This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Jock's got a vote in Parochia
Ten long years and he's still got her
Paying tax and and doing stir
Worry about it later.
And the wind blows hot and the wind blows cold
But it blows us good so we've been told
Music's food 'til the art-biz folds
Let them all eat culture.
Chorus:
The past is steeped in shame,
But tomorrow's fair game,
For a life that's fit for living
Good morning Britain.
Twenty years and a loaded gun
Funerals, fear and the war ain't won
Paddy's just a figure of fun
It lightens up the danger.
And a corporal sneers at a catholic boy
And he eyes his gun like a rich man's toy
He's killing more than celtic joy
Death is not a stranger.
Taffy's time's gonna come one day
It's a loud sweet voice and it won't give way
A house is not a holiday
Your sons are leaving home Neil.
In the hills and the valleys and far away
You can hear the song of democracy
The echo of eternity
With a Rak-a-Rak-a feel.
Chorus
From the Tyne to where to the Thames does flow
My English brothers and sisters know
It's not a case of where you go
It's race and creed and colour.
From the police cell to the deep dark grave
On the underground's just a stop away
Don't be too black, don't be too gay
Just get a little duller.
But in this green and pleasant land,
Where I make my home, I make my stand
Make it cool just to be a man,
A uniform's a traitor.
Love is international
And if you stand or if you fall,
Just let them know you gave your all,
Worry about it later.
Chorus
Ten long years and he's still got her
Paying tax and and doing stir
Worry about it later.
And the wind blows hot and the wind blows cold
But it blows us good so we've been told
Music's food 'til the art-biz folds
Let them all eat culture.
Chorus:
The past is steeped in shame,
But tomorrow's fair game,
For a life that's fit for living
Good morning Britain.
Twenty years and a loaded gun
Funerals, fear and the war ain't won
Paddy's just a figure of fun
It lightens up the danger.
And a corporal sneers at a catholic boy
And he eyes his gun like a rich man's toy
He's killing more than celtic joy
Death is not a stranger.
Taffy's time's gonna come one day
It's a loud sweet voice and it won't give way
A house is not a holiday
Your sons are leaving home Neil.
In the hills and the valleys and far away
You can hear the song of democracy
The echo of eternity
With a Rak-a-Rak-a feel.
Chorus
From the Tyne to where to the Thames does flow
My English brothers and sisters know
It's not a case of where you go
It's race and creed and colour.
From the police cell to the deep dark grave
On the underground's just a stop away
Don't be too black, don't be too gay
Just get a little duller.
But in this green and pleasant land,
Where I make my home, I make my stand
Make it cool just to be a man,
A uniform's a traitor.
Love is international
And if you stand or if you fall,
Just let them know you gave your all,
Worry about it later.
Chorus
Lyrics submitted by shewouldnt
Good Morning Britain Lyrics as written by Roddy Frame
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I can shed some light on parts of this song:
"Twenty years and a loaded gun Funerals, fear and the war ain't won"
This is referring to the troubles in Ireland where the Republican community fought a guerilla campaign for a united Ireland opposed to being run by Britain. Lots of lives lost on both sides of the conflict. The PIRA campaign had been at a high for ~20 years at the time I believe. "Paddy's just a figure of fun It lightens up the danger."
'Paddys' a derogatory term for the Irish. Their are lots of Anti-Irish jokes. The songs saying it's used to hide a fear of the population.
"And a corporal sneers at a catholic boy And he eyes his gun like a rich man's toy He's killing more than celtic joy Death is not a stranger."
Republicans were often from and supported by the catholic community for reasons beyond the scope of this comment. State institutions such as the police (RUC) and the Army had an institutionalised hatred of republicans and there was a lot of anti-catholic prejudice. The song here is saying that the sneer from a corporal is doing more then upsetting an Irish person, it's adding to the cycle of violence. The young boys looking at the gun and remembering the hate towards himself.
"Taffy's time's gonna come one day It's a loud sweet voice and it won't give way"
Taffy is a derogatory term for the Welsh. Modern Wales hasn't been as active with independence from Britain as Scotland or Ireland, but Aztec Camera is claiming it will happen.
"A house is not a holiday"
One thing that has caused tensions to rise in Wales is holiday homes. Many welsh couldn't and can't buy homes in the areas they grew up while wealthy people by holiday homes in the area that they only stay in for a small portion of the year.
"Your sons are leaving home Neil."
No idea, why I came here. Reply if you know please."
"In the hills and the valleys and far away You can hear the song of democracy The echo of eternity With a Rak-a-Rak-a feel."
Scotland, Wales and Ireland are famous for their valleys and hills. I assume the Rak-a-Rak is the imitation of an automatic weapon, implying democracy via violence.
@CultureShock2 the line "Your sons are leaving home Neil." - I think it's a reference to Neil Kinnock, the Leader of the Labour Party at the time (and also Welsh)
@CultureShock2 the line "Your sons are leaving home Neil." - I think it's a reference to Neil Kinnock, the Leader of the Labour Party at the time (and also Welsh)
@CultureShock2 Good comment, but isn't it the corporal looking at his own gun?
@CultureShock2 Well thought out comments and reasoning. They wouldn't have Corporals in the IRA though. Since it wasn't an actual army. Just terrorists blowing up innocent people.
@CultureShock2 ooSag Thanks for both you. I always assumed Neil was some sort of Irish reference. Pairing the house is not a holiday with Neil the leader, the idea is that the sons have to leave home to make their way. The sons can't afford to stay.