Chords: Song of the Old Communist (Leon Rosselson)

Subject: Chord Req: Leon Rosselson: Song of the Old COmmunis
From:
Date: 06 May 05 - 03:56 PM

Hey folks. THis is my first time posting here... or anywhere... ever really. But this May Day I heard my all time favorite folk song (maybe third or fourth favorite) on the radio. I can't find the album wo sind die elephanten anywhere and was wondering if anyone here knew the chords? I think it's in 3/4 time and if I knew the basic chords I could figure it out... but chords I am without. Thanks.

Subject: Chords Add: SONG OF THE OLD COMMUNIST (Rosselson)
From: Piers
Date: 06 May 05 - 05:30 PM

Hi, this is one of my favourite songs too. I knew an old boy who this could have be written about.

I think it's basically along the lines of:

Capo 1
       Am                                                                      
He was one of those dogged old men who live in the past,
                                  Dm            
Telling stories you don't want to know
      Dm
About how it was then, the hunger, the hardship,
                                       Am
The hopes and the struggles of so long ago
       Am
And we must of looked bored, but like sparks from the cinders
                                              Em      
His eyed glowed with anger his words seemed to burn,
                                                                                                                                                             Em
He said I will be heard for my life is not over,
                                              Am
I've something to say yet, you've something to learn

       A
He said you who have nothing at all to believe in
                               E
You who's motto is money comes first
Who are you to tell us that our lives have been wasted                
                                           Am
And all that we fought for has turned into dust

With that chord sequence repeated over and over again. What he plays on the record is a lot more complex.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Leon Rosselson: Song of the Old COm
From: Piers
Date: 06 May 05 - 05:33 PM

Whoops, chords gone awry, I hope you can work it out from this.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Leon Rosselson: Song of the Old COmmuni
From: GUEST,Cory
Date: 06 May 05 - 09:33 PM

Thanks man. It sounds to me like the Fm you had in the verse are actually major. But that sounds right otherwise. I'll figure out the rest from doodling. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Chords: Song of the Old Communist (Leon Rosselson)
From: GUEST,JeremyC
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 09:40 AM

Whoa, does anyone have the full lyrics to this song? It sounds incredible, based on the beginning.

I've been researching Leon Rosselson since it dawned on me a few days ago what a good song "Palaces of Gold" is. It's a pity his stuff is so hard to find in the US. I'm basically stuck with what I can get from itunes or listen to on his myspace page.

Subject: RE: Chords: Song of the Old Communist (Leon Rossel
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 09:52 AM

There was a songbook published a while back by Leon Rosselson. You might search for that.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: ADD: Song of the Old Communist (Leon Rosselson)
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 09:52 AM

Found only this. Will look more later. It's from http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:z2FxPlFJcpoJ:lists.econ.utah.edu/pipermail/rad-green/2002-March/002868.html+%22He+was+one+of


SONG OF THE OLD COMMUNIST
(Leon Rosselson)

He was one of those dogged old men, who live in the past,
telling stories you don't want to know

Of how it was then, the hunger, the hardships
the hopes and the struggles of so long ago.
[.]
You may think we were duped, well we paid for our dreams,
Broken lives, broken marriages, jobs lost and jail.

Some lost heart and left, some betrayed us for metal
There are always some turncoats whose souls are for sale

But the best of us never surrendered our vision
And we kept the faith through the bleakest defeats-
Do you think that was easy, surrounded by hatred,
The sneer of indifference, the hurt of deceit?

And our lives were made rich by the cause that we fought for
The friendships, the fellowship, sharing one's name

To transform society, end exploitation-
And that day will come yet! But not in my time.

Subject: RE: Chords: Song of the Old Communist (Leon Rosselson)
From: Emma B
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 09:55 AM

Jeremy, Leon is still going strong and has recently brought out a new CD !A Proper State'
I saw him in concert last week supported by The Sheffield Socialist Choir - a great evening and some powerful lyrics and singing.

I heartfully concur with the tribute from songlines on the CD cover....

'He has the passion of Brel, the commitment of Brecht and the wit of Lehrer.'

Subject: RE: Chords: Song of the Old Communist (Leon Rossel
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 12:17 PM

Leon has published several books, starting with Look Here back in 1968. That included the prescient (1963) Battle Hymn of the New Labour Party...

