight to nine in the morning you're in for a nervous hour,
The button being so terribly close it's really a dreadful joke
Abut with my arse, as I go past, and we'll all go up in smoke.

Now I'm thinking of joining the army, the army that bans the bomb
We'll take up a large collection, and I'll donate my thumb,
For without it, I am helpless, and that's the way to be
You don't have to kill the whole bloody lot to make the people free.


^^

Subject: RE: Dubliners -- need lyrics to "Well-Fed Man"(?)
From: GUEST,Finn MacCool
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 04:51 PM

i'm not sure, but don't they sing "...after a tiring day just to give myself a last"?

Subject: RE: Dubliners -- need lyrics to "Well-Fed Man"(?)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 06:18 PM

Certainly rhymes better, Finn, but their song book (and any other version I've heard) says 'laugh'. BTW, it might be fitting to mention that the lyrics were written by Enoch Kent.