Too Good To Be Forgotten
Inspired by Too Good To Be Forgotten – Amazulu, Don't Pay The Ferryman – Chris de Burgh, I Predict A Riot – Kaiser Chiefs, Where Is The Love? – Black Eyed Peas, Put Him Out – Ms Dynamite, Great Balls Of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis, Ain’t No Doubt – Jimmy Nail, What Can I Do? – The Corrs and It Must Have Been Love – Roxette/Journey South
Written by Steve Wallis, Version 2, 14/6/2006
Oway-oway-oway-away!
Can’t pay! Won’t pay!
The Militant Tendency who started and led the mass non-payment campaign were great soothsayers
In predicting the defeat of the poll tax – but they did not just say “Don’t pay”; they also defended non-payers.
They said to local residents: “Don’t pay the Poll Tax Man!”
They said to councils: “Don’t even fix a price!”
Class War said: “We predict a riot! We predict a riot!”
The Anti-Poll Tax Federation tried to keep the peace
But a riot was started in Trafalgar Square by the police.
Militant who led the Fed
Were not anarchist black but socialist red!
The Tories tried to portray us all as violent thugs
But those who advocated rioting were complete mugs (or agents of big business)!
When the riot Class War predicted took place, they claimed responsibility
But that anarchist group were not violent – they were noted for their jollity!
After a documentary revealed on TV that the police had started the riot
Violent anarchists virtually disappeared in Britain, and those who were left became really quiet!
Violent anarchism prospered in the days of mass unemployment
And finally had a resurgence in Edinburgh at the Carnival for Full Enjoyment
When joined by foreign anarchists for the G8 summit in Gleneagles;
Many were prosecuted despite the best efforts of legal eagles!
At the G8 summit in Genoa in 2001, fifty fascists had infiltrated the Black Bloc;
Carlo Giuliani was murdered by the police but they never appeared in the dock.
On a mass demo the following day, when policemen we did see,
We shouted at them “Assassini! Assassini!” – ASSASSINS!
CHORUS:
Cath was a woman I met in Manchester one day.
When they said I’d lost my marbles, she had an ace card to play!
She was too good to be forgotten – I’d have loved her by my side today!
Too good to be forgotten – It’s a shame I had to let her get away!
She was too good to be forgotten – What more can I say?
SPOKEN: Quite a lot more actually! Here goes…
I first met Cath through her job with CND.
I think it was love at first sight – she was very pretty!
During the 1991 Gulf War, CND said that sanctions should be applied,
But when the West imposed them on Iraq, about a million people died!
After the war, the West set up no-fly zones and later resumed air attacks.
In Greater Manchester, several organisations united in a coalition against war on Iraq.
When the air strikes ended, the SWP said that the coalition should disband
But I argued that sanctions were now a big issue and against them we should make a stand.
People crying, people dying!
The West attacked the weak!
We wouldn’t turn the other cheek!
The resulting Coalition Against Sanctions and War on Iraq included the North West branch of CARDRI (the Campaign Against Repression and for Democratic Rights in Iraq),
Militant, the Iraqi Communist Party, other peace activists and Cath representing CND.
I ensured that we also opposed Saddam Hussein and his Ba’athist regime.
Cath was very good politically – together we were a great team!
She had vaguely anarchist views being into direct action,
But she was very peaceful unlike the Red Army Faction.
Cath helped organise meetings in Hulme called the “Riotous Assembly”
But “riotous” was a joke; most of us were very friendly!
CHORUS
With her boyfriend Nathan, Cath set up a group called Defy-ID;
I think Nathan entered politics to avoid losing Cath to me!
Nathan was someone I quite liked at first but grew to hate.
Defy-ID was a great organisation, against ID cards and the surveillance state.
It is an issue I care strongly about having often been harassed
By the police and MI5; if implemented the ID cards central database would be vast.
Information currently scattered on many different computer systems would all be in one place
And conspiratorial organisations on the side of big business could use it to maintain their dictatorship over the human race.
Unfortunately, Nathan ran the Defy-ID website and failed to keep it up-to-date.
