2020 Contenders: Ralph & Jim Bob

I haven't listened to any new music lately, partly because I do most of that on my daily commute which isn't happening at the moment, and partly because I'm preferring the comfort of old faithfuls.

That said, a couple of new tunes dropped onto my radar this week and both of them reflect what's happening in the world at the moment. The first comes from... of all people... Ralph McTell...



I'm fully behind everything Ralph sings in that little ditty... although I'm going to confess something now, and you can judge me for it all you like.

I'm not partaking in the whole "Clap For Carers" performance, because frankly, it just doesn't sit right with me. Look, I supported the NHS by voting in the last election for a party that wanted to re-invest in our National Health Service... not sell it off. But do you know what? I'd say the majority of people who are stood out on their doorsteps banging their pots and pans on a Thursday evening actually voted Tory. No offence to all those of you who didn't and still want to show your support that way: that's your decision and I respect you for it. I know the regulars who read this blog are of a similar political inclination to myself, and you're good people who probably want to do anything you can right now. 

But I can't, in good conscience, join you in that.

Because if you did vote Tory (and the majority did, judging by the election result), and suddenly now there's a crisis, you're out there virtue-signalling your ra-ra-ras to the whole street and all your facebook friends every Thursday night... well, you're a hypocrite. And I refuse to join your little party, even if I end up being judged for it.

And to the government that's promoting and encouraging this collective show of public gratitude... you're worse than hypocrites. If you'd funded the NHS properly in the first place rather than cutting it to the bone, we wouldn't have to have retired army captains staggering round their gardens with a collecting tin right now. And if you'd listened to the experts a few months back and taken serious action about this pandemic when you should have done, a lot more people would still be alive right now... and many of those would be NHS employees.

While I'm on a rant, here's the new single from Jim Bob. It's only 29 seconds long, but it does the job...





If I have any readers left after this post, I'm hoping it's those of you who dig a blog that features Ralph McTell & Jim Bob in the same post. I'm almost certain you won't be a Tory though...