Lyr Req: Jewel in the Crown

Subject: Lyr Req: Jewel in the Crown
From:
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 09:52 AM

Went to Old Songs here in upstate New York and the top bill was Fairport Convention. Was a blast (also Little Johnnie England). Topic/Free Reed released the Freeport Unconvnetional 5 CD set with book, family tree and all. I had fuzzy memories from the '60', but this brought it all back. Listening to the CDs, I'm particularly struck by the applicability of JitC's lyrics to our current adventures in world disordering...
"We are a proud land, we stand for freedom"
"We need no conscience, God is on our side"
"We are your friendly liberators,
free your country,
from your dictator,
for a small slice of your oilwells
we'll send our boys in,
with their gunshells."
written in '95, too.............
Anyone have the complete lyrics

"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jewel in the Crown
From: GUEST,Phil
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 07:42 PM

This sounds like a song by Chris Mattews and Julie While - great singers and song writers from the north of England.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jewel in the Crown
From: Kudzuman
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 07:54 PM

What a geat song!! Don't have all the lyrics with me. Check their site. They may be there.... ahhh...visionaries....ain't they great!!

Kudzuman

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jewel in the Crown
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 08:02 PM

Didn't find a website for them; and, it seems to be White not While.

Subject: Lyr Add: JEWEL IN THE CROWN (Julie Matthews)
From: delphinium
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 08:55 PM

I think its actually Julie Matthews & Chris While. The song was written by Julie Matthews. Here are the words as Simon Nicol sings them on Fairport's "Jewel in the Crown" CD (my transcription - if there were lyrics with the CD, I've lost 'em).

JEWEL IN THE CROWN
by Julie Matthews

We are a proud land, we stand for freedom,
We've got the franchise - on how to lead them,
We've got the history - books to prove it,
Give us a mountain - and we will move it,
We rule the waves and - the seven seas
We - bring the mighty - to their knees
We - offer hope and – inspiration,
A fine example – to lesser nations,
We are Britannia, the jewel in the crown.

We brought a system – to the masses,
Divide the nation – into classes,
It's in our breeding – and on our faces,
At least we're all born – knowing our places,
We stay within our – social borders,
We only take what – our class affords us,
It doesn't matter – that it's not even,
It's just the nature – of the demon,
We are Britannia, the jewel in the crown.

   We are Britannia, we crowned? an empire,
   We came and conquered, we tore their borders down,
   We need no conscience, God is on our side,
   We are Britannia, the jewel in the crown.

We are your friendly – liberators,
We'll free your country – from your dictators,
For a small slice – of your oil wells,
We'll send our boys in – with their gun shells,
We are a refuge – for the needy,
Always caring – never greedy,
Whatever gesture – could be finer,
We've given Hong Kong – back to China,
We are Britannia, the jewel in the crown.

   We are Britannia, we crowned? an empire,
   We came and conquered, we tore their borders down,
   We need no conscience, God is on our side,
   We are Britannia, the jewel in the crown.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jewel in the Crown
From: michaelr
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 09:34 PM

delphinium, you've got it right. My CD insert contains the lyrics, along with this comment:

Jewel in the Crown was, I guess, my way of channeling a very angry mood. Anger at the way so many people still glorify the ills we've committed in the making of the empire. Anger at the class system that still ravages our society. What price, the Jewel in the Crown?" -- Julie Matthews

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jewel in the Crown
From: delphinium
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 10:11 PM

Michael, thanks for checking. I like the CD, will have to locate the insert.

I saw somewhere that "The Jewel in the Crown" was also the name of Fairport's favourite take-away curry house.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jewel in the Crown
From: michaelr
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 10:28 PM

Yes, it's shown on the back of the insert.