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In My School We Read The Psalms

from Winter Pick by Justin Bernasconi

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about

This song is a true story about my childhood.
Every Thursday lunchtime at the Ailwyn Secondary School (a part of The Ramsey Abbey), a boxing ring was set up in the gym for pupils to fight each other. Entry was 50 pence, gymnastic benches were used as seats, and everybody would go to watch - including most teachers. I remember kids would hang off the ropes on the walls, straining to get a view. Those yelling loudest for blood were the girls…

Every week, a queue of ‘boxers’ would line up in each corner, putting on oversized gloves, and wait their turn. Bloody noses, broken reputations… it was excellent entertainment for any dreary Thursday afternoon. If your name was written on the blackboard next the gym door, you couldn’t refuse to fight. In typical British fashion, my ‘best’ vicious friend wrote my name on the board, willing to fight me. Despite being the scariest day of my life, I swung my oversized gloves for the two minutes, until the fight ended in a draw.

Meanwhile, religious songs would be sung, and psalms read three times a week in school assembly…

lyrics

In my school we read the psalms,
Thank God for our lucky charms…
Teacher sitting in the wing,
Watch us in the boxing ring. I say:
Hey sir, wanna know the truth?
You try and take my eye, and I’ll
Take your fucking tooth.

Danny worked with his old man,
Always had a broom in his hand.
Winter got mighty cold,
Working on a manifold, he’d say:
Hey dad, you wanna to steal my youth?
Gimme me my blessing, coz
I’m leaving here real soon.

We move while we all live,
We’re woven like a spider web,
She pulls me, it makes a knot,
She’ll take everything I got. I say:
Hey, lover of forbidden fruit, you
Try to blind my heart, and I’ll
Take your fucking sweet tooth.

Failure in the family home,
Leaves old folks on their own.
I’m locked up in jail.
I won’t go for bail, and I say
Hey mum, you wanna know the truth?
Try to be kind, and say there ain’t no proof.
Hey dad, you know the truth?
You tried to make me strong, bullet proof.
Hey God, you wanna know truth?
I tried to take your eye, now
Take my fucking tooth.

credits

from Winter Pick, released May 2, 2014
Justin Bernasconi - guitar and vocal.

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Justin Bernasconi Melbourne, Australia

Justin Bernasconi considered a rarity among guitarists and songwriters.

Straddling styles and sounds from the Delta Blues, Appalachian Bluegrass, English Folk and all stops in between, his highly original tunes, are infused with exciting and soulful guitar playing. ... more

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