Tell Me Lies About Welfare Reform

Inspired by this article by the wonderful Ricky Tomlinson, the fabulous Poets Against  Atos  and owing everything to this poem by Adrian Mitchell, couldn't resist doing this tonight...

Tell Me Lies About Welfare Reform

(after Adrian Mitchell)

I was run over by the truth one day.
Ever since the accident I've walked this way
So stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Welfare Reform.

Heard the radio screaming all the scroungers are to blame

Those lousy benefits claimants with their cheating screw-you games

So fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Welfare Reform

Every time I read the paper they tell me jobs are there to claim
But when I go down to the centre, there’s none there all the same

So coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Welfare Reforme

You say it's for the future, that it will be worth the pain.

I smell something is fishy but I hope that’s just my brain.
So stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Welfare Reform.

Where were you at the time of the crime?
Down in Annie’s Bar drinking slime
So chain my tongue with whisky
Stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Welfare Reform.

You put your bedroom tax in, you put your conscience out,
You take the human being and you twist it all about
So scrub my skin with women
Chain my tongue with whisky
Stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Welfare Reform