Our great and fearless leader John Howard has recently lamented that no-one has written a song about him. We've checked and, astonishingly for such a charismatic and inspirational leader, found, to the best of our knowledge, that this is almost true. So we simply had to put the matter to rights.

Oh No John

by Peter Hicks and Geoff Francis

On yonder hill there stands a maiden,
She bears the name of history,
As you turn her many pages,
Will you ever read of me?
Oh no John, no John, no John, no!

You whose forbears knew this island
Well before my people came,
When I'm long since gone and buried,
Will you celebrate my name?
Oh no John, no John, no John, no!

You who fled from death and terror,
Risked your lives to cross the sea,
When your children's children gather,
Will they ever talk of me?
Oh no John, no John, no John, no!

You who strive to build the future,
Gathered here from many parts,
As you rise to every challenge,
Will my flame burn in your hearts?
Oh no John, no John, no John, no!

You who sing with many voices,
Diverse, yet in harmony.
Will you draw your inspiration,
From my lingering memory?
Oh no John, no John, no John, no!

Forgettable indeed I may be,
And charisma I may lack,
But while I've led you to ignore me,
The tide of progress I've turned back.
Please go John, go John, go John, go!

- 23 Feb 2001

Back to Top of Page