Firm principles and policies
Are open to objection-
A streamlined party image is
The way to win election....

Most of them are well out of print and hard to get. Here's his website.

Subject: RE: Chords: Song of the Old Communist (Leon Rosselson)
From: Emma B
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 01:18 PM

World Turned Upside Down - (The Diggers)

Subject: RE: Chords: Song of the Old Communist (Leon Rossel
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 03:33 PM

Probably the best writer of political songs? Great tunes, clever, sharp intelligent words.

Subject: RE: Chords: Song of the Old Communist (Leon Rosselson)
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 09:06 PM

That man can sure turn a phrase, Les.

Subject: RE: Chords: Song of the Old Communist (Leon Rossel
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 09:32 PM

The "World Turned Upside Down" was the first song that attracted my attention to Rosselson but then there were all those topical songs about important urban issues. He obviously had mentored with Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger. There was also a sense of humor in some of his topical songs, which provided them with more political punch. Here's an early example from the draft HOUSING SONG BOOK:

They're Going to Build a Motorway

The construction of a major expressway through older neighborhoods is another way that minorities and other lower income people have been displaced in our cities, and in cities all over the world. This song, by political singer-songwriter Leon Rosselson, was inspired by the devastation caused in the England town of Neasden by the construction of yet another motorway.

Words and music by Leon Rosselson © 1975
Recorded on That's Not the Way It's Got to Be, Acron CF 251

They're Going to Build a Motorway

Chorus:

They're going to build a motorway through my back garden;
No-one can explain how I came to be chosen;
They're going to build a motorway, they're ripping up the trees,
Soon the lorries will be lurching through my cabbages and peas.

Word came from the council, it was all about a plan,
Which I didn't understand but it sounded very grand:
They spoke of urban redevelopment and improving the environment,
They said to ease the traffic flow
A bit of my back yard would have to go;
Well, I don't know –
I suppose that those who've studied it must know best,
And I wouldn't want my vegetable patch to hold up progress. (CHO)

My brother lives in Lilac grove, it's just across the street;
I've not seen him for weeks, we always used to meet
And have a pint or two at the Old Dun Cow;
It's just a heap of rubble now;
The pawnshop's disappeared and so's
The barber's where we always used to go;
But I don't know –
Those noisy great machines are working non-stop,
And funny things are growing and it looks as if a bomb has dropped.

The bulldozers are closing in on my back garden;
No one can explain how I came to be chosen;
The bulldozers are closing in, they're ripped up all the trees;
Soon the lorries will be zooming through my cabbages and peas.

I don't go out much anymore, can't find my way around;
The wind nearly knocks me down,
There's tunnels underground
And just to get about from place to place,
Is like a steeplechase,
Day and night the traffic flows;
It's best to plug your ears and hold your nose;
But I suppose –
I'm better off than some, don't think I'm just sour,
And I'm grateful for the grandstand view I'm getting of the rush-hour.

They've built an eight-lane motorway through my back garden;
No one can explain how I came to be chosen;
They've build an eight-lane motorway, they've ripped up all the trees;
Now lorries zoom where once I grew my cabbages and peas.


Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Chords: Song of the Old Communist (Leon Rossel
From: Colin Randall
Date: 17 Mar 08 - 04:46 PM

There are so many outstanding Leon Rosselson songs that you could go on for ever. Sometimes I think he cannot sing for toffee, but all of the time I feel his voice, with that special quizzical quality and the irony, is spot on for the songs. That probably explains why I didn't care as much for the compilation he produced of his songs by other artists (Rosselsongs?) as I do his own performances

The World Turned Upside Down, The Neighbour's Cat, Wo Sind Die Elefanten, several of the songs on his new album, A Proper State
...as I say the list goes on

But My Father's Jewish World is the one I appreciate most
after The Song of the Old Communist, which was the first item that saran to mind - inspired by this thread - as I drew up a Desert Island style collection of 10 political songs. The set is listed at this Salut! Live link

Subject: RE: Chords: Song of the Old Communist (Leon Rosselson)
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Nov 11 - 11:24 AM

The compilation of cover songs is called "And they all sang Rosselsongs"