Playing the wrong tune!

By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

It happened in my late teens in my village Godagama, which can be described as a hamlet made of islets separated by vast swathes of paddy fields. Unfortunately, the paddy fields have since largely disappeared due to the Nilwala flood protection scheme but that is another story. It was the time when during functions like weddings or even political meetings, music produced by 78 rpm wax discs turning on a ‘gramophone’, connected to an amplifier was broadcast on large cone-shaped loudspeakers mounted on tall coconut trees. In the islet named “Eduwa”, which meant the distant islet, we were attending the wedding of a relative of ours. The house on the top of a hillock was beautifully decorated and was brimming with friends and relatives brightly dressed for the occasion. I was waiting with my younger brother Ranjan, a few feet down from the main entrance awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom. The motorcade, raising clouds of dust on the gravel road was, greeted with a volley of firecrackers and music broadcast over the loudspeakers. Suddenly, both of us realized from the introductory music that it was the wrong tune!

Edged on by me, my brother ran inside and lifted the cartridge off the record player before Mohideen Baig could sing the words, “Oba kenda yama sandaha maruwa ei soya“. Greeting the bridegroom and party with “Death is coming to take you away”! We still laugh, reminiscing of how we avoided a disaster that day but have no idea how many realised what happened. Playing the wrong tune, not metaphorically speaking but in actual sense too, happens very often. Perhaps, it is due to not understanding the lyrics or disregarding the lyrics altogether as the music seems appropriate.

This sort of thing happening in a remote village in Sri Lanka in the late sixties is perhaps understandable and excusable but what could one say if it happens in this modern age in one of the most developed countries in the world! In fact, my flashback was the result of what happened at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham on 05 October. Maybe human failings transgress time and place!

Liz Truss became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 06 September and was received by Queen Elizabeth in Balmoral castle in Scotland instead of Buckingham Palace, where she received her previous 14 PMs. It was her last official act; two days later the Queen died. Her Majesty, who was renowned for her good sense of humour would have had a hearty laugh at what is happening today, had she been alive!

In spite of turbulent times, U-turns on her mini-budget proposals and open-divisions in the Cabinet, the crowning moment for Truss would have been her address to the party faithful gathered for their annual conference. She decided to walk up to the podium to the music of M People’s 1993 hit, “Moving On Up”, maybe, in an attempt to demonstrate that she is the second ‘Iron Lady’, who is moving up overcoming all obstacles. However, according to BBC news, the use of Moving On Up as introductory music for the Prime Minister has left its creators “livid” and frustrated.

Perhaps, those who suggested this to the PM were unaware that M People were a left-leaning Manchester band. Worse still, they seem to have completely disregarded the lyrics. In fact, The M People’s founder Mike Pickering had said he hoped Ms Truss took note of the lyrics, as it was “about, ‘go and pack your bags and get out'”!

As I was not sure of the lyrics, I checked on the Internet, which she or her advisors too could have easily done. The song starts with

“You’ve done me wrong; your time is up

You took a sip from the devil’s cup

You broke my heart, there’s no way back

Move right out of here, baby, go on pack your bags”

Then goes on to say “Just who do you think you are? Stop actin’ like some kind of star”

I can only add, “Who said politicians are not fun?”

Talking of songs played inappropriately, it is very likely that the veteran Welsh singer, Sir Tom Jones tops the charts with his two classics: “Green, Green Grass of Home” and “Delilah”. His beautiful renditions of these two have made them cheerful party songs but both are very dark in their meaning.

‘Green, Green Grass of Home’ opens with the dream:

“The old hometown looks the same

As I step down from the train

And there to meet me is my mama and papa

Down the road I look and there runs Mary

Hair of gold and lips like cherries

It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home”

But ends with the reality:

“Then I awake and look around me

At four grey walls that surround me

And I realize, yes, I was only dreaming

For there’s a guard and there’s a sad, old padre

On and on, we’ll walk at daybreak

Again, I’ll touch the green, green grass of home”

Following his execution for the murder of Mary, this is what he wants:

“Yes, they’ll all come to see me

In the shade of that old oak tree

As they lay me

‘Neath the green, green grass of home”

‘Delilah’ tells the story of a man who passes his girlfriend’s window and sees her inside making love to another man. He waits outside all night and when he confronts her in the morning, only to have her laugh in his face. He stabs her to death, and then waits for the police to come and arrest him. It ends with:

“She stood there laughing I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more

My, my, my, Delilah

Why, why, why, Delilah

So, before they come to break down the door

Forgive me, Delilah, I just couldn’t take anymore

Forgive me, Delilah, I just couldn’t take anymore”

What is illustrated is that even the confessions of killers can be made into beautiful songs by clever lyricists and accomplished singers but what I cannot comprehend is how some couples choose these songs for their first dance!

Even if you excuse the average Joe for his ignorance, surely politicians should know better. They have secretaries and advisors in plenty paid for by the public purse and they should do their bit to prevent their masters being portrayed as jokers!

We shall soon see whether it is ‘Move on up’ or ‘Pack your bags and go’ for Liz Truss!