Movement II - School

(album: Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio - 1991)

[Boys:]
We're here in school today to get a perfect education
Yes, we're going up
We're keen to learn the rules and laws that civilization taught us
Yes, we're growing up
Not for ourselves, B
But for the whole world were we born
And we were born in Liverpool

Our teachers say that ignorance will always drag us down
It's like a nagging cough

[Shanty (thrown away):]
But I can say that looking back
The most important thing I found was sagging off!
Not for the whole world
But for yourself were you born
And you were

[Shanty and boys:]
Born in Liverpool

[Boys:]
Not Birmingham
Nor Edinburgh
Not Manchester
Or Sunderland

[Shanty:]
Being born where you were born
Carries with it certain responsibilities

[Boys:]
This school is good for us

[Shanty:]
This school is only good for those
Who want to learn from books

You'll lose your sense of purpose

[Boys:]
But we dare not answer back
We're scared of teacher's looks
Not for ourselves
But for the whole world were we born
And we were born in Liverpool

[Shanty:]
Not Coventry

[Headmaster:]
Or Solihull

[Boys:]
Not Scarborough

[Shanty:]
Nor Inverness
Being born where you were born
Carries with it certain responsibilities

[Headmaster:]
Walk in single file out of the classroom
Down the stairs and into the playground

[Boys:]
Through the school gates
Cross the road, and over the cemetery fence
Down the hill to where the grave-stones
Lie inviting in the sun

Settle down
Settle down
Let the afternoon slip by
Settle down
Settle down
It's the perfect place for a kip

[Shanty falls asleep on a grave-stone and dreams:]

[Shanty:]
Kept in confusion
Trapped by illusion
Thinking of speaking my mind
Dreams of the future
Ghosts of the past left behind

Constantly drifting
Endlessly lifting
More weight than one man can bear
Into the future
Ghosts of the past everywhere

[Men's chorus (ghosts):]
You're sleeping amongst us
We're in your dream
Who are you?
Why call us?

What does this mean?
Disturbing our slumber
You move so fast

[Shanty:]
Ghosts of the past
Tossing and turning
Somehow I'm learning
Secrets I'd rather not know
Can't it be simple?
Why does it have to be so?

[Mary Dee (as ghost):]
I'll always be here
I'll never leave you
I'll always be in your mind
Dreams of the future
Ghosts that the past left behind

[Women's chorus (ghosts):]
You're sleeping amongst us
We re in your dream
Who are you?
Why call us?
What does this mean?

[Full chorus (ghosts):]
Disturbing our slumber
You move so fast

[Shanty and Mary Dee (as ghost):]
Ghosts of the past

(Later, back in school)

[Headmaster:]
Boys, this is your teacher
Her name is Miss Inkley
She will reach you Spanish
She was in the war
Fighting with the troops
You may call her Sir!

[Boys:]
Sir?

[Miss Inkley:]
First of all today
You will learn a song
In a foreign tongue
You will follow me
As I say the words
We will now begin

Tres conejos

[Boys:]
Tres conejos

[Miss Inkley:]
En un arbol

[Boys:]
En un arbol

[Miss Inkley:]
Tocando

[Boys:]
Tocando

[Miss Inkley:]
El tambor

[Boys:]
El tambor

[Miss Inkley:]
Que si

[Boys:]
Que si

[Miss Inkley:]
Que no

[Boys:]
Que no

[Miss Inkley:]
Que si. Lo he visto yo

[Headmaster:]
Ahem!

[Miss Inkley:]
Tres conejos
En un arbol
Tocando
El tambor
Que si
Que no
Que si
Lo he visto yo

[Shanty and boys:]
Tres conejos
En un arbol
Tocando
El tambor
Que si
Que no
Que si
Lo he visto yo

[Boys:]
Tres conejos

[Miss Inkley:]
Three rabbits

[Boys:]
En un arbol

[Miss Inkley:]
In a tree

[Boys:]
Tocando

[Miss Inkley:]
Playing

[Boys:]
El tambor

[Miss Inkley:]
The drum

[Boys:]
Que si

[Miss Inkley:]
Why yes

[Boys:]
Que no

[Miss Inkley:]
Why no

[Boys:]
Que si. Lo he visto yo

[Miss Inkley:]
Why yes. I have seen it

[Headmaster:]
Ahem!
Tres conejos
En un arbol
Tocando

[Shanty and Headmaster:]
El tambor

[Headmaster:]
Que si

[Shanty:]
Que si

[Miss Inkley:]
Que.

[All:]
No
Que si
Lo he visto yo

[Boys and chorus:]
Not for ourselves
But for the whole world were we born
And we were born in Liverpool

[Headmaster:]
Not Birmingham

[Miss Inkley:]
Nor Edinburgh

[Boys:]
Not Manchester

[Shanty:]
Or Solihull

[Boys and chorus:]
Being born where you were born

[Boys and women's chorus:]
Carries with it certain responsi

[Men:]
Carries with it certain responsi

[Miss Inkley and Headmaster:]
Carries with it certain responsibilities