I want Cath to put Nathan out but for that I’ll have to wait!
RAP:
Yes, Cath should put him out!
He’s a bad influence, there’s no doubt!
There’s no doubt, it’s plain to see –
I love Cath and Cath loves me!
What’s she doing with such a lout?
It’s obvious – she should put him out!
CHORUS
I invited Cath to hear me at karaoke.
She ended up bringing along her blokey!
They ignored each other all night;
It was obvious who set Cath’s heart alight!
I did a song guaranteed to inspire.
It was Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls Of Fire”!
They rattle my nerves and try to shatter my brain
Too much hate could drive a man or woman insane
They tried to break my will –
Oh, What a thrill!
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!
I laughed at love ’cause I thought it was funny!
Cath, you came along and moved me honey!
Kiss me baby, oooh, it’d feel good!
Let me love you like a lover should!
You’re fine, so kind and I wanted to tell the world that you’re mine, mine, mine, mine…
I chewed my nails and I twiddled my thumbs;
I was real nervous but singing for Cath sure was fun!
CHORUS
Before the 2003 war on Iraq, there was a conference in Manchester of the CBI.
The war was for oil and BP’s policies in Colombia had caused many to die.
Many anti-war protestors demonstrated outside –
We didn’t want the British people to be taken for a ride!
With another anarchist, Cath sneaked into the hall
And they poured paint over the BP stall!
Their trial taking place before the war would have been something big business would surely dread.
If we had mobilised around it, we could even have stopped the war from going ahead!
So on the flimsiest of grounds
BP estimated the damage at over 5000 pounds!
This postponed the trial but also ensured there was a jury.
In the end, Cath defended herself and got off scot free!
CHORUS
Cath had an earlier court appearance on Valentine’s Day.
I had so much to tell her, so what did I say
In my e-Valentine’s Card that I sent to inspire her?
As well as talking politics, I let her know that I desired her!
She kept insisting that she did not love me;
I did not believe her but playing along with that was not above me!
I dedicated to her some karaoke songs that I knew –
Top of the list was the Corrs’ “What Can I Do?”
What could I do to make her love me?
What could I do to make her care?
What could I do to win her heart completely?
What could I do to take her there?
CHORUS
Cath was my greatest collaborator from 1998 to 2003
That was after I left Militant, by now renamed the Socialist Party.
In the run-up to the 2003 war, I saw the need for a new revolutionary socialist organisation.
For the launch meeting, I naturally invited the woman who had been my inspiration.
Despite her anarchist background, Cath was by far the closest person to me politically
As well as by far the closest person to me romantically!
I phoned her up to ask her to speak at the meeting and we chatted for about an hour
By talking politics as well as my love for her, I thought I managed to wow her!
She told me that she would be away for the weekend
And on her telling the truth, I could usually depend,
But she actually went away for a whole week!
I had to get some leaflets printed in the meantime and assumed that she would speak.
Then at an anti-war meeting and huge Manchester demo
She shouted her head off – at me she had a go!
For putting her name on the leaflets without her permission.
I realise now that it was a deliberate row to frustrate agents of big business, and that Cath was a sort of magician!
CHORUS
Being my strongest collaborator, Cath was someone who set my heart alight!
I even expressed my love for her on the internet with a message entitled “Dynamite!”
I wrote a leaflet based on it called “The Socialist Revolution and the Police State”.
I later invited her to see a musical – that could have been our first date!
Cath said she wasn’t well when I phoned her the day before but I bought tickets anyway;
She was very hoarse when she phoned to cancel on the day of that musical play.
If she hadn’t had that cold, the world could now be a very different place;
It could have been the start of a wonderful relationship with a woman with a beautiful face!
She could have cooperated with me in letting me speak at the Manchester demo
And getting her to speak too – it would have dealt capitalism a fatal blow!
But I suspect she turned me down because she thought we were both English
Although actually I’m an eighth Welsh and a quarter Jewish!
Oh, it must have been love!
But it’s over now!
The love we shared
Has been shattered somehow!
We have not yet recorded this song, but you will be able to download it free of charge from this website soon after we do so.