SOUTHERN BABYLON
(J. Wilson & R. Harvey)
© Ochiltree 136 Publishing (2007)

Che Guevara stares out at me from his shirt;
a manifesto stuffed in his back pocket
Claudio is an ideologically motivated young man – just like his father

And come the revolution I will say that Claudio was my friend –
a calling card that will save me from an untimely end
I can’t help but thinking someday that I’m going to read about him

Once upon a time in Mis Bagos, we put the question to his father, and he said:
‘These are the days of the new Buenos Aires and my son should help bring them in,
and these bells chime for the heart of Peron - they’ll surely ring for him’

Man in the blue, come chasing after you, and now you’re in the military
Gun in your hand, protecting the land: a real revolutionary
We look upon your mother, she struggles out a grin
We look depon your father, like him just commit a sin
We beg you not to go, but your papa said go
We beg you not to go, but your papa said no

Now my poor friend moved away, I hope he comes back someday
Now my poor friend, my poor friend, I hope he comes back someday

Why did he go to that southern babylon?
Why did he go deh?

With the prodigal Canadian son safely returned,
all the dissidents will be comfortably interred
All hail Comrade Claudio: our future Generalissimo

And come the revolution I will count Claudio as my friend –
a calling card that will save me from an untimely end
Improving history is easy when you’re smoking your last cigarette

Once upon a time in Mis Bagos, we put the question to Claudio, and he said
‘These are the days of the new Buenos Aires, and I will bring them in
these bells will chime for the heart of my father - now hear them ring’

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From the Forthcoming Album: THE PEACEMAKER’S CHAUFFEUR