Kmflett's Blog

Leon Rosselson, Battle Hymn of the New Socialist Party (1962).Still relevant

The song is adapted from “The Red Flag” and ridicules the Labour Party’s claim to represent Socialism. It was written in 1962, and performed at that year’s Labour Party Conference in Brighton

The song was featured on That Was The Week That Was, which was first broadcast in November 1962. Moreover, Leon has said he wrote it while Hugh Gaitskell was Labour leader (ie, prior to January 1963), thus corroborating its vintage. Leon Rosselson has noted* (27th Feb 22) that he had sung it to Ned Sherrin who produced and directed the programme and he chose to air it on TV.

The original lyrics are below although Leon Rosselson, still going, has reworked them from time to time

In 1962 the battle was still going on in the Labour Party to get a commitment to banning the bomb, something opposed by Labour leader Hugh Gaitskell. Gaitskell died in early 1963 and was replaced by the more left-wing Harold Wilson who did nothing on the matter either.

The last two weeks of October 1962 had seen the Cuban missile crisis. The Soviet Union had placed nuclear weapons on Cuba (America had them in Italy and Turkey)and the world came very close to nuclear war. In the end both sides stepped back

In the early 1960s CND was opposed to NATO (as it still is) but this was not Labour Party policy, although clearly the idea had support in the Party.

A world beyond the conception of the present leadership who however are not different in significant degree from their predecessors more than 60 years ago.

My thanks to David Rosenberg for reminding me of the song and Ian Saville for contacting Leon Rosselson for an update.

The cloth cap and the working class, as images are dated.

 For we are Labour’s avante-garde, and we were educated.

 By tax adjustments we have planned to institute the Promised Land

 And just to show we’re still sincere, we sing The Red Flag once a year.

 Firm principles and policies are open to objections;

 And a streamlined party image is the way to win elections.

 So raise the umbrella high, the bowler hat, the college tie

 We’ll stand united, raise a cheer. And sing The Red Flag once a year.

 It’s one step forward, one step back. Our dance is devilish daring

 A leftward shuffle, a rightward tack, then pause to take our bearings.

 We’ll reform the country bit by bit, so nobody will notice it

 Then ever after, never fear, we’ll sing The Red Flag once a year

We will not cease from mental fight till every wrong is righted,

 And all men are equal quite, and all our leaders knighted.

 For we are sure if we persist to make the New Year’s Honours list.

 Then every loyal labour peer will sing The Red Flag once a Year.

 So vote for us, and not for them, we’re just as true to NATO,

 And we’ll be calm and British when we steer the ship of state-O.*We’ll stand as firm as them            *

 To show we’re patriotic gentlemen      *

 Though man to man shall brothers be, deterence is our policy.

 So raise the mushroom cloud on high, within their shades we’ll live and die.

 Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we’ll sing The Red Flag once a year.

     * these two lines sung to tune of “send her victorious, happy and

      glorious” from God Save the King.