Greedy Fingers – Alun Parry by alunparry

Bolton UNISON commissioned me to write a song supporting the strikes about to take place on November 30th.

So here it is. Enjoy! It’s called Greedy Fingers.

Click here to download Greedy Fingers from iTunes

There is no crisis. Only capitalism is in crisis, but we don’t need capitalism. There is no crisis with regard to anything real. All attempts to worsen our living standards are purely arbitrary. Good luck on November 30th.

This track will be available as a single on iTunes over the next couple of days.

Big thanks to Barry Briercliffe for recording the track and being an all round good egg as ever.

Photo Credit: Bridgid Dineen



Lyrics

I know a man who tried to rob a bank but he did fail
They dragged him to the courthouse and they sent him off to jail
When people rob the banks they are securely locked away
When bankers rob the people they are given extra pay

Get your greedy fingers off the workers pay
Your greedy thieving fingers off the workers pay
Tens and tens of thousands are on strike today
(sayin’) Get your greedy fingers off the workers pay

There’s not really a crisis no matter what they say
There are no less factories than we had yesterday
The same amount of workers, same stuff to make things from
So why do they keep telling us how bad things have become

Get your greedy fingers off the workers pay
Your greedy thieving fingers off the workers pay
Tens and tens of thousands are on strike today
(sayin’) Get your greedy fingers off the workers pay

No asteroid has struck the earth as far as we all know
There is no global drought that means that things no longer grow
There is no epidemic meaning workers are not fit
How can this be a crisis when nothing’s changed a bit

Get your greedy fingers off the workers pay
Your greedy thieving fingers off the workers pay
Tens and tens of thousands are on strike today
(sayin’) Get your greedy fingers off the workers pay

Our wealth is only measured by the things we can create
It’s only rich men’s orders that have shut the factory gate
We have the same ability to make stuff as before
Let’s keep on making things we need and not make people poor

Get your greedy fingers off the workers pay
Your greedy thieving fingers off the workers pay
Tens and tens of thousands are on strike today
(sayin’) Get your greedy fingers off the workers pay

So I am here to tell you of the truth that they conceal
The problem’s with their system not with anything that’s real
Let’s keep our jobs and pensions, there’s a fairer world to choose
The system is the problem, it’s the system we should lose

Get your greedy fingers off the workers pay
Your greedy thieving fingers off the workers pay
Tens and tens of thousands are on strike today
(sayin’) Get your greedy fingers off the workers pay

On Friday 27th August, Barry Briercliffe (pictured, photo by Sharon Latham) is launching his new EP at a live launch gig at the View Two in Liverpool.

For those wanting tickets then they’re on sale here right now!

Barry is a prime contender for nicest bloke on the music scene, so get along and give him a cheer. You won’t be sorry.

As well as Barry topping the bill, there are also performances from Rich Man’s Ruin (that’s me, Vinny and Gabi), a female led Police tribute band, Stuart Todd, and Rae Clark.

So don’t miss out.

More to the point, I met up with Barry yesterday afternoon for a sneak preview of his EP, and it’s a cracker.

I heard all but one track (he’s such a tease!) and I know you’ll all love it. There’s a corker of a summer single on it too that I’m still singing.

So does that makes me an “industry insider” now that I’m getting sneak previews of new albums? Hey maybe it does!! The state of me eh!

We also had a big slab of chocolate cake. Nom nom nom.

To get your tickets for the Barry Briercliffe Album Launch on Fri 27 Aug, just click here

Are you on em?

I bet you are.

Come and have a look

To all who came last night to the Casa, and to everyone who listened in live online, a mega thankyou.

Particular thanks go to Barry Briercliffe and Chad Draper who have been locked away rehearsing with me for the past few weeks, and for The Woolly (Shaz) who has been locked in with us bossing us about and making sure we were on track.

Also thanks to The Woolly for setting up the room for me while I was out grabbing some food (as well as some nifty backing vocals on John Lennon Said!)

Big thanks too to Howard Northover who dashed home from holiday just to do the gig. He’s a good friend and it was fab to gig with him again.

Major major thanks go to Nigel Paice of madbouncydogs.com who had both the dexterity of an octopus and the multitasking skills of an operating system not made by Microsoft. (Yes I know that’s a very nerdy reference).

Nigel not only ran the front of house sound for us, but he ran the on stage sound, while simultaneously beaming out a live broadcast to the internet, and recording the whole show. Wow!

You can find out more about the many services that madbouncydogs offers to musicians at their website.

Thanks too to Deb who monitored the live stream back at home all night long. You defo deserve a mention!

Massive thanks too go to Vinny T Spen and Stuart Todd who performed fantastic sets and each received an enthusiastic encore.

A big thanks to Jo on the merch table who happily took your money from you in exchange for the new album. I hope you all enjoy it.

A big thankyou to our compere Graham Holland who helped organise the event via Liverpool Acoustic Live.

The Liverpool Acoustic Live event normally takes place at View Two Gallery every month and I urge music lovers to give it your support.

Graham is one of the key champions of acoustic music in Liverpool with his podcast, his live events, and his invaluable web directory of what’s on acoustically in Merseyside, liverpoolacoustic.co.uk

Liverpool Acoustic Live’s next event at the View Two is September 25th. Be there for more fun!

Thanks to everyone at The Casa for letting us have the venue, and to the Casa staff for looking after us. Keep supporting The Casa. It was set up by the sacked Liverpool dockers and every penny you spend over that bar supports some fantastic work in the community.

And most of all, thanks to you for coming along, stamping your feet, clapping your hands, standing on the tables, cheering your little heads off, singing along, and buying the album. If it wasn’t for you, it would have been just a big posh rehearsal.

So thanks to you especially.

And a big thanks to Mum n Dad, who always support me more than it’s reasonable to expect. Mwah to yer both!

Watch this space too – I’ll be posting Woolly’s pictures of the event and YOU are on them!!! (Check out Woolly’s amazing photography at dynamophotography.co.uk)

In the meantime, let’s know what you thought of the night by leaving a comment below.

Not much more to say is there

See you at The Casa at 7.30pm.

It’s on Hope Street, Liverpool (between The Phil and The Everyman), and the post code for you sat navvers is L1 9BQ.

Plus it’s FREE entry!

Here’s a map too.

Support is from Stuart Todd and Vinny T Spen.

Those who can’t make it check out the live stream link beamed direct from the Casa from 8pm.

To buy the album online, click here.

See yiz later everyone!