Upfield

plus Rule Nor Reason/Thatcherites

I’m going upfield, way up on the hillside
I’m going higher than I’ve ever been before
That’s where you’ll find me, over the horizon
Wading in the river, reaching for that other shore

I dreamed I saw a tree full of angels, up on Primrose Hill
And I flew with them over the Great Wen till I had seen my fill
Of such poverty and misery sure to tear my soul apart
I’ve got a socialism of the heart, I’ve got a socialism of the heart

I’m going upfield, way up on the hillside
I’m going higher than I’ve ever been before
That’s where you’ll find me, over the horizon
Wading in the river, reaching for that other shore

The angels asked me how I felt about all I’d seen and heard
That they spoke to me, a pagan, gave me cause to doubt their word
But they laughed and said: “I doesn’t matter if you’ll help us in our art
You’ve got a socialism of the heart, you’ve got a socialism of the heart”

I’m going upfield, way up on the hillside
I’m going higher than I’ve ever been before
That’s where you’ll find me, over the horizon
Wading in the river, reaching for that other shore

Their faces shone and they were gone and I was left alone
I walked these ancient empire streets till I came tearful to my home
And when I woke next morning, I vowed to play my part
I’ve got a socialism of the heart, I’ve got a socialism of the heart

I’m going upfield, way up on the hillside
I’m going higher than I’ve ever been before
That’s where you’ll find me, over the horizon
Wading in the river, reaching for that other shore

You Thatcherites by name, lend an ear, lend an ear
You Thatcherites by name lend an ear
You Thatcherites by name, your faults I will proclaim,
Your doctrines I must blame, you will hear, you will hear
Your doctrines I must blame, you will hear

You privatise away what is ours, what is ours
You privatise away what is ours
You privatise away and then you make us pay
We’ll take it back some day, mark my words, mark my words
We’ll take it back some day, mark my words

The scabs they hide their faces in shame, yes in shame
The scabs they hide their faces in shame
They hide away in shame but we recall their names
And they know they’ll share the blame for it all, for it all
They know they’ll share the blame for it all

Your leader she has gone to the Lords, to the Lords
Your leader, she has gone to the Lords
Your Leader she has gone, but she’s left us Little John
And he’s barely hanging on by his nails, by his nails
He’s barely hanging on by his nails

The wind sways the trees and the raindrops on the leaves
Tumble down, down my neck in the breeze

Yes, it’s true I hid out in the shadow of your doubt,
And this medal that I wear is not for bravery, I’m afraid

And we’re both going to have to accept
That this might be as good as it gets
As our love for each other respects
Neither rule nor reason

The Queen on her throne plays Shirley Bassey
records when she’s all on her own
And she looks out the window
And cries

What should I do? Scratch off all of my tattoos?
And forget those girls’ names?
But you’re not about to let me do that, are you?

And we’re both going to have to accept
That this might be as bad as it gets
As our love for each other respects
Neither rule nor reason

And we’re both going to have to accept
That this might be as big as it gets
As our love for each other respects
Neither rule nor reason

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© Billy Bragg 2021 - 2023