Referendum Blues

It could have been all over. If only that were true. Perhaps the worst of it all is that the referendum was completely unnecessary in the first place. Parliament is the place for decisions on such a scale as this. However imperfect our electoral system (and I am one of those who questions the democratic value in simple majorities and the results of our first-past-the-post elections) at least discussions take place in a debating chamber where some of those debating are well informed and briefed on the issues and where their decisions and processes offer opportunity for scrutiny by us all. 

In contrast to the recent referendum experience, I watched the debates when Equal Marriage legislation was progressing through both houses. I spent a lot of time in London, outside Parliament, speaking to and adding to the noise in support of change to the law to allow fairness for all. I faced and talked to many people who were engaged in counter demonstrations and personally received a lot of abuse from some of those conservative Christians who seemed to make up a majority of those who were campaigning for the status quo at the time.

The remain in or leave the European Union debate has not allowed for the same degree of thoroughness to be exercised. Instead we were forced to watch a very bad circus with remarkably little information readily available. I had to look hard for the kinds of information that would help me make up my mind as to which way I should vote. I also watched a number of YouTube videos from obscure corners of the web where arguments for and against were presented by people in possession of deep and broad knowledge. Above anything else, searching for information on such a potentially vital subject was hugely time-consuming. MPs, on the other hand are theoretically skilled in negotiation and debate and are paid to spend time in discussing legislation. Yes, of course, there are frequent shows of intellectual underdevelopment but, in the main, debate is rigorous, informed and mostly healthy. 

My instinct was that we should stay in the EU although there was a part of me that was drawn to a notion of “independence”. I was not, however, entirely sure that an “out” vote would make the Disunited Kingdom any more independent given a world dominated by multi-national and corporate interests. I felt I needed to find out what had informed these points of view, because I found the “why” difficult to articulate. I was also prepared to encounter and give due consideration to ideas and arguments that told me a different story. Instead, the loudest noises seemed to emanate from a lot of very empty vessels. The main weapons on both sides appeared to be fear of what might happen and lies about the perceived problems. 

Very late in the process I encountered arguments for leaving that were being made from a socialist perspective and these needed far greater consideration than I had the time to invest. By the end of the process I felt angry that the whole deal had been a waste of time and effort on a macro scale. It had generated much more heat than light. The simplicity of the process was a poorly judged exercise in vanity by David Cameron who took a massive gamble with all our futures for the sake of proving how out of touch he really was with popular mood, contrary to his own apparent beliefs.

Inevitably the referendum inspired responses from artists across a number of disciplines. My song, "Referendum Blues”, is one of them.

The lyrics began to take shape as I tried to explore, unravel and articulate my personal points of view. The phrase, “In or out, in or out”, in the first part of the chorus became a hook and suggested a shape for a melody. In the verses the rhythm of the lyrics spilled out in the manner of some mid-sixties protest songs. It didn’t take long to realise that I was channeling Country Joe and The Fish’s “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixing-To-Die Rag”. I used the shape of the opening to inform my own melody and, in effect, “fix” the song as a type of protest. Before I had written the tune for the verses I also felt that the coda should use the English folk song, “The Vicar of Bray”. Roy Harper had, in the 70s, used the tune for the opening of his song, “Kangaroo Blues”. I wanted something that was stereotypically English and I contrasted this with the European anthem, the “Ode To Joy” from the fourth movement of Beethoven’s ninth symphony. Part of this crops up in all the choruses and in full in the final chorus. 

To me, the ultimate compliment was from a fellow songwriter who claimed after a first performance that he had no idea which way I was going to vote. Quite enough of my songs are streams of invective. Here my emotions were aimed at what was going on while our backs were turned and we were distracted by this whole sorry process.

Referendum Blues

Marshlander

       

In June of 1975

Two things happened, changing lives.

Unto us was born a son

Two lives changed by adding one.

The other thing was just as mad,

First referendum we'd ever had.

In or out, in or out,

Do you want to stay in the club?

Out or in, out or in,

Screw the lamb, Le vin is in.

Wilson, Thatcher, Edward Heath

All said, "Oui", to great relief.

Enoch Powell, Tony Benn,

Noes joined, won't see that again. 

Common Market, EEC

Land of opportunity. 

Coal and steel, iron ore and scrap

Put the treaties on the map

Paris, Rome, Maastricht and Lisbon

Brought us into closer union. 

No lire, guilders, marks or francs.

For ECUs, Euros, all give thanks.

In or out, in or out,

Do you want to stay in the club?

Out or in, out or in,

Screw the lamb, Le vin is in.

Wilson, Thatcher, Edward Heath

All said, "Oui", to great relief.

Enoch Powell, Tony Benn,

Noes joined, won't see that again. 

Common Market, EEC

Land of opportunity. 

Here in twenty ... sixteen

Once again the old routine.

Some say yes and some say no,

Some say the Brits have got to go.

Apply distraction, no attempt

To cure the causes of dissent. 

In or out, in or out

Marginal issues abound

Out or in, out or in,

Tear it all up and start again. 

Blame the victims, blame the poor,

Hear the one-percenters roar. 

Fundamentalists and bankers

Multi-national, corporate arms dealers, chemical and energy conglomerates, food manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies.

Tony, Dave and all their mates

Pull up the ladder, lock the gates

Selling England by the pound

We acquiesce without a sound. 

Services we thought we owned

Are gradually being boned. 

Isn't there a cause to riot?

Why is it so bleeding quiet?

The time has come to make a mark

But does it really matter?

I feel I'm stumbling in the dark. 

I'm deaf from all this chatter.

This sideshow, now the main event,

No thoughts of taking action. 

The silver's sold without consent

How clever this distraction.