Artists
Musicians featured in this piece are:
Dave Cousins – lead vocals, guitar
Tony Hooper – vocals, guitar
John Ford – bass
Richard Hudson – drums
Blue Weaver – Mellotron
Written by Dave Cousins. Produced by the Strawbs, recorded at Morgan Studios, Island Studios & Lansdowne Studios, London, 1971. Released on Grave New World (A&M Records, 1972); also issued as a single in Japan, though it received BBC Radio airplay in the UK without charting there.
“New World” is often considered a companion piece to the earlier Strawbs song “The Hangman and the Papist,” both inspired by the ongoing Troubles in Northern Ireland and dealing with themes of conflict and divided families.
The Strawbs – New World Lyrics
There’s blood in the dust
Where the city’s heart beats
The children play games
That they take from the streets
How can you teach when you’ve so much to learn
May you turn (x6)
In your grave
New world
There is hate in your eyes
I have seen it before
Planning destruction
Behind the locked door
Were you the coward who fired the last shot
May you rot (x6)
In your grave
New world
There is death in the air
With the lights growing dim
As those who survive
Sing a desperate hymn
Pray that god grants you one final request
May you rest (x6)
In your grave
New world
To listen to other songs from the Teleskop 12 program and the full program, click here.