Lesley Duncan was born in Stockton-on-Tees, a market town in north east England, leaving school at fourteen; she would later reminisce about her childhood troubles in her song, "Wooden Spoon". At age 19, she and her brother Jimmy were placed on weekly retainers by a music publisher. Within a year, Lesley Duncan had signed with major label EMI, and appeared in the film What a Crazy World. Starting in 1963, Duncan recorded a number of pop singles throughout the '60s, none of which were able to grab the attention of record buyers at large.
All throughout her career as an active solo performer and beyond, Duncan appeared as a vocalist on numerous recordings by other artists, including Donovan, Ringo Starr, and The Alan Parsons Project. She also appeared on the first original cast recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar. A complete list of Duncan's contributions has yet to be compiled; in her own words, "it would be easier to list the albums on which [she does] not appear."
Duncan was first introduced to Elton John when they were both relatively unknown session workers. In 1970, John covered Duncan's composition "Love Song" for his breakthrough album Tumbleweed Connection; Duncan played guitar and provided vocals on John's version. Duncan's new-found form of understated songwriting was noted by ecstatic critics, leading some to dub her "the British Carole King." Duncan's 1971 debut album, Sing Children Sing, featured amongst others Elton John and Peter Frampton as guest musicians. Despite favorable reviews and radio play, Duncan failed to attract the attention of record buyers.
Her lacf commercial success would haunt her until the release of her last album, Maybe It's Lost (1977), despite a gradual increase in commercial pop sensibility for every album released. Much of the blame for this lack of success could, by Duncan's own admission, be shouldered on her stage fright, which resulted in only a handful of live appearances throughout her career; however, one of these performances were at the 1973 Reading Festival, which was released on a live compilation LP. She continued to release sporadic singles for another decade; in 1979, a re-recorded version of "Sing Children Sing" (b/w "Rainbow Games"), whose proceeds were donated to the foundation for the International Year of the Child, became her biggest UK chart success at the #76 spot. Her recording career concluded in 1986 with a final single release, "Tomorrow" (b/w "Paper Highways").
Duncan retired to the Isle of Mull in Scotland, where she would spend the rest of her life with her family. In 2010, Duncan died of cerebrovascular disease, following an extended period of illness. At her funeral were flower arrangements from David Bowie and Elton John, members of the community in attendance only now realizing her true identity, which she had reportedly seldom brought up. Duncan's legacy remains, as "Love Song" continues to be covered by hundreds of artists, and albums on which she appeared continuing to be heard by unquantifiable numbers of listeners around the world.
Mr. Rubin
Lesley Duncan Lyrics
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I really do think that your soul must be maimed
You're trying to tell me it's them or it's us
But I tell you there's no way if we don't build on trust
The world has gone rotten so do what you must
But don't forget love Mr. Rubin, Oh no don't forget love
Well to your kind I know I'm just one of a crowd
There's a strange lack of vision that's driving you on
There's times to be here you say and times to be gone
And the times that we live in must surely be wrong
But don't forget love Mr. Rubin, Oh no don't forget love.
There's a change due to come and you know it
And you think it's your duty to fight
But it's people like you who's gonna blow it
While you're standin' there blacking the light.
Now there's pawns of the devil who don't know his name
It's him that they're fighting you'll hear them all claim
But the devil's in you friend when you say we must kill
And fight for you freedom and take what we will
It's been a good year for losers and you head the bill
In a world short on love Mr. Rubin so don't forget
Love Mr. Rubin
Oh no, don't forget love.
Lesley Duncan's song "Mr. Rubin" is a poignant criticism of the pervasive violence, hatred, and lack of empathy that have come to dominate the modern world. The song is addressed to someone called Mr. Rubin, who is identified as a person who is stirring up hatred and causing division between people. The singer is deeply troubled by Mr. Rubin's words and actions and suggests that his soul must be maimed if he is capable of such cruelty. The singer also argues that building trust is the only way to overcome the challenges of the modern world and criticizes Mr. Rubin for forgetting love.
The song suggests that Mr. Rubin is a symbol of a larger problem in society. He represents the kind of person who is so consumed by a sense of duty or ideology that they are willing to harm others in pursuit of their goals. The singer suggests that this kind of mindset is leading to the destruction of the world, and that change is needed to prevent further harm. The lyrics suggest that Mr. Rubin is part of a larger trend of violence and hatred, and that his actions are likely to be counterproductive in the long run.
Overall, "Mr. Rubin" is a song about the importance of compassion and empathy in a world that often seems to be lacking these qualities. It is a call to action for people to remember that love and trust are the only things that can help us overcome the challenges of the modern world.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you're stirring up hatred and you make me ashamed
You incite hatred and I feel ashamed by your actions
I really do think that your soul must be maimed
I believe your soul is damaged in some way
You're trying to tell me it's them or it's us
You claim that there is a divide between us and them
But I tell you there's no way if we don't build on trust
I argue that without trust between us, there can be no solution
The world has gone rotten so do what you must
You feel the world is corrupted, so you will take drastic measures
But don't forget love Mr. Rubin, Oh no don't forget love
I implore you not to forget about love even amidst chaos
Well to your kind I know I'm just one of a crowd
I am aware that I am one amongst many people who share my beliefs
But I hope that you'll listen I don't like talkin' loud
I hope you can hear me despite not being very vocal
There's a strange lack of vision that's driving you on
You lack foresight and it fuels your actions
There's times to be here you say and times to be gone
You believe there are times to stay and fight and times to retreat
And the times that we live in must surely be wrong
You believe that the current times are flawed
But don't forget love Mr. Rubin, Oh no don't forget love.
Amidst all this, I urge you once again to remember love
There's a change due to come and you know it
You anticipate change
And you think it's your duty to fight
You consider it your obligation to fight
But it's people like you who's gonna blow it
I believe it is people like you who will cause a failure
While you're standin' there blacking the light.
You are blocking progress and preventing people from seeing clearly
Now there's pawns of the devil who don't know his name
There are people who are unwittingly serving evil
It's him that they're fighting you'll hear them all claim
They claim to fight the devil, yet are doing his bidding
But the devil's in you friend when you say we must kill
I accuse you of demonizing others and promoting violence
And fight for you freedom and take what we will
You propose using force to take what we deem is ours
It's been a good year for losers and you head the bill
I suggest that you are causing the downfall of the side you are fighting for
In a world short on love Mr. Rubin so don't forget
Once again, in a world that lacks love, I ask you not to forget
Love Mr. Rubin
To remember to love amidst chaos
Oh no, don't forget love.
Once again, implore you to not forget about love
Contributed by Matthew C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@martinluckhurst9808
I remember I had this song on my 8track
@minstrelofMir
with elton f off he played keyboards so what,,its her album not his ,,carnt a girl have a chance herself,she backed up so many stars,,so when they add to hers why is it there album