Album: Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio (1991)Movement II - School[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.
