Shipbuilding

Words by ELVIS COSTELLO
Music by CLIVE LANGER
Released as a single in 1982 by ROBERT WYATT

Read more about Shipbuilding on 300 Words

Is it worth it
A new winter coat and shoes for the wife
And a bicycle on the boys birthday
Its just a rumour that was spread around town
By the women and children
Soon well be shipbuilding

Well I ask you
The boy said dad they're going to take me to task
But I'll be back by christmas
Its just a rumour that was spread around town
Somebody said that someone got filled in
For saying that people get killed in
The result of this shipbuilding

With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls
Its just a rumour that was spread around town
A telegram or a picture postcard
Within weeks they'll be re-opening the shipyards
And notifying the next of kin
Once again
Its all were skilled in
We will be shipbuilding

With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls

Read more about Shipbuilding on 300 Words

England, Half English

SUNG BY; Billy Bragg

Return to 300 words: Happy St George's Day!

My mother was half-English
And I’m half-English too
I’m a great big bundle of culture
Tied up in the red, white and blue
I’m a fine example of your Essex Man
And I'm well familiar with the Hindustan
‘Cos my neighbours are half-English
And I’m half-English too

My breakfast was half-English
And so am I you know
I had a plate of Marmite soldiers
Washed down with a cappuccino
And I have a veggie curry about once a week
The next day I fry it up as ‘Bubble ‘N’ Squeak’
Cos my appetite’s half-English
And I’m half-English too

Dance with me
To this very English melody
From Morris dancing to Morrissey
All that stuff came from across the sea

Britannia she’s half-English
She speaks Latin at home
St. George was born in the Lebanon
How he got here I don’t know
And those three lions on your shirt
They never sprang from England’s dirt
Them lion’s are half-English
And I’m half-English too

Oh my country
Oh my country
Oh my country
What a beautiful country you are

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Nearer my God to Thee

Words and music by SARAH FLOWER ADAMS

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Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;
Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,

Chorus: Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee,

Chorus

There let the way appear steps unto heav'n;
All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv'n;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee,

Chorus

Then with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee,

Chorus

Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upwards I fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee,

Chorus

There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer my God to Thee.

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Something Inside So Strong

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WORDS AND MUSIC: Labi Siffre

The higher you build your barriers
The taller I become
The further you take my rights away
The faster I will run
You can't deny me
You can't decide to turn your face away
No matter 'cause there's

Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Though you're doing me wrong so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Something inside so strong
Oh no something inside so strong

The more you refuse to hear my voice
The louder I will sing
You hide behind walls of Jericho
Your lines will come tumbling
Deny my place sometime
You squander wealth that's mine
My light will shine so brightly it will burn you
'Cause there's

Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Though you're doing me wrong so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Something inside so strong
Oh no something inside so strong

Click to go to "protest songs: Something Inside So Strong" at 300 words