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I Can't Abide

A song by John Dengate ©John Dengate 1998
Tune: Abide With Me

I can't abide the government's front bench, send them away to the Germans or the French
I can't abide Costello's shallow sneer - won't someone make the bastard disappear?

I can't abide that bloody aweful Kemp, bring back the gallows, the hangman and the hemp
Take Peter Reith and dump him in the tide. Him I particularly can't abide

Poor little John deserves our sympathy, born neath the star of mediocrity
Pat his wee head and send him off to bed, then hide the key lest he abide with me

I can't abide the government's ministry, Senator Vanstone's worse than dysentry
Send her away without the least delay - dont pour the tea lest she abide with me

Sink them the swine, an iceberg would be fine. Far, far away in distant Hudson Bay
As they go down they'll warble while they drown, flat and off-key, they'll be despised by me

I can't abide the government's front bench, send them away to the Germans or the French
Take Peter Reith and dump him in the tide. Him I particularly can't abide

Notes

Thanks to John Dengate for permission to use this song, which is based on the old hymn "Abide With Me", the hymn reputedly played by the band on the Titanic as the ship went down. The similarities between the Federal Government in Australia and the Titanic are becoming plain to all, particularly in the present waterfront dispute (April 1998). The characters mentioned are from that government, with "little John", the Prime Minister John Howard, Costello the Treasurer, Reith Industrial Relations Minister, Kemp Education and Vandstone Employment.

This song has been sung at the wharfies picket lines around Australia, and at support demonstrations. I heard it at a demonstration (24th April) against Peter Reith, organised by the Blue Mountains Unions Council, at Wentworth Falls.

On that occasion Chris Kempster introduced the song with the following words
Our good friend John Dengate was moved by the singing of the hymn "Abide with Me" as the Titanic slid to disaster. He felt there was a certain resonance with the progress (for want of better word) of the present government, and changed the hymn to "I Can't Abide".
A little uneasy at changing a hymn, we conferred, and have been advised by St Peter, that under these exceptional circumstances the changes could be sanctioned. He sent his unqualified approval, adding that several of the disciples have done likewise and will try to join in whenever the new version is sung

John songs the song on the MUA Centenary CD "With These Arms"

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union songs..........a selection by mark gregory