Lyr Add: The Politician Song (Mickey MacConnell)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE POLITICIAN SONG (Mickey MacConnell)
From: Philippa
Date: 09 Jul 99 - 07:24 AM

The Politician Song --Mickey MacConnell (Ireland)

For twenty frantic fruitless years I worked in Derry Town,
Reporting for 'the Derry Journal', I was busy writing down
All the words of politicians in my endless quest for truth.
It was a pointless exercise; I squandered all my youth.
Now, that's the cause of my misfortune, as I'll relate to you,
For I find myself now talking as the politicians do.
And if anyone should ask me, "Do you take sugar in your tea?",
Sure I'll grasp him firmly by the hand and this is what I'll say:

(chorus)
Oh, I'm very glad you asked me that, for at this point in time
In the circumstances that prevail, there is in the pipeline
Infrastructural implications interfaced with lines of thought
Which lends to grassroots liabilities, but at this point I'd rather not
Enunciate in ambiguities, but rather hope to find
Negotiated compromises, which are the bottom line.
For full and frank discussion which could serve to integrate
In broad fundamental principles to which we all relate.
--- in doctrinaire philosophies that any fool can see
In inescapable hypothesis confronting you and me.
For the interest of the common good, now you need never fear,
For I have the matter well in hand; I'm glad I made that clear.

Now as you can imagine, this has greatly changed my life
And an example is that fateful day I went to wed my wife.
Things went happily enough; the priest he asked me with a smile,
"Do you take this woman as your wife?"
And I quickly replied:
"I'm very glad you asked me that...."

Now I'm lying on my deathbed, All filled with mortal dread
For I know that in a moment I will probably be dead.
and when St Peter asks me, "Do you want to come on in?",
I know I'll face damnation for I'm bound to say to him:
"I'm very glad you asked me that..."

other MacConnell songs include Only Our Rivers Run Free, Only Our Rivers (ABC on Mudcat thread) and Peter Pan and Me

Subject: RE: Politian speak (lyrics)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 09 Jul 99 - 07:24 PM

Reminds me of an interesting word I came across recently:

'sesquipedalian' - 'fond of using long or cumbersome words'. This person definitely is! Thanks for posting this, Phlippa! - Susanne

Subject: RE: Politician speak (lyrics)
From: Philippa
Date: 11 Jul 99 - 09:25 AM

I made a typing error in the chorus; the third line should read 'lead' not 'lends': "Which lead to grassroots liabilities which at this point I'd rather not....".
Also, "---in doctrinaire philosophies" should read "not in doctrinaire..."

I got the words from Jens, an Irish-speaking German. Jens made some changes to the words as found on MacConnell's CD "Peter Pan and me" (Spring Records), such as "Dublin" to "Derry" and using direct quotations for questions, for example "Do you take sugar in your tea?" . I prefer those changes, but I've taken the time to compare Jens' transcription to what I hear on the recording and I now offer the following official version:

The Politician's Song --Mickey MacConnell (Ireland) (Elmgrove Music)

Well, for twenty frantic fruitless years I worked in Dublin town, Reporting for newspapers, I was busy writing down All the words of politicians in the endless quest for truth. It was such a wasted exercise; I squandered all me youth. That's the cause of my misfortune, as I'll explain to you, For I find myself now talking like politicians do. So if somebody should ask me do I take sugar in me tay, I grasp him warmly by the hand and this is what I say:

(chorus)
Well, I'm very glad you asked me that, for at this point in time
In the circumstances that prevail, there is in the pipeline
Infrastructural implications interfaced with lines of thought
Which lead to grassroots liabilities which at this point I'd rather not
Enunciate in ambiguities, but rather seek to find
Negotiated compromises, which are the bottom line.
For full and frank discussions which could serve to integrate
The basic fundamental principles to which we all relate.
Not in doctrinaire philosophies that any fool can see
In inescapable hypotheses confronting you and me.
But in the interest of the common good, now you need never fear,
For I have the matter well in hand; I'm glad I made things clear.

Now as you can imagine, this has greatly changed my life
An example is the fateful day on which I wed my wife.
All went well until the moment the priest asked me with a smile, do you take this woman for your wife?
And swiftly I replied: "Well, I'm very glad you asked me that...."

Now I'm lying on my deathbed and I'm filled with mortal dread
For I know that very shortly I will certainly be dead.
and when St Peter asks me do I want to come on in,
I'm sure to face damnation for I know I'll say to him:
"Well, I'm very glad you asked me that..."

p.s. addition to list of Mickey MacConnell songs on the Cat; as far as I recall, MacConnell's version of the Tinkerman's Daughter is on a forum thread also.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE POLITICIAN SONG (Mickey MacConnell)
From: Den
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 03:51 PM

Isn't it the truth.

