You Made Changes

I wrote this song during a weekend with friends from La Jeuss, when we recorded most of our commemorative album “Beyond The White Gates”. I was doing the recording, so finding time to write a song as well was beyond expectations! In case you’re unsure - it’s about Tony Blair, who I believe to be an honourable and decent man who got it totally wrong about Iraq.

You made changes Brian Hooper, February 2007

You were just another kid there in the playground;

You had failures and successes like us all.

Who'd have thought that you would stand to be the leader of our land,

And you'd make us feel proud, before your fall.

You made changes, and some were needed;

You made speeches, and some were heeded,

You made history, you made law,

But I just can't forgive you making one more bloody war.

You were just another student at the lectures;

Got up late and you could party half the night;

You really seemed like one of us, remember singing on that bus,

And then you sent my son to some damned trumped-up fight.

You made changes….

You were just another member of the party;

With your honest face you drew the voters then.

Into Parliament you've gone, on the front bench you just shone

And you were on your way to taking Number Ten.

Where you made changes….

You were just another leader of the country,

And you led us very well, it must be said;

Until you led us to a war you could have stopped a year before

And we said "no" but you said "go", now my boy's dead.

We said "no" but you said "go" and my son's dead.

You made changes, and some were needed;

You made speeches, and some were heeded,

You made history, you made law

But I just can't forgive you for the war -

And you'll always be remembered for taking us to war.