Song: The Grey Men of Whitehall
My friend Brian gave me the prompt that became this... tune's brewing.
* * *
THE GREY MEN OF WHITEHALL
The grey men of Whitehall are watching
From comfortable ivory towers
And the grey men of Whitehall sit comfy, running
This country that used to be ours
For the grey men had their education
And society covered the cost
But tell that to the next generation
As if that were all that we’ve lost.
And of course you’ve a right to be angry
There’s enough to be angry about
But point it at those who deserve it
When you’re ready to stand up and shout
The grey men have mortgaged the future
Put a price on what shouldn’t be sold
Oh, the grey men of Whitehall know better
But then they’re not afraid of the cold
There are grey men in each of our cities
Every parish and borough and town
And if you want to take back their power
Then you’d better put your name down
And of course you’ve a right to be angry
Only think before violence takes aim
Does a hundred years trading in tables and chairs
Really merit the fire and the flame?
‘Cos it starts with the local elections
Real people who do give a damn
Or the grey men will carry on suiting themselves
And democracy’s only a sham.
And of course you’re allowed to be angry
But you’d better know who’s getting hurt
And the ambulance man and the shopkeeper both
Bleed the same colour blood down their shirts
And of course you’ve a right to be angry
There’s enough to be angry about
But point it at those who deserve it
When you’re ready to stand up and shout
Words by & © Talis Kimberley 9th August 2011
* * *
THE GREY MEN OF WHITEHALL
The grey men of Whitehall are watching
From comfortable ivory towers
And the grey men of Whitehall sit comfy, running
This country that used to be ours
For the grey men had their education
And society covered the cost
But tell that to the next generation
As if that were all that we’ve lost.
And of course you’ve a right to be angry
There’s enough to be angry about
But point it at those who deserve it
When you’re ready to stand up and shout
The grey men have mortgaged the future
Put a price on what shouldn’t be sold
Oh, the grey men of Whitehall know better
But then they’re not afraid of the cold
There are grey men in each of our cities
Every parish and borough and town
And if you want to take back their power
Then you’d better put your name down
And of course you’ve a right to be angry
Only think before violence takes aim
Does a hundred years trading in tables and chairs
Really merit the fire and the flame?
‘Cos it starts with the local elections
Real people who do give a damn
Or the grey men will carry on suiting themselves
And democracy’s only a sham.
And of course you’re allowed to be angry
But you’d better know who’s getting hurt
And the ambulance man and the shopkeeper both
Bleed the same colour blood down their shirts
And of course you’ve a right to be angry
There’s enough to be angry about
But point it at those who deserve it
When you’re ready to stand up and shout
Words by & © Talis Kimberley 9th August 2011