Mr. P: Are You Looking? … Of Course You Are … But Blind Eyes Do Not See
I wrote a song 50 years ago … Its message is still relevant today
Yes, it’s true … I wrote the words and music for the song you see in the original score above. But don’t worry if it’s not easy to make out all the words … The full word version is reproduced below.
First, a brief explanation for the song:
What it’s about, why I wrote it, why I’m reviving it today, + an historic reference:
- It’s about the tensions that political ideologies seem to be going through … endlessly, historically, and seemingly forever! It’s about a Mr. P. Who is Mr. P? He’s a Politician; a Prime Minister; a President.
- I wrote it because it reminded me of The Cold War era that I lived through, which was a long-drawn-out battle of wits between the USA and the USSR. (think the Russian scenario of 2022, but on a vaster scale)
- I’m reviving the topic today because not only does it raise memories of the past, but it adds a political twist to the current West v China, and the the West v Russia scenarios.
- And the ‘Blind Eye’ reference?: It’s a play on a well-known saying by a British Naval officer (Horatio Nelson). Nelson was blind in his right eye. In 1801, commanding the British fleet in ‘The Battle of Copenhagen’, he received a flag signal from shore-base telling him to retreat. Nelson turned to his flag-captain and said: “… I have lost an eye … I have a right to be blind sometimes”. Then he raised his telescope to his blind eye and said: “I do not see the signal.” !!
- This actual saying was later misquoted, to become: “I see no ships”
Here is my song … in full …
And remember, it was written 50 years ago!
* * * * * * * * Mr. P * * * * * * * *
You’re elected, you’re protected yet you’ve gone and resurrected all the sayings that we all have heard before!
You say that you’re a man of peace and that for this you’ll never cease, but you keep on sendin’ brothers into war!
You get economic satisfaction contemplating interaction, selling guns and missiles to another. Your tanks and guns, and uniforms are in the world — they’re there in swarms, but you don’t seem to notice Mr. P that the missile that kills others has just killed one of your brothers
Mr. P, are you looking? Of course, you are, but blind eyes do not see!
Watch the money pile up with the eye that sees. Set your blind eye on the fighting that it’s paid for. It’s your blind eye now that looks upon the slaughter and the killings done, but you don’t seem to notice Mr. P, ’cos you’re lookin’ with your blind eye, And blind eyes do not see!
If you wish to use this song for performance etc. please respect my ownership and copyright … acknowledging my name, email, + the following lines:
**** ©️ Fred Ogden (email: [email protected]) ***** ***** Free to use and distribute, with these two lines attached
Please feel free to send me an email if you have any queries or additional requests regarding the use of this song.. You can use this automatic email Link. And please add [email protected] to your contacts. It will be nice to hear from you. Fred 👍😊❤
You may be interested in these two similar-themed articles:
1. Another war-weaponry story with a contemporary commentary on the tensions around the 2022 Russia/Ukraine face-off. It’s title: ‘When Will We Ever Learn?’. It too includes words from a song (not mine though … those of American Folk Singer Pete Seeger. Here’s a box-link:
2. Another simple song/poem that I also wrote some 50 years ago. It’s title: ‘When Will We Ever Learn … №3’ … a third in this series. here’s a box-link:
“Mr. P: Are You Looking? …” * written by Fred: writer on Medium * * * * * © Fred Ogden 2022 * * * * *
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