It's Grim Up North
It's Grim Up North
by The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu
Transcribed by Drew Radtke
Bolton,
Barnsley,
Nelson,
Colne,
Burnley
Bradford,
Buxton,
Crewe,
Warrington,
Widnes,
Wigan,
Leeds,
Northwich,
Nantwich,
Knutsford,
Hull,
Sale,
Salford,
Southport,
Leigh,
Derby,
Kearsley
Keighley
Maghull,
Harrogate,
Huddersfield,
Oldham, Lancs,
Grimsby,
Glossop,
Hebden Bridge,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North.
Brighouse,
Bootle,
Featherstone,
Speke,
Runcorn,
Rotherham,
Rochdale,
Barrow,
Morecambe,
Macclesfield,
Lytham St. Annes
Clitheroe,
Cleethorpes,
The M62,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North.
Pendlebury,
Prestwich,
Preston,
York,
Skipton,
Scunthorpe,
Scarborough-on-Sea,
Chester,
Chorley,
Cheedle Hulme,
Ormskirk,
Accrington Stanley,
and Leigh,
Ossett,
Otley,
Ikley Moor,
Sheffield,
Manchester,
Castleford,
Skem,
Doncaster,
Dewsbury,
Hali-fax,
Bingley,
Bramall,
Are all in the North.
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North.
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North,
It's Grim Up North
song performed by by KLF

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
Sometimes it seemed to me I could not look at those silent little figures; that I must go north, to the grim coal fields, to the Rocky Mountain camps, where the labor fight is at least fought by grown men.
quote by Mary Harris Jones

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Grim and Stuck On Their Knees
Grim and stuck on their knees.
Too many people with weak souls.
They are the ones claiming to know...
How others should go about their days,
And pray.
Grim...
And stuck on their knees.
Seekers wishing to be equal.
But complain about their troubles,
And evils they face all day.
Seen running to be hidden in shadows.
Running from realities they choose not to believe.
Desperate are the lives of these people.
Sharing as seen their half filled cups...
With others they seek,
Like them who have given up!
Grim...
And stuck on their knees.
They see themselves with bad luck.
Grim and stuck on their knees.
Afraid to get out of ruts.
They want their boats re-ruddered.
Grim and stuck on their knees.
They want them sugar buttered.
Grim and stuck on their knees...
They seek a life that's other than the one 'not' cookie cutter.
Grim...
And stuck on their knees.
They see themselves with bad luck.
Grim and stuck on their knees.
Afraid to get out of ruts.
They want their boats re-ruddered.
Grim and stuck on their knees.
They want them sugar buttered.
Grim and stuck on their knees...
They seek a life that's other than the one 'not' cookie cutter.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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The Vassal
WIND of the North, O far, wild wind
Born of a far, lone sea--
When suns are soft and breezes kind
Why are you kin to me?
Uncounted years above the sea,
Rock-fortressed from its rage,
The fishermen, your fathers, kept
A barren heritage--
Grim as the sea they forced to pay
The sea-toll of their wage.
And lo! The fate which made you hers
And gave you of her best
And set you in a sunny place,
Down-sloping to the West,
Forgot to change your fisher's heart
Serf to the sea's unrest!
Wind of the North! O bitter wind,
I hear the wild seas fret--
In the dim spaces of the mind
They claim me vassal yet!
poem by Isabel Ecclestone Mackay

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Grant—1885
BLESSED are Pain, the smiter,
And Sorrow, the uniter!
For one afflicted lies—
A symboled sacrifice—
And all our rancor dies!
No North, no South! O stern-faced Chief,
One weeping ours, one cowled Grief—-
Thy Country—bowed in prayer and tear—
For North and South—above thy bier!
For North and South! O Soldier grim,
The broken ones to weep for him
Who broke them! He whose terrors blazed
In smoking harvests, cities razed;
Whose Fate-like glance sent fear and chill;
Whose wordless lips spake deathless will—
Till all was shattered, all was lost—
All hands dropped down—all War's red cost
Laid there in ashes—Hope and Hate
And Shame and Glory!
Death and Fate
Fall back! Another touch is thine;
He drank not of thy poisoned wine,
Nor blindly met thy blind-thrown lance,
Nor died for sightless time or chance—
But waited, suffered, bowed and tried,
Till all the dross was purified;
Till every well of hate was dried;
And North and South in sorrow vied,
And then—at God's own calling—died!
poem by John Boyle O'Reilly

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Grim Facts
The boy's got problems
The boy's got stress
The boys' a .38 hidden in his desk
The boy's got a chickie
With four months to go
Grim Facts - every parent better know
The girl's a deadly teaser
Wants to do a private show
She's got a hundred thousand fantasies
She wants the band to know
She likes to brush across my Levis
She likes to watch him grow
Grim Facts - every parent better know
Grim Facts - every parent better know
Red lights
Gang fights
Brewing in the heat
Cop cars
Gay bars
On your precious street
That ain't so neat
Sister's on the street now
Looking for some Joe
Only got about an hour
To pay for her new nose
She gets a hundred for her body
A nickel for her soul
These are grim facts - every parent better know
Grim facts - every parent better know
Red lights
Gang fights
Brewing in the heat
Cop cars
Gay bars
On your precious street
That ain't so neat
And I'm feeling itchy
Got a fire down below
I'm a walkin' loaded time bomb
Just about to blow
Tries to slide inside my pockets
But it's strictly SRO
Grim facts - every parent better know
Grim facts - every parent better know
Red lights
Gang fights
Brewing in the heat
Cop cars
Gay bars
On your precious street
That ain't so neat
Mmm Grim facts, you know, growing all the time
Mmm Grim facts, real grim Yeah.
song performed by by Alice Cooper

