Lyr Add: The Big Three (Jim McLean)

Subject: Lyr Req: The big three
From: Wolfgang
Date: 07 May 04 - 06:37 AM

An inner voice (experience) tells me this could be another Jim McLean song. So, Jim, if you see this, I'd be grateful if you could post the lyrics here.

If you are not the songwriter, I'll listen again (on a tape with Alastair McDonald singing) to give a couple of lines for the others to help searching.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The big three
From: Jim McLean
Date: 19 Mar 05 - 03:52 PM

Yes, Wolfgang, it's one of mine. I'll post the lyrics as soon as I can.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BIG THREE (Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,Jim McLean
Date: 20 Mar 05 - 04:53 AM

The Big Three, words and music Jim McLean 1969.
(following a request from Wolfgang for the lyrics)
It was recorded by Alastair McDonald on an LP called Scotland First. He imitated the spoken voice of each leader hence the brackets.

I wrote this as a Scottish 'electioneering' song and the Big Three were Labour, Conservatives and Liberals. It's well out of date as far as the names go but the politics seem strangely familiar … plus ça change.

Keir hardy was a man who came from our land,
And said all men should be free,
But Wilson's in his place and it's a different case,
And he won't be getting any help from me,
'Cause he lets Yankees in the Holy Loch and backs them in Vietnam
For the Ibos in Biafra he just didn't give a damn.
"It's thirteen years of Tory rule that got us in this jam!" (spoken like Wilson)
Ach I'll no' vote for Harold, no' me, no' me.
I'll be voting for the SNP.

Captain Heath wants my vote, this messer in a boat,
He says he'll tighten law and order,
They'll be polismen galore, chappin' on each Scottish door,
Till he's satisfied he's pacified the Border!
Remember back there in the good old days before the Labour came,
When the Tories were in power, they were saying just the same.
"It really isn't our fault, chin up now, play the game" (spoken like Ted heath)
Ach I'll no' vote for Edward, no' me, no' me.
I'll be voting for the SNP

Jeremy Thorpe does his bit and on the fence he'll sit,
Arguing about Federation,
But we all know the score for a Union's been before,
That's why Scotland's just a region no' a nation.
For he's a wishy-washy-waverer with Grimmond for a pal,
He thinks we're all too stupid or too poor to rule ourself,
"We're all English, I mean British, I mean, dash it, what the hell!" (spoken like Thorpe )
Ach I'll no' vote for Jeremy, no' me, no' me,
I'll be voting for the SNP.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Big Three
From: Wolfgang
Date: 20 Mar 05 - 05:16 AM

Thanks a lot, Jim.

When I read these words I remember by aborted attempt at transcribing these lyrics. Keir Hardy was a name I didn't get and for 'Holy Loch' I had something which made no sense at all. That's when I stopped.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Big Three (Jim McLean)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 20 Mar 05 - 07:28 PM

Great little song, Jim. (Obviously written before Thorpe ended up in the dock.) Did you use a known tune for it, or did you make a new one?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Big Three (Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 04:33 AM

The tune is based on Woody Guthry's 'Jesus Christ was a Man'. The tune is 'freely interpreted'! The second half of each verse begins with the first three syllables heavily accentuated .. Re Mem Ber.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Big Three (Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 04:34 AM

Sorry, that should have been Woody Guthrie's

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Big Three (Jim McLean)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 05:21 AM

Susanne,

you can listen to it (and to some more of Jim's songs) end of next month. That would be a good reason to come early.

'Messer' (verse 2) is a form of 'monsieur' I guess?

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Big Three (Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 09:50 AM

No, Wolfgang, a messer is someone who is 'messing about'. Remember the song 'Messing about on the River'. There's also a nasty expression is Scotland when someone is called a 'messin'. This was used years ago in the West of Scotland at least, and couldn't be used in front of your mother! so I tried a play on both words.