Ralph McTell is probably best known for the song Streets of London which has been covered by over a hundred artists around the world. From Clare to Here has proved almost as popular, during a long and continuing recording and performing career.
McTell's guitar style has been influenced by many of the USA's country blues 'Piedmont- style' guitar players of the early 20th century, including Blind Blake and Blind Willie McTell, from whom he took his name.
Birdman
Ralph McTell Lyrics
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But the last thing you need's another dead man.
Writing with black ink on your page
And I swear that death won't kill my rage.
For it'll take more to hold my tongue
Than your prison and your knives and your clubs and your guns.
I will not do what you say's wise
I'm a birdman but there's no cage
That's strong enough to hold my rage.
I don't want no peace prize
I will not do what you say's wise
I'm a birdman but there's no cage
That's strong enough to hold my rage.
Now John Henry told his captain,
That a man ain't nothing but a man
But before I let this machine grind me down
I'll die with my hammer in my hand.
So the birdman told his jailor
A man ain't nothing but a man
But before I let your system grind me down
I'll die with my gun in my hand.
I don't want no peace prize
I will not do what you say's wise
I'm a birdman but there's no cage
That's strong enough to hold my rage.
Those bells do ring, ding dong ding
And I don't fear no guard.
When freedom come maybe with a gun
Outside in the prison yard.
I'm a birdman, oh watch me fly.
I'm a birdman, death, sweet death,
She can't hold me.
The song "Birdman" by Ralph McTell is a powerful expression of resistance and defiance in the face of oppression. The opening lines, "You can kill me if you can / But the last thing you need's another dead man," establish that the singer is not afraid to die, but also that they recognize the futility of violence as a means of achieving justice. The second stanza reinforces this point, with the singer pledging not to be silenced by the tools of incarceration and repression: "For it'll take more to hold my tongue / Than your prison and your knives and your clubs and your guns."
The chorus, with its repetition of "I don't want no peace prize / I will not do what you say's wise / I'm a birdman but there's no cage / That's strong enough to hold my rage," drives home the message that the singer is not interested in compromise or accommodation with their oppressors. They are committed to their cause, and will not be placated by awards or symbolic gestures. The final verse, with its reference to John Henry and his refusal to be defeated by machines, emphasizes the theme of human resistance against overwhelming forces.
Overall, "Birdman" is a powerful anthem of resistance, with a clear message of defiance and determination in the face of oppression. The metaphorical image of the birdman, with its implication of freedom and flight, adds to the song's emotional impact.
Line by Line Meaning
You can kill me if you can
I am not afraid of death, so do not think that you can scare me
But the last thing you need's another dead man.
Killing me will not solve your problems, it will only create another dead body
Writing with black ink on your page
I am expressing my thoughts and feelings through my writing
And I swear that death won't kill my rage.
Even if I die, my anger and desire for justice will continue on
For it'll take more to hold my tongue
I am not afraid to speak out against injustice, even if it means facing punishment
Than your prison and your knives and your clubs and your guns.
Your attempts to silence me through force will not work, as I will not be held captive by your violence
I don't want no peace prize
I do not seek recognition or awards for my actions
I will not do what you say's wise
I will not follow orders that go against my own beliefs and values
I'm a birdman but there's no cage
I am free to express myself and my opinions, and no one can hold me back or restrict me
That's strong enough to hold my rage.
My anger will not be confined, as I will fight for what I believe in until the end
Now John Henry told his captain,
Just like John Henry, I am not afraid to stand up to authority figures
That a man ain't nothing but a man
No one person is superior to another, regardless of their status or power
But before I let this machine grind me down
I would rather die than be subjected to a cruel and oppressive system
I'll die with my hammer in my hand.
I will stand up for what I believe in until the very end
So the birdman told his jailor
Like the birdman, I will not be silenced by those who want to suppress my voice
Before I let your system grind me down
I will not be defeated by a system that seeks to oppress and control me
I'll die with my gun in my hand.
I will fight for my freedom and my rights, even if it means risking my life
Those bells do ring, ding dong ding
I hear the bells of freedom ringing, and they give me hope
And I don't fear no guard.
I am not afraid of those who would try to stop me from fighting for my rights
When freedom come maybe with a gun
Freedom may only be achieved through violence and fighting against those who oppress us
Outside in the prison yard.
Even though I am imprisoned, I know that freedom is still possible
I'm a birdman, oh watch me fly.
I am free to express myself and fight for what I believe in, no matter the consequences
I'm a birdman, death, sweet death,
Death does not scare me, as I am willing to die for the cause I believe in
She can't hold me.
Death may claim my body, but it will not take away my spirit or my legacy
Contributed by Miles D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.