Dan Bull - Tony Benn lyrics

My favourite politician died today
And I've written these words in his honour

Rest in peace Tony Benn, one of the only men
To keep integrity through parliament
Right to his lowly end
Held steadfast inside that phony den
So if you know a more honest MP, show me then
And I don't give a damn
How you feel on socialism
When it comes to his integrity
There's clearly no decision
Came from a privileged background just
Like our leaders did oxford PPE graduate
But kept it real and shit

So, it's only fair that we should note
That between Tony Blair and Tony Benn
Benn was a loner in the cronies' lair
New Labour alienated him
Made him marginalised
Pulled hard on the ties
Wouldn't be part of the lies
Man, the way the political
Game has since changed
Cameron, Miliband and Clegg should look
At him and feel ashamed
They'll keep their arse in line
Just to toe the party line
Part of a mindstate that's hardly
Yours and hardly mine

When he became an MP 64 years ago
Who'd have thought he'd have over
60 more years to go
He was never ready to be a hereditary peer
Spearheaded a campaign to ditch the
Champagne for regular beer
He didn't want to be a lord
Didn't want to be awarded
For things he never achieved
These should be ignored
What are we here for if not to assist
Our sisters and brothers cross the bridge
Across the distance from others
Blew through these damn walls
Like a human cannonball
His compassion was such that he
Refused to eat animals
Amnesty for striking miners unite in kindness
Fighting violence decry the loss of
Life in Palestine and Ireland
Writing diaries, spiking trident
If you like that kind of line up
Grab a light and light your pipes up
He lost his title, but he kept on climbing
Lost government, but he kept on grinding
He lost the mines, but he kept on striking
He lost his seat, but he kept on riding
He lost his teeth, but he kept on biting
Lost mobility, but kept on writing
He lost his wife, but he kept on driving
Now he's lost his life but
We will keep on fighting

Rest in peace, Tony Benn
Your legacy lives on

I do not share the general view that market
Forces are the basis of political liberty
Every time I see a person in
A cardboard box in London, i say
"That person is a victim of market forces"
Every time I see a
Pensioner who can't manage:
A victim of market forces the sick
Who are waiting for medical treatment that
They could accelerate by private insurance
They are the victims of market forces
If you can find money to kill people
You can find money to help people
Democracy is the most revolutionary
Thing in the world
Far more revolutionary than socialist ideas
Anybody else's idea
Because if you have power, you use it

When I was young, my dad said to me:
"The basis of political work is very simple
Always say what you mean, mean what you say
Do what you said you'd do
If you have a chance

And when I look back
I think that was good advice