Shipbuilding

The Spanish government has just arranged to sell ships and other military equipment to Venezuela. Spanish conservatives yell and despair. The Socialist government points out that the deal will create or secure plnty of employment at the shipyards that the last (Conservative) government endangered. I think it is all very sad.

Elvis Costello wrote this song about the situation of unemployed shipbuilders when England went to war against Argentina over control of the Malvines.

Shipbuilding.

Is it worth it?
A new winter coat and shoes for the wife
And a bicycle on the boy's birthday
It's just a rumour that was spread around town
By the women and children
Soon we'll be shipbuilding.......
Well I ask you
The boy said "Dad they're going to take me to task, but I'll be back by Christmas"
It's just a rumour that was spread around town
Somebody said that someone got filled in
For saying that people get killed in
The result of this shipbuilding
With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls
It's just a rumour that was spread around town
A telegram or a picture postcard
Within weeks they'll be re-opening the shipyards
And notifying the next of kin
Once again
It's all we're skilled in
We will be shipbuilding........

¿Merece la pena?
Un abrigo nuevo y zapatos para la parienta
y una bici para el cumple del chico
No es más que un rumor que dicen por ahí
las mujeres y los niños
pronto volveremos a construir barcos
pues verás,
el mayor me dice “Papá, me han cogido pero vuelvo a casa por Navidad”
No es más que un rumor que dicen por ahí,
alguien dijo que a alguien lo ficharon
por decir que hay gente que se muere
cuando construimos barcos
Con toda la voluntad del mundo
Zambúllete para salvar la vida
cuando podríamos estar buscando perlas
No es más que un rumor que dicen por ahí
un pésame oficial, una postal,
En pocas semanas reabre el astillero
y empiezan las notificaciones a las familias
Otra vez
No valemos pa otra cosa
A construir barcos....