about the name

Here is the poem that gave this blog its name. Actually, “gave this blog its name” isn’t quite accurate. I stole the name because I love this poem.

To whom it may concern
by Adrian Mitchell

I was run over by the truth one day
Ever since the accident I’ve walked this way
So stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Heard the alarm clock screaming with pain,
Couldn’t find myself so I went back to sleep again
So fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Every time I shut my eyes all I see is flames.
Made a marble phone book, carved all the names
So coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

I smell something burning, hope it’s just my brains.
They’re only dropping peppermints and daisy-chains
So stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Where were you at the time of the crime?
Down by the Cenotaph drinking slime
So chain my tongue with whisky
Stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

You put your bombers in, you put your conscience out,
You take the human being and you twist it all about
So scrub my skin with women
Chain my tongue with whisky
Stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

In fact, this is not the first time I have stolen the name. I have nicked it twice. Here’s an explanation I made earlier…

I stole the name because this poem is one of my favourites. I’ve yet to see anything better about war and lies.

There is some wonderful film footage, shown on telly a few years ago, of Mitchell reading this poem to a packed house at the Albert Hall in 1965 – it’s spellbinding.

When the war on Afghanistan started, I wanted this poem: I got it off the internet, printed it out, walked round with the copy in my pocket, learned it by heart. I repeated it to anyone who would listen – I have very tolerant friends. I kept waiting to hear it read out on one of the anti-war protests.

One day it happened. I was at Trafalgar Square, just where Whitehall runs into its south side. I heard the lines and began to mouth the words along with the speaker – whose voice I didn’t recognise. I couldn’t see who it was from where I was either.

The speaker was reciting the poem and changing the last lines to “about Afghanistan”, “about Palestine” and “about Iraq and Iran”. I’d always thought, with grim humour, that “To whom it may concern” was a handy title – for use in future wars when needed.

After the speaker finished, someone else on the platform thanked him by name: it turned out to be Adrian Mitchell.

I wrote that in 2005.

In December 2008, Adrian Mitchell died. He left behind “more than 50 years of revolutionary literature”, as fellow poet Michael Rosen pointed out in a tribute that also has a Trafalgar Square story…

There is a bit of discussion about it between the two poets here. It is well worth a look.

So is this – Adrian Mitchell’s 1965 Albert Hall performance.

Thank you, Adrian Mitchell.