The Killing of Bob Crow by the Coward Boris Johnson
This is a ballad by Rob Palk, who blogs (infrequently) here and tweets (frequently) here. The ballad was originally posted as a series of 32 tweets, each stanza (is that the right word?) a separate tweet. At the bottom of this post, I've added some links about the real life industrial dispute this refers to. If you want to sing along, I guess you can use the tune of "The Ballad of Hollis Brown".
The Killing of Bob Crow
by the Coward Boris Johnson
By Rob Palk
Bob Crow he lived on the outskirts of town
Bob Crow he lived on the outskirts of town
traveled where he wanted on the Underground
They said he was like Castro, they said he was like Mao
but he stuck up for the workin' man, don't even ask me how
Now Boris he lived in old Islington
spent his days carousin' and a'havin' so much fun
Drinkin' wine from a goblet that was made of gold
didn't give a cuss about the lies he told
Now Bob said to Boris, “boy, your days are through
the people are a'hungry and they're gettin' tired of you
There's going to be a layin' down of underground machinery
you'll have to go by bus, my friend, enjoy the scenery”
When Boris heard Bob's message he began to quail
Said, “you London Transport Workers, you are bound to fail
I'll get me up a scab Army, I'll set the tabloids awn yer
You should count yourself lucky that I even warn yer”
The tube men put down all their tools, they gathered into
ranks
Boris wasted all his time with sucking up to banks
We need a revolution boys, we need ourselves a fight
Bob said, “come on you workin' men, you know our cause is
right”
Boris strode down to the picket line with his fat cigar
Said “betray your leader boys and then you will go far
This Crow he is a sucker, he really is a rube
Thinks he can control me like he controls the tube”
The union men heard what he say'd and talked amongst
themselves
Rememberin’ Bob Crow's warnings about trusting men of wealth
These rich folks love to rob yer, with a fountain pen
And many rich folks love to harm the union men
He saw that they was listenin, he saw he'd made some strife
Boris saw his chance for takin' Bob Crow's life
He said meet me in the morning in Islington town
Swore the next fine mornin' he'd lay Bob Crow down
Now Bob he turned up early, he wasn't ever late
Traveled up to Islington upon the 38
Looked around for Boris, till at last he saw
Boris stood there leanin' at his own front door
"Come into my terrace" he said, "I think
you'll find its Georgian,
I've been up late drinkin', carousin' and a-gorgin'.
You know Bob I do respect you, admire you as a rival.
Come into my house Bob, but leave outside your rifle"
Bob walked into the terrace, eyes wide as could be
The house was full of riches, stuff you'll never see
Treasures like something out of a Persian saga,
they had a pig’s head cookin' right ontop the Aga.
"Now Bob, I have to ask you, will you prevent this strike?
I think that I can help you Bob, is there something that
you'd like?
Is your weakness women? Or is your weakness wine?
Tell me what it is Bob, we haven't got much time"
But Bob he stood up mighty straight, looked Boris in the eye
He said "Bob Crow never told a lie
It's written in the scriptures, written down by scribes
Honest Bob Crow never took a bribe"
Boris smiled now to himself, lookin' so innocent
But he had an evil plan and he would not relent
He said "I do believe you Bob, you never told a lie
But honest Bob Crow must surely die"
Bob reached for his rifle, rememberin' too late
That Boris had insisted he leave it by the gate
They say the sky turned a sicknin' red
When B Johnson took out his gun and shot Bob in the head
Gather round you orphan children of the underground
Gather round you lost ones waitin' to be found
Never forget what happened to Bob Crow
The coward Boris Johnson laid our leader low
***
To keep up with what's going on in the Tube strike, follow the RMT's Every Job Matters page, RMT London Calling, the AWL Tubeworker bulletin and blog, Hands Off London Transport, and the TSSA union's campaign page. Some Twitter accounts to follow: RMT London Calling, AWL Tubeworker Bulletin, RMT official tweets, TSSA official tweets, RMT Bakerloo branch, and RMT activists Janine Booth and Alex Gordon.
Two comments from me. First, I think the "revenue strike" is a brilliant strategy: keeping the tubes running, hurting the management, keeping commuters and onside, and showing how important ticket staff are to us.
Second, the arrest and draconian bail conditions against RMT picket Mark Harding are a massive attack on the right to strike and right to protest. Here's the Facebook page of the campaign to defend him.(If you're not on Facebook, the HOLT page is the best start.)
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