Cambridge band hoping to hit the top with open song to PM Theresa May
Theresa may come, Theresa may go, but this creeping evil might live forever...
A Cambridge band has entered the Brexit debate with its new song, Theresa, an open message to the Prime Minister.
Written in just 20 minutes by the band’s guitarist, Duncan Smith, Major Rat Run are hoping it will captivate the nation and become an anthem for the dissenting voices in the national debate on Europe.
The indie five-piece normally content themselves with writing songs about issues such as the Cambridge guided busway and the loss of the Women’s Institute hall in Girton, from where they emanate.
But now they have aimed for the heart of the political storm caused by the UK’s decision to quit the European Union last June.
Duncan told the Cambridge Independent: “Our songs are usually inspired by such pressing local issues as the guided busway or the closure of Girton’s much-loved WI hall, but this song addresses a much bigger issue and takes its message straight to the top.
“It is an open letter to the Prime Minister and laments the challenges we face following Brexit, for EU nationals living here, as well as for Cambridge’s academic, healthcare and high-tech sectors.”
Duncan, who works in IT, was so sad about the Brexit situation one day that he sat down with his guitar and penned the song.
He added: “I have lots of friends working in academia who have become profoundly affected by this choice. Something tipped me over the edge that day. We should send a copy to Theresa May but I’m not sure she would listen to it.
“The song also has to do with the lies leading up to Brexit. The fact there is no accountability for the people who lied to us.”
The band has made the song available on CD and Major Rat Run also hope to get it on iTunes and Spotify as it is a track on their forthcoming album, Mischief Interchange. Even the band’s name is taken from a local issue. Thornton Road in Girton was named among one of the major rat runs in the county. Now they’ve set their sights on a bit of TV exposure.
Duncan added: “If we could get to play the song on The One Show it would be brilliant.”
Lyrics to Theresa by kind permission of Major Rat Run
Theresa may I ask you why you’re making my friend’s wife, Feel like she’s unwelcome where she’s lived for half her life, Are her taxes not my taxes like the blood within our veins? She won’t get many euros for the pounds she has saved.
Theresa may come, Theresa may go But this creeping evil might last forever
Theresa may I mention that if she goes back to France, She’ll take her breakthroughs with her on making better plants, Now I may be middle class and from a uni town, By better plants sound useful to this green and pleasant land.
Theresa may come, Theresa may go But this creeping evil might last forever
Theresa may I tell you in case you’re in any doubt, I’m not ticking any boxes about the place that I popped out, If you want I box I’ll tick to tell you who should stay or go, Theresa may I tell you an election you should call.
Theresa may come, Theresa may go But this creeping evil might last forever
Theresa may I offer you a little worrying thought, The world is changing faster than it is convenient, Making problems up to solve won’t make the others go away, And slogans on your buses will not end austerity.
Theresa may I beg of you to choose your friends wisely, Instead of redefining the elite so precisely, You can’t predict the side effects of rubber-stamping hate, But I’d rather feel like 2012 than 1938.
Theresa may come, Theresa May go
© Major Rat Run 2017
