In 1982, I heard a song on the radio. It was sung by Robert Wyatt, and the tone was plaintive, with a haunting lyric. During the Falklands War, shipbuilding returned to the industrially-depressed areas of Britain, fuelled by the need to replace ships lost or damaged as a result of that pointless war. At the same time, many of the young men from those same areas were serving in the armed forces, and being killed or wounded in the same war that was providing employment for their communities.
With music from Clive Langer, Elvis Costello wrote some poignant and meaningful lyrics, and called the song ‘Shipbuilding’. It got into my heart and soul at the time, and still sounds as powerful today.
Here are the lyrics.
Is it worth it?
A new winter coat and shoes for the wife
And a bicycle on the boy’s birthday
It’s just a rumour that was spread around town
By the women and children
Soon we’ll be shipbuilding
Well, I ask you
The boy said “dad, they’re going to take me to task
But I’ll be back by Christmas”
It’s just a rumour that was spread around town
Somebody said that someone got filled in
For saying that people get killed in
The result of this shipbuilding
With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls
It’s just a rumour that was spread around town
A telegram or a picture postcard
Within weeks they’ll be re-opening the shipyards
And notifying the next of kin
Once again
It’s all we’re skilled in
We will be shipbuilding
With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls
It’s all we’re skilled in
We will be shipbuilding
With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls
When we could be diving for pearls
When we could be diving for pearls
Songwriters: Elvis Costello / Clive William Langer
And here is the song sung by Elvis Costello, rather than the Robert Wyatt version.
beetleypete 
I never understood the line “When we could be diving for pearls.”
Warmest regards, Theo
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I suspect it relates to the differences in working on ships, or serving on them in the navy, contrasted with the idyllic picture of pearl divers on an exotic island. But I could be wrong. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I love Elvis Costello, but I don’t remember this. Thank you for sharing it Pete.
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It was released as a record by Robert Wyatt. I think it only featured on later Elvis Costello compilations. One of my favourites! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Great post 🙂 I love me some Elvis Costello songs 🙂 Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
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He’s one of my real favourites, John.
Best wishes, Pete.
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…and now we have to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia to keep jobs…
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And buy expensive untried aircraft from America to create jobs too.
A sad world indeed.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Elvis is a songwriting giant,so many poignant songs, and this is one of them.
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I can only agree. I love his early work so much.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes that was his best time I think.
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He went far too ‘Country and Western ‘ for me later on. 🙂
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Haha he went far too ‘Jazz’ for me.
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That’s a really nice song! Amidst all the music that’s trending nowadays gems like this go unnoticed. Really beautiful. Thank you for bringing it to our notice.
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My pleasure. It has been one of my favourite songs for so long now, and is often overlooked these days.
Best wishes, Pete.
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True it has been overlooked. But once again,thank you for sharing.
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