I didn't write the song so that's not my problem Glenny.
Neil,
Beethoven's Ode to Joy is without doubt the most instantly recognisable song all over the world. It was even used as a pop song some years ago. Mozart wrote Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, not very profound, but it's a song that has survived in popular culture for a couple of centuries.
The composers I mentioned were innovators who brought genius and creativity of the highest order to the world of music. Not only did they write plenty of songs but they brought folk, popular and traditional country songs into the opera and the symphony concert hall, they were hardly ratbags.
I heard Eric Bogle talking about his song ( And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda )
he told an interesting bit how he had presented it to a group of Vietnam Vets.
He was a bit uncertain how they would respond to this sort of song.
He got a very good reception, the vets told him afterwards that when he sang the line
( I think it goes ) " they just stood and stared , then turned with their faces away " it really resonated with the Vietnam vets as their experience of their homecoming reception.
So that shows. as I said, good poetry in the song. Powerful poetry in this case.
) from The Pogues but none do it like Mr Bogle himself. I just love the song and even try and play it on the piano meself.