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

Click to return to Protest Songs: nearer my God to Thee

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

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

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

Milim

Words by NOAM HOREV
Music by TOMER ADADDI
Released as a single by HAREL SKAAT(2010)

Israel's entry for Eurovision 2010 in Oslo, Norway. An English translation, provided by Eurovision, is below the Hebrew lyrics.

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שוב העצב כאן
שוב הפחד קם
והסוף נרקם
בחלוני
זגוגית סדוקה
ושוב שתיקה
מותשת וזרוקה
בדמיוני
האור נרדם
דמעות של דם
שורפות לי בגרון
ידית שרוטה
תקרה שמוטה
כשאני שר לך את השיר האחרון

השארת לי רק מילים
מקלט בין הצללים
ספרים מסודרים ובין החדרים
השארת לי רק מילים
זר של מנעולים
אלוהים, השארת לי רק מילים

קירות שותקים עכשיו
ומה לקחת כשברחת
כן, מה לקחת
במלחמה הזאת אולי ניצחת
ומה נשאר לי כשהלכת?

השארת לי רק מילים
מקלט בין הצללים
ספרים מסודרים ובין החדרים
השארת לי רק מילים
זר של מנעולים
אלוהים, השארת לי רק מילים

וגם לקרח קר
כשאני נזכר
איך את היום מולו
מוארת בצילו
נשברת בשבילו
את המילים שהשארת לי
את עכשיו אומרת לו

once again the sadness is here
again fear has risen
and the end is at my window
cracked glass, silence again and
exhausted and cast aside
in my mind
the light fell asleep, tears of blood
burning my throat
scratched handle ,fallen ceiling
when singing to you the last song

you left me only words
Refuge in the shadows
arranged books
and in between the rooms
you left me only words
and a bouquet of locks
god
you left me only words

the walls are silent now
and what did you take
when you ran away
yes, what did you take
you might have won this war
what is left when you are gone?

you left me only words
Refuge between the shadows
arranged books
and in between the rooms
you left me only words
locks bouquet
god
you left me only words

to the ice is also cold
When I remember
how today you are in front of him
Lightning in his shadow
Breaking for him
the words you left me
You are telling him

Algo Pequeñito

Words and music by: JESÚS CAÑADILLA, LUIS MIGUEL DE LA VARGA,
ALBERTO JODAR, DANIEL DIGES
Released as a single by DANIEL DIGES (2010)

Click here to return to Tales from a Draughty Old Fen: Eurovision Awaits


This song, whose title means Something Tiny is one of my two picks to win the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo tonight, my other pick being the Nederlands' entry. The English translation, from Spain's page on the Eurovisions Song Contest Oslo 2012 website, is underneath the Spanish words.

Algo pequeñito, algo chiquitito
Una rosa blanca, una caricia,
un beso dulce y un perdón.

Algo pequeñito, algo chiquitito,
un gesto tierno, una mirada,
un abrazo, una flor.

Algo pequeñito, algo chiquitito,
un simple te quiero con dulzura
uon cariño y con pasión.

Es lo que te pido amor,
Mi vida se derrumba, me partes el corazón
Trata pronto de cambiar,
El tiempo se termina ahora de verdad

Algo pequeñito, oh oh oh ooooh
Algo chiquitito, oh oh oh ooooh
Cosas simples que ahora no me das,
que te pido con locura si no quieres terminar.
Algo pequeñito oh oh oh ooooh
Algo chiquitito oh oh oh ooooh
En tus manos tienes la ocasión,
hoy decides si quererme
o romperme el corazón.

Algo pequeñito, algo muy bonito,
Tu pelo al viento que se enreda entre mis manos al calor.

Has sabido comprender
que las pequeñas cosas son las que hacen esto arder.
Ahora trata de cambiar,
El resto de las cosas ya se arreglarán

Algo pequeñito oh oh oh ooooh
Algo chiquitito oh oh oh ooooh
Cosas simples que ahora sí me das,
Que te quiero con locura y siempre yo te voy a amar.
Algo pequeñito oh oh oh ooooh
Algo chiquitito oh oh oh ooooh
En tus manos tienes la ocasión
decidiste tú quererme y no romperme el corazón
no romperme el corazón

Algo pequeñito oh oh oh ooooh
Algo chiquitito oh oh oh ooooh
Cosas simples que ahora no me das
que te pido con locura si no quieres terminar.
Algo pequeñito oh oh oh ooooh
Algo chiquitito oh oh oh ooooh
En tus manos tienes la ocasión
Tú decides si quererme o romperme el corazón.

SOMETHING TINY

Something tiny
Something really little
A white rose, a caress
A sweet kiss and an apology

Something tiny
Something really little
A tender gesture, a look
An embrace, a flower.

Something tiny
Something really little
A simple “I love you” with sweetness,
with affection andwith passion.

That’s all I ask you, my love
My life is falling apart, you’re breaking my heart
Try to change soon
Time is really running out now.