THE POLITICIAN SONG
Mickey MacConnell

Well, for twenty frantic fruitless years I worked in Dublin town
Reporting for newspapers. I was busy writing down
All the words of politicians in my endless quest for truth.
'Twas at such a wasted exercise I squandered all my youth.

That's the cause of my misfortune, as I'll explain to you,
For I find myself now talking like politicians do,
And if anyone should ask me, do I take sugar in my tay?
I grasp them firmly by the hand and this is what I say:

CHORUS: Well, I'm very glad you asked me that, for at this point in time,
In the circumstances that prevail, there is in the pipeline
Infrastructural implications interfaced with lines of thought,
Which lead to grass-roots viabilities, which at this time I'd rather not
Annunciate in ambiguities but rather seek to find
Negotiated compromises which are the bottom line,
For full and frank discussion which would serve to integrate
With basic fundamental principles to which we all relate,
Not indoctrinaire philosophy, which any fool can see,
An inescapable hypothesis confronting you and me,
So in the interest of the common good, now you need never fear,
For I've got the matter well in hand and I'm glad I've made things clear.

Now as you can imagine this has greatly changed my life.
An example was the fateful day on which I wed my wife.
All went well until the moment the priest asked me with a smile,
"Do you take this woman for your wife?" and swiftly I replied: CHORUS

Now I'm lying in my deathbed and I'm filled with mortal dread,
For I know that very shortly I will certainly be dead,
And when Saint Peter asks me if I'd like to come on in,
I'm sure to face damnation, for I know I'll say to him: CHORUS

https://columsands.bandcamp.com/track/the-politicians-song

Subject: RE: Colum Sands, The Politician's Song
From: Stewart
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 04:50 PM

That's a great song, Den. Has Colum recorded this? I heard him sing in Ireland several years ago and picked up one of his CDs then. Now they are terribly expensive to purchase (from Ireland) in the US due to exchange rates, etc. Colum told me he was going to arrange a distributer in the US. Does anyone know if that has happened or how one can purchase his CDs in the US at a reasonable price.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Colum Sands, The Politician's Song
From: rich-joy
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 07:10 PM

Phil Beck, of West Aussie, has been doing a great version of this song for yonks - and it's not an easy task!!


Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Colum Sands, The Politician's Song
From: Stewie
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 08:01 PM

Stewart,

Colum recorded it on 'The Note That Lingers On' Spring Records SCD 1051. You can purchase this, and a couple of other Colum Sands albums, online from Waterbug Records: CLICK HERE. Their service is excellent.

It should be noted, however, that 'The Politician's Song' was written by Mickey MacConnell. Mickey's own recording may be purchased online from his website.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Colum Sands, The Politician's Song
From: Stewart
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 09:37 PM

Stewie, thanks for the reference to Waterbug Records. I've just ordered Colum's CD "The Note That Lingers On." Ever since I met Colum and heard him sing in Derry, I've become quite a fan. Now I can get his CDs at a reasonable price. And Mickey MacConnell is also another favorite songwriter of mine.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Colum Sands, The Politician's Song
From: Den
Date: 22 Sep 06 - 08:28 AM

Another great track on the CD is The Wake song. Anyone who has been at a wake in rural Ireland will probably relate to this song. All the voices in the background are terrific.

Subject: RE: Colum Sands, The Politician's Song
From: Cllr
Date: 22 Sep 06 - 09:43 AM

I was asked once what i thought of the song when colum came to Bedford FC, as I was at the time a local politician, and I replied
"Well I'm very glad you asked me that for..." Cllr

Subject: RE: Colum Sands, The Politician's Song
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 04:47 AM

Iain MacKintosh used to do it in concert, with that sly grin of his, but to my knowledge he never recorded it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Politician Song (Mickey MacConnell)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Aug 22 - 10:18 PM

Recording by Colum Sands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UcpSb02yOI

Performance by Mel Barratt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK5-Qdq_xDM

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Politician Song (Mickey MacConnell)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Aug 22 - 05:36 AM

I heard Fintan Vallely sing this a good few years ago in the days when he was touring with the late, great Tim Lyons RIP. I think he may have recorded it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Politician Song (Mickey MacConnell)
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 06 Aug 22 - 01:08 PM

I've been singing this for a long time & put it on a CD some years ago. I rang Mickey McConnell to ask permission to do it- 'Fine' he said 'but a word of advice... by the third chorus the listeners should have got the message so just call it a day a few lines into that verse'

I took his advice & it always worked when singing it live, but a reviewer had a go at me for doing it on the CD!