People think I’m a singer. I don’t see myself that way. I’m a storyteller.
I find stories that interest and inspire me, and I retell them in a portable way that others can pass on too, through song.
People approach me with stories and say “You should write a song about this!” And sometimes I do.
So I’ve decided to make that a feature of this site.
If you hear of a great story or struggle that deserves to be a song, contact me here in the Comments Box below and tell me about it.
If you have some weblinks or info then even better. If not, I’ll do my own research on it.
It needn’t be something grand (although it can be). It might simply be about someone you knew.
But send me the stories you think I should be writing about, big and small.
In the New Year it will be a core part of this website, but why wait til then?
Note: I don’t promise to write about everything I’m sent. Writing just isn’t like that. But imagine how cool it’ll be if one of your suggestions turns into a fully fledged song! Let me hear them.
So what inspires you? Tell me. Soon it could be inspiring lots of other people too, in song.
It’d be an honour if you could write something about the Leeds bin strike, Alun.
If you fancy doing that I could send you some info about the background to the strike etc, cheers, Steve
Would be an honour to write it. We have too many martyr songs in our movement and not enough victory songs. Send it through. I’ve emailed you privately as well Steve.
Al
Hi Alun, perhaps icould write you a song!
Or collabarate on one i have plenty of ideas and insperation ! TITLE -”BLUE COLLAR BLUES”
VERSE 1-
It’s a dead end job it’s the end of the line
the union’s can’t help it’s has been compromised
There’s to many jobsworths with their suouts
in the trough! Everymothers son sucking up to a Boss!
VERSE2-
I’m working overtime for the man,he’s got me doing
more than i can!
And i still can’t get a penny ahead,i Can’t stay ahead of the law
What am i going to do when the baliffs come knocking
on my door?
CHORUS- WHERE ARE YOU ARTHUR SCARGHILL
WHEN WE NEED YOU NOW ?
NOT ANOTHER NEW LABOUR CHAMPAIGN SOCIALIST
BUT IT SEEMS THERE’S LITTLE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
PRIVATE EYE KEEP ON LOOKING BECAUSE I’M
GETTING THE BLUE COLLAR BLUES!
You were moaning a week or so ago about not liking Christmas. So why don’t you write what the world has been waiting for – a Liverpool unChristmas song.
(Eat your hearts out, Pogues.)
It’s strange that you should post this at this time as last night I was considering how else i could help a new workers co-op I’ve been working with. For anyone reading this who doesn’t know me, I was the guy who supplied and ranthe PA at the ‘World Stop’ launch party.
If I may take the liberty of using your page to link to their site and tell you a little about them:
http://www.whomadeyourpants.co.uk is a workers co-operative, empowering marginalised women by providing flexible employment, education and a social and community space. They launch properly on December 1st and surprise surprise, they make pants!
I put together a fundraising album for them earlier this year with contributions from artists such as Howard Jones, Chumbawumba and Kajagoogoo to name but three and I was thinking that a live music festival in the summer months of 2010 would be awesome. I think I’d call it ‘Support Pants’.
So if your creative juices can write about underwear and marginalised women, then we have another great way to raise some much needed cash.
Any musicians, artists, or generally nice people reading this who would like to donate time, money or the sweat of their creative endevours to help out, please contact me.
Normal service will now be resumed.
Sorry for hijacking your comments
Nigel Paice
nigel@madbouncydogs.com
you could write songs about the war in AFGHANISTAN !
RECESSION, THE BANKERS,HOODIES ,GANGS , DRUGS AND GUNS
WOOLIES CLOSING, LIVERPOOL 1, CELEBRITY CULTURE,REALITY TV
CLIMATE CHANGE,CHIDLE OF ALE,CHIP SHOPS OR TAKERWAYS,
REAL ALE AND FIZZ,UGG BOOT GENERATION, SEX WORKERS,
THE KING OF KNOTTY ASH, LAMB BANNANA’S AND GO PENGUINS,
BEATLES OR THE STONES?, BURSTING SPOTS!, THE DAY I FIRST THREW UP!, FONDLY REMEMBERED DAYS ON THE POTTIE!,
FOLLWING THE TEACHINGS OF MARX(GROUCHO,CHICO,AND HARPO!)
LAST BUS TO THE PIERHEAD, SCOUSERS OR SCALLIES?,
BEATLETOURIST LAND, CLIMBING THE GREASEY POLE
SHAKEHANDS WITH YOUR BEST MATE, BUYING DODGEY GEAR
IN THE PUB, MAKE MY DAY LIKE DIRTY HARRY!,
One thing I’d really like here is stories rather than themes. Personal stories that bring the themes down to human level.
For instance, one could write about trade unionism as a theme, but it’s better to write about Des Warren.
I could write about health and safety issues in the building industry, or I could write about Patrick O’Sullivan.
Themes are fine too of course, but they’re more likely to get my creative juices flowing if they are accompanied by ordinary folk like us talking about how it impacted them.
Keep the ideas comin’ everyone!!
Al
I’ve got something for you Al. Something simple at first glance.
‘FINGERS CROSSED’
Bet you can’t do anything with that. Hope you can.
best regards, Pablo
Think I cocked up with my e-mail.
Like I said ‘Fingers Crossed’ Gotta be a song in that mate.
Derek Hatton?
JIM ROYALE ALPHA MALE,!MERSEY GOLDFISH!,CITIZEN SMITH!,
The revolution comes (after closing time!),
20 pint Che Guevra,