Something tiny, oh oh oh ooooh
Something really little, oh oh oh ooooh
Simple things that you’re not giving me now
I´m asking you for like crazy, if you don’t want it to end
Something tiny, oh oh oh ooooh
Something really little, oh oh oh ooooh
The choice is in your hands
Today you decide whether to love me
Or to break my heart

Something tiny
something really pretty
Your wind-blown hair entwined in the warmth of my hands
You managed to understand
That it’s the small things that keep this fire alive
Now, try to change,
The rest will sort itself out

Something tiny, oh oh oh ooooh
Something really little, oh oh oh ooooh
The simple things that now you are giving me
I love you like crazy and will always love you
Something tiny, oh oh oh ooooh
Something really little, oh oh oh ooooh
The choice is in your hands
You decided to love me and not to break my heart,
Not to break my heart

Something tiny, oh oh oh ooooh
Something really little, oh oh oh ooooh
Simple things that you’re not giving me now
I´m asking you for like crazy, if you don’t want it to end
Something tiny, oh oh oh ooooh
Something really little, oh oh oh ooooh
The choice is in your hands
Today you decide whether to love me
Or to break my heart

Ik Ben Verliefd

Words and music by PIERRE KARTNER
Released as a single by SIENEKE (2010)

Click here to return to Tales from a Draughty Old Fen: Eurovision Awaits

This is the Netherlands' entry for the Eurovision Song contest 2010, which is one of my two favourites to win, the other being the Spanish enty. Translation from the Netherlands' Eurovision Song Contest Olso 2010 page below the Dutch words.

'K ben vergeten waar ik dit liedje heb gehoord in de zomerzon
Ik geloof dat 't toen daar met jou op 't strand was in Lissabon
Of was 't daar toen in Parijs
Achter 'n coupe vers mokka ijs
'T kan ook zijn dat 't was met z'n twee boven zee in die luchtballon

Shalalie shalala
Shalalie shalala 't gaat niet uit m'n kop
Shalalie shalala
Shalalie shalala ik sta d'r 's morgens mee op
Ik ben verliefd op jou
Daarom vergeet ik alles gauw
En weet ik 't niet meer
Shalalie shalala
Shalalie shalala zo gaat 't ongeveer

Ik ben verliefd ik ben verliefd
Ik ben verliefd.........dat kun je zo zien

'T kan ook zijn dat ik samen met jou in 't vliegtuig naar Oslo zat
Of kwam 't uit 'n cafe in zo'n straatje we waren in Trinidad
Of was 't met 'n goed glas wijn op dat terrasje in Berlijn
Of was 't Moskou waar ik mijn eerste kus van jou heb gehad

Hoe kan ik dat... Hoe kan ik dat
Hoe kan ik dat... Hoe kan ik dat
Hoe kan ik dat nou vergeten

Shalalie shalala
Shalalie shalala 't gaat niet uit m'n kop
Shalalie shalala Shalalie shalala
ik sta d'r 's morgens mee op
Ik ben verliefd op jou
Daarom vergeet ik alles gauw
En weet ik 't niet meer
Shalalie shalala
Shalalie shalala zo gaat 't ongeveer

Shalalie shalala
Shalalie shalala 't gaat niet uit m'n kop
Shalalie shalala Shalalie shalala
ik sta d'r 's morgens mee op
Ik ben verliefd op jou
Daarom vergeet ik alles gauw
En weet ik 't niet meer
Shalalie shalala
Shalalie shalala zo gaat 't ongeveer
Shalalie shalala
Shalalie shalala ja ik weet 't alweer....!

I’M IN LOVE (SHA-LA-LIE)

I’ve forgotten where I heard this song in the summer sun,
I believe it was with you there on the beach in Lisabon
Or was it there that time in Paris,
With a bowl of fresh mocha ice cream
Or could it have been with the two of us over the sea in that hot-air balloon

Shalalie Shalala
Shalalie Shalala, I can’t get it out of my head
Shalalie Shalala
Shalalie Shalala it’s there when I get up in the morning
I’m in love with you
That’s why I soon forget everything
And I don’t remember
Shalalie Shalala
Shalalie Shalala, that’s about how it goes

I’m in love, I’m in love
I’m in love ……..it easily shows

It’s also quite possible that I was on a plane to Oslo with you
Or was it coming from a bar in this alley when we where in Trinidad
Or with a fine glass of wine on that little terrace in Berlin
Or was it Moscon where I got my first kiss from you

How come I... How come I
How come I How come I
How come I don’t remember

Shalalie Shalala
Shalalie Shalala, I can’t get it out of my head
Shalalie Shalala
Shalalie Shalala it’s there when I get up in the morning
I’m in love with you
That’s why I soon forget everything
And I don’t remember
Shalalie Shalala
Shalalie Shalala, that’s about how it goes

Shalalie Shalala
Shalalie Shalala, I can’t get it out of my head
Shalalie Shalala
Shalalie Shalala it’s there when I get up in the morning
I’m in love with you
That’s why I soon forget everything
And I don’t remember
Shalalie Shalala
Shalalie Shalala, that’s about how it goes
Shalalie Shalala
Shalalie Shalala Yes, I remember now! …..!