From the October 1909 issue of the Socialist Standard
Copies of the above four-part song S., A, T,. B. — complete with pianoforte accompaniment and Tonic-Solfa setting may be obtained, price 3d., or post free 3½d., through the branches or from the Head Office.
Blogger's Notes:
The lyrics for Hans Neumann's party song were reproduced in the April 1909 issue of the Socialist Standard.
Last year a SPGB member put the lyrics — and the S., A, T,. B. musical description — through one of those A.I. software programmes that I neither understand nor particularly like (A.I. brings out my inner Ned Ludd) and brought Hans Neumann's song to 'life'. You can check it out below:
I won't lie: it's not really my cup of tea. Sounds a bit too much like a Runrig album track. I could imagine an accompanying video which would have lots of sweeping shots of Britain's green and pleasant land, which is ironic as Hans Neumann was a German émigré revolutionary socialist.
In fairness to the SPGB member who put this together, they took another shot with the lyric and came up with a jauntier, folkier version entitled the 'Fitzy version', which is obviously a hat tip to the SPGB stalwart, Jack Fitzgerald. You can check it out below:
I'm not saying it completely works but it's got a certain something. If the more traditional version had a Runrig flavour, this reminds me of the 1980s British folk punk band The Men They Couldn't Hang, and that's not a bad thing. The decision to turn it into a more upbeat song is reminiscent of Billy Bragg, with Dick Gaughan, recording Jim Connell's Red Flag with the 'White Cockade' tune.
A socialist song shouldn't be a dirge. (No scoffing at the back, please.)
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