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Have You Ever Been Away Lyrics
Your `fight them on the beaches' speeches make me despair
'Cause if there's one thing we can guarantee is you will not he there
Tidying your room, making up your bed
And if your diary's full that week you'll send us lot instead
Send us lot instead, put a poppy by my lovers bed
We believe you when you say you've hurt your back
Have you ever been away
Where were you when we took Calais?
You don 't know, you don't care
You 're just glad that you wasn't there
Have you ever been away
I'm afraid your Rule Britannia mania doesn't ring so true
If I was captain of the waves I'd turn the gun on you
Any last requests before you join dead?
I'll crap into your Union Jack and wrap it round your head
Wrap it round your head, take a look at all the blood we've shed
We'll believe you when you say it was worth it
Liberate the streets of Europe, give our kids a chance
Give them Beaujolais by tap and cheap day trips to France
But you have never seen or smelt this ungodly death
It's like the stench of roasted lamb upon your father's breath
'Cause if there's one thing we can guarantee is you will not he there
Tidying your room, making up your bed
And if your diary's full that week you'll send us lot instead
We believe you when you say you've hurt your back
Where were you when we took Calais?
You don 't know, you don't care
You 're just glad that you wasn't there
Have you ever been away
If I was captain of the waves I'd turn the gun on you
Any last requests before you join dead?
I'll crap into your Union Jack and wrap it round your head
We'll believe you when you say it was worth it
Give them Beaujolais by tap and cheap day trips to France
But you have never seen or smelt this ungodly death
It's like the stench of roasted lamb upon your father's breath
Song Info
Submitted by
mysteriousdragon On Aug 06, 2002
More The Beautiful South
36D
Song For Whoever
Let Love Speak Up Itself
Don't Marry Her
You Keep It All In
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I'm pretty sure this is looking back at world war two... All about how the people that fought at the men that didn't for what ever reason. I think it's also saying that being patriotic is the last thing on your mind when all your mates are being blown up or shot and you're next.... any ideas? - Joe
It's not just about World War 2, but all wars. Paul Heaton, the song writer, feels very strongly about politicians who send millions of soliders off to their deaths but would never dream of going themselves. Whilst it specifically refers to WWII in the song, it's meant to be applied to all wars since then as well. I think he's saying that the politicians can claim that it's about patriotic, but how patriotic can they be if they won't fight themselves? And is being patriotic a good enough reason to kill so many people if it isn't enough for them to go to their own deaths? Obviously Paul heaton thinks not, and that's one of the key messages of the song.