Chumbawamba are an English band that started out playing Anarcho-punk, but over a 25-year career have gone on to play music ranging from pop-influenced dance music and world music to acoustic folk music. The band are best known for their song “Tubthumping” and are generally influenced by anarchist political stances and an irreverent attitude to authority.
Jacob’s Ladder (Original)
The original version of this song told of the World War II story of the sinking of two British war ships while another British ship carrying the King of Norway refused to break radio silence to send help to them.
Like rusty old nails
At the bottom of the sea
Telling no tales
For the good of the Admiralty
You jump when you’re told to
Through the open door
And the King of Norway
He’s the man you all died for
On this Jacob’s Ladder
The only way up is down
Three days in the water
Watching all the secrets drown
Jacob’s Ladder
And they sent him to the wars to be slain, to be slain
And they sent him to the wars to be slain
(Repeats)
A thousand lifetimes
Left standing at the docks
In the bar down in Whitehall
They’re sure the boat won’t rock
In a file marked ‘Secret’
In a drawer kept closed
Nobody wonders
Because nobody knows
About this Jacob’s Ladder
The only way up is down
Three days in the water
Watching all the secrets drown
Jacob’s Ladder
And they sent him to the wars to be slain, to be slain
And they sent him to the wars to be slain
(Repeats)
On this Jacob’s Ladder
The only way up is down
Three days in the water
Watching all the secrets drown
(Repeats)
Jacob’s Ladder
(Repeats)
O Bulldog Leader, sooner or later we’ll dig up the body and try your cadaver
(repeats)
Jacob’s Ladder (Not in My Name)
This is a political remake of the original song. Chumbawamba re-wrote the words as a political protest of the Bush Administration’s foray into the Iraq war and subsequent occupation.
Jacob’s ladder
Like the Sermon on the mountain says dumber got dumb
Hellfire and brimstone swapped for oil and guns
When we’re pushing up daisies we all look the same
In the name of the Father, maybe, but not in my name
On this Jacob’s ladder, the only way up is down
One step from disaster, two to make the higher ground
Jacob’s ladder
And they sent him to the wars to be slain, to be slain
And they sent him to the wars to be slain
A million lifetimes left dying in the sun
In the streets down in Whitehall, dogs pickin’ at the bones
Nine eleven got branded, nine eleven got sold
And there’ll be no one left to water all the seeds you sowed
On this Jacob’s ladder, the only way up is down
One step from disaster, two to make the higher ground
Jacob’s ladder
And they sent him to the wars to be slain, to be slain
And they sent him to the wars to be slain
And they sent him to the wars to be slain, to be slain
And they sent him to the wars to be slain
On this Jacob’s ladder, the only way up is down
One step from disaster, two to make the higher ground
On this Jacob’s ladder, the only way up is down
One step from disaster, two to make the higher ground
Jacob’s ladder
Puppy dog leader sooner or later
We’ll dig up your cellar and try you for murder
(Repeats)
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