From the recording Live on the Ley
The title track from Nathan Ball's excellent debut album, chiselled out of a speech made by Winston Churchill on May 2nd, 1935, and performed on a guitar made by Nathan himself.
Nathan Ball - Vocals/Guitar
Alastair Caplin - Violin
Nye Parsons - Double Bass
Jez Hellard - Harmonicas/Vocals
Lyrics
When the situation, was more manageable all action, was neglected
Now that it has so assiduously eluded our grip
We apply to late the remedies to lessen our allure
Towards such deeply set benightedness, and the chances of a cure
Stand up, eyes open, ears down too the ground
There is nothing in this story that is new for us to find
It boasts an age that is comparable to the books of sybillines
Stand up, eyes open, ears down too the ground
It does fall into that long and dismal, catalogue of fruitlessness
In the confirmed unteachability of mankind through experience
Want of foresight and no care to act when action would be simple
Lack of clear affective thinking by a confused council until
Emergency inevitably summons up its song
Until self preservation rises up to strike it’s jarring gong
These are the features that do constitute, our endless repetition throughout his…. story
Stand up, eyes open, ears down to the ground
Stand up, eyes open, ears down to the ground
Their power lies in our obedience
So we must disobey Instead of settling for convenience
To then look, the other way
Stand up, eyes open, ears down to the ground
Stand up, eyes open, ears down to the ground
Stand up.