> Is this Billy Bragg's satire on New Labour? My understanding is that the old
> song was sung up until Blair became PM.
>
> Mike B)
No -- the words below are Leon Rosselson's, and date from the period when Harold Wilson was Labour Prime Minister. Billy Bragg's contribution to Red Flaggery was to record the song about twenty years ago with the original tune, a lively Scottish reel tune called The White Cockade, as opposed to the more familiar, but drearier tune Tannenbaum. And the Labour Party still sings The Red Flag at the end of every Party Conference. Not even Blair could get rid of that.
Gar only posted some of the words of the parody version: the full song is called "The Battle Hymn of the New Socialist Party":
The cloth cap and the working class As images are dated, For we are Labour's avant-garde And we were educated. We feel we ought to drop Clause Four, To make the public love us more; And just to show we're still sincere We sing The Red Flag once a year.
Firm principles and policies Are open to objections, And a streamlined party image is The way to win elections. So raise the red rose on high, The well-cut suit, the tasteful tie. We'll stand united, raise a cheer And sing The Red Flag once a year.
It's one step forward, one step back: Our dance is devilish daring. A leftward shuffle, a rightward tack, Then pause to take our bearings. We'll reform the country bit by bit So nobody will notice it, Then ever after, never fear, We'll sing The Red Flag once a year.
We shall not cease from mental fight Till every wrong is righted, And all men are equal quite, And all our leaders knighted. For we are sure if we persist To make the New Year Honours List; Then every loyal Labour peer Will sing The Red Flag once a year.
So vote for us, and not for them, We're just as true to NATO And we'll be as calm and British when We steer the ship of state-o. We'll stand as firm as them To show we're patriotic gentlemen. Though man to man shall brothers be, To keep the Bomb's our policy.
So raise the mushroom clouds on high, Within their shade we'll live - and die. Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, We'll sing The Red Flag once a year.
[The tune changes a bit in the middle of the "so vote for us" verse, to incorporate a snatch of God Save The Queen!]
Chris
> *********
>
>
> Gar Lipow posted:
>
> The people's flag is palest pink
> It's not the colour you might think
> White collar workers stand and cheer
> The Labour government is here
> We'll change the country bit by bit
> So nobody will notice it
> And just to show that we're sincere
> We'll sing The Red Flag once a year
>
> The cloth cap and the wollen scarf
> Are images outdated
> For we're the party's avant garde
> And we are educated
> So raise the rolled umbrella high
> The college scarf, the old school tie
> And just to show that we're sincere
> We'll sing The Red Flag once a year
>
>> The Red Flag
>> (James O'Connell, 1899)
>>
>> The worker's flag is deepest red
>> It shrouded oft our martyred dead;
>> And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold
>> Their life-blood dyed its every fold.
>