Politics again. Hot off the press. This is what I do; things fire me up and come out as songs for the moment. This is for the Occupy protests everywhere and especially London, and for the Revd Giles Fraser, a man of faith, courage and integrity. His faith is not mine but I respect him very much.
This is a 'studio rough' version, available for free here (while my Bandcamp free downloads last!) because I wanted to be able to share it while it's fresh and topical. Everything mentioned in the song has a good reason to be there, truly... go and look at the website of the church in question if you're not sure why! My dearest Christian friends aren't offended by this, and I hope you aren't either, but this is what my song needed to say. We are the 99%... please share it, quote it, link it and pass it on if you like it. And hey - sing it at St Pauls for me!
lyrics
THE STEPS OF PAUL’S
On the eve of the feasts of St Jude and St Simon
The good Christian Reverend Fraser resigned
While democracy stumbles and falls here on the steps of St Pauls.
The whispering gallery’s noisy with rumour
Great Paul’s saying nothing, but fear like a tumour
Is ruling within these fine halls under the dome of St Paul’s
Christopher Robin and Christopher Wren,
When will my England lie easy again?
With sanctuary offered to the women and men
Who stand on equality’s side?
While democracy stumbles and falls, here on the steps of St Pauls.
Bookends and stationery, jigsaws and gifts
For you lovers of luxury, strangers to thrift
All your cufflinks and printed silk shawls bought from the shop of St Pauls
Gordon Brown’s laughing so all must be well
‘We’re a centre for public debate’ say the bells
The economists set out their stalls under the dome of St Paul’s
Christopher Robin and Christopher Wren,
When will my England lie easy again?
With sanctuary offered to the women and men
Who stand on equality’s side?
The good Christian Reverend Fraser resigns,
But the bulk of his colleagues have pulled down the blinds
While their restaurant serves only the finest of wines
And the organ plays ‘Here comes the Bride’...
With your cufflinks and printed silk shawls bought from the shop of St Pauls
While democracy stumbles and falls, here on the steps of St Pauls
{Do let’s go see the cathedral again
It’s sure to be open at twenty past ten}
Was a sanctuary inside these walls when this was the church of St Pauls
Well the tourists are missing their clotted cream scones
It’s fourteen pounds fifty, one adult alone
And please, if the Archbishop calls, tell him I’ve gone to St Pauls
Christopher Robin and Christopher Wren,
When will my England lie easy again?
With sanctuary offered to the women and men
Who stand on equality’s side?
The good Christian Reverend Fraser resigns,
But the bulk of his colleagues have pulled down the blinds
While their restaurant serves only the finest of wines (don’t you know...)
And the organ plays ‘Here comes the Bride’...
Was a sanctuary inside these walls - with your cufflinks and printed silk shawls
While democracy stumbles and falls, here on the steps of St Pauls.
The economists set out their stalls, and please, if the Archbishop calls, tell him
Your god’s not returning his calls, he’s here with the rest of us - watching St Paul’s.
"I'm a songwriter and singer; my songs are spun from folklore and history, stirred well with a hazel wand and served with
cake. I'll sing you ravens and bones and the story behind the story, I'll sing you bread and apples, ghosts and knitting, and bring you home with a pocketful of feathers and hope"
Voice / guitar / English concertina
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