Month: July 1993

The Inadequacy Of Socialist Endeavour, NewsRevue Lyric, 12 July 1993

Writing in March 2019, it is strange to recall that sense we had in the early 1990s that somehow the Labour Party was conspiring with itself to avoid ever returning to power. That emotion seems so very late 2010’s.

In 2019, the irony of my mentioning the newborn UNISON in this 1993 song is not wasted on me either, as my working life has got me so very close to that organisation these last 20 years or so.

There is irony that I hope goes unwasted in my choice of Brecht/Weill music for this lyric. But then what would an ethnically-challenged dude like me know of irony, I can almost hear Jeremy Corbyn cry?

Anyway, here’s the lyric:

THE INADEQUACY OF SOCIALIST ENDEAVOUR


(To the Tune of “The Inadequacy Of Human Endeavour”)
 
VERSE 1
 
The Labour Party’s not,
About to stop the rot,
We always seem to top the polls but still win not a lot.
Every by-election,
Seems to go the Liberals way,
When will we Socialists find,
Something new to say?
 
VERSE 2
 
Trades unions main whim,
Is keeping Labour’s vim,
They merge to form a big block vote and longer acronym.
COHSE, NUPE, NALGO,
Now all work in UNISON;
Even tho’ six months ago,
None of them got on.
 
VERSE 3
 
The Tories reach nadirs,
With frauds and sexual smears,
But Labour still has failed to win for nearly twenty years.
Smith and Margaret Beckett,
Are an unattractive pair;
No-one believes the rumours,
About their affair.
 
VERSE 4
 
Now we’re more like the right,
We’ll get out of our plight,
The people will trust us again and then we’ll win the fight.
Cuts and lower taxes,
Claw back benefits we paid ‘ya;
Soon all the woolly lefties,
Will vote for John Major.

Here is a link to the song Das Lied von der Unzulänglichkeit des menschlichen Strebens, sung by Bertold Brecht himself, with the lyrics underneath. Or, if you just want to hear the song and see what Brecht looked like, click the embedded link below.

If you want an English translation of the lyrics, The Inadequacy (or Insufficiency) Of Human Endeavour, click here.

Dinner At John & Mandy’s Place, 10 July 1993

The diaries are consistent on this – Saturday evening dinner at John & Mandy’s place (Dangan Road, Wanstead).

I think we went for a walk around the area before dinner on that occasion, as it was our first visit to that house and the days are long at that time of year. I remmeber doing that walk in the light.

We had a very good meal, although in truth I cannot describe exactly what we ate. I’m guessing that John cooked something with a southern asian theme, but not too hot and spicy because he knew that Janie doesn’t go for very spicy food.

I think it is fair to say that we probably drank some good wine too and I know that we did all enjoy the evening, as was our wont on those occasions when we four got together for meaks back then…and still, 26+ years later.

I wonder whether John remembers any details.

Dinner With Phillie, Charlie & Others, But Where?, 3 July 1993

Janie’s diary says that Phillie [& Charlie] arrived on the Friday (2 July) and that Janie and I stayed at my palce that night. I’m guessing that the previous visit at Easter all squeezing into Sandall Clsoe had made that idea fall from favour. There was no need, given my flat’s proximity.

Janie’s diary says 6:45 at Restaurant “arrange three taxis”, so I am guessing that Pauline joined us as well.

But no clues as to the location.

It might have been North China again – I think we did all go there more than once and that location would have seemed ideal for triangulating those three addresses.

Michael Mates, NewsRevue Lyric, 2 July 1993

I even had to look up Michael Mates, writing over 25 years later in March 2019, to remind myself about him. He was a Tory MP. But why I thought he was lyric-worthy in 1993 is a bit of a mystery to me, other than the link with Asil Nadir alluded to in the lyric. I don’t think this piece was used in the show.

MICHAEL MATES

(To the Tune of “My Old Man Said Follow The Van”)
 
 
OPENING BIT
 
Michael Mates,
Brought on mass debates,
And caused lots of ‘asil on the way;
Off went Nadir with ‘is wrist watch tickin’,
John Major wished that Mates had gone with ‘im.
 
MIDDLE BIT
 
John dillied and dallied,
Dallied and dillied,
Changed ‘is mind, u-turned, gave Mates the sack.
 
CLOSING BIT
 
But they can’t judge the special Serious Fraud Office,
‘Cos Nadir ain’t coming back.

Here’s Marie Lloyd singing “My Old Man Said ‘Follow The Van!'”, with the lyrics on the screen. The chorus arrives after about 40 seconds:

https://youtu.be/bALc3o0y5Kc