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Grim Lullaby
An ode to you, oh quiet child,
Lying so still, broken and defiled,
As blood seeps from your veins,
Traces the tiles,
Tears descend your face,
And to the floor they are exiled.
Hush my sweetheart, don’t you cry,
Grim Reaper’s gonna sing you a lullaby.
And if you don’t suddenly die,
Then Grim Reaper’s gonna give it another try.
You are the moon,
Reflecting all that comes your way,
You are a rock,
Taking hit after hit, day after day,
You are the sun,
Blocked by gloomy storm clouds,
You are the rain,
Free falling into darkness.
Oh,
Hush my sweetheart, don’t you cry,
Grim Reaper’s gonna sing you a lullaby.
And if you don’t suddenly die,
Then Grim Reaper’s gonna give it another try.
Oh no, don’t cry darling,
I’ll sing it again.
Hush my sweetheart, don’t you cry,
Grim Reaper’s gonna sing you a lullaby,
And if you don’t suddenly die,
Then Grim Reaper’s gonna give it another try.
poem by Sai Killam

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Lady icicle
Little Lady Icicle is dreaming in the north-land
And gleaming in the north-land, her pillow all a-glow;
For the frost has come and found her
With an ermine robe around her
Where little Lady Icicle lies dreaming in the snow.
Little Lady Icicle is waking in the north-land,
And shaking in the north-land her pillow to and fro;
And the hurricane a-skirling
Sends the feathers all a-whirling
Where little Lady Icicle is waking in the snow.
Little Lady Icicle is laughing in the north-land,
And quaffing in the north-land her wines that overflow;
All the lakes and rivers crusting
That her finger-tips are dusting,
Where little Lady Icicle is laughing in the snow.
Little Lady Icicle is singing in the north-land,
And bringing from the north-land a music wild and low;
And the fairies watch and listen
Where her silver slippers glisten,
As little Lady Icicle goes singing through the snow.
Little Lady Icicle is coming from the north-land,
Benumbing all the north-land where'er her feet may go;
With a fringe of frost before her
And a crystal garment o'er her,
Little Lady Icicle is coming with the snow.
poem by Emily Pauline Johnson

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Viceroy Sonata
I am the king called Viceroy
And in my ship I sail the Red Sea
All the way to North America because I want to see the other world
That the people call the American dream
But I know that is not easy to migrate to North America
Because if you want to stay you will need to apply for a green card
And you will be a gringo for the rest of your life
But I don't have any plans to live in North America
But my plans is just to visit North America and that is all
Because I am a jew and I belong in Telaviv that is my birth place
poem by Aldo Kraas

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Sexy Northerner
Came down from the North
You know the way they do
Got a cheeky smile
Sexy Northerner
Hanging round the clubs
Gets in them for free
Don't know how he does it
Sexy Northerner
Drinks a lot of beer
At least he doesn't smoke
Hasn't lost his accent
Sexy Northerner
How does he do it?
How does he do it?
Acts like he's got nothing to prove
Sexy Northerner
It's not all football and fags
No it's not all football and fags
Don't you dare imply
that it's grim up North
He went last weekend
Sexy Northerner
In the latest clothes
Wears a posh cologne
Got a lot of pride
Sexy Northerner
Says he wants a job
Something interesting
like a graphic designer
Sexy Northerner
How does he do it?
How does he do it?
Acts like he's got nothing to prove
Sexy Northerner
It's not all football and fags
No it's not all football and fags
song performed by by Pet Shop Boys

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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North star
Look at the north star
Look, North star is there
Only to run life's car
To run in a fixed and
Marvellous manner.
North star north star
I know why you are there
You are there to give
Right direction to the
Directionless
Right word to the wordless.
You are my centrestage
And my life'page
That I can turn
To attain liberation
And to remain fixed
Time's altenation.
North star, I sing
I hear I recite I study
Only your story
And try to acquire
Your qualities to reach
My Master
My Master is also
Your Master
And in this sense
We are brother.
Please help me my brother
I am yours for ever.
poem by Gajanan Mishra

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North And South Of The River
I want to reach out over the Loch
And feel your hand across the water
Walk with you along an unapproved road
Not looking over my shoulder
I want to see, and I want to hear
To understand your fears
But we're north and south of the river
I've been doing it wrong all of my life
This holy town has turned me over
A young man running from what he didn't understand
The wind from the Loch just get colder, colder
There was a badness that had its way
But love wasn't lost, love will have its day
North and south of the river
North and south of the river
Can we stop playing these old tattoos
Darling I don't have the answer
I want to meet you where you are
I don't need you to surrender
'Cause there's no feeling that's so alone
As when the one you're hurting is your own
North and south of the river
North and south of the river
North and south of the river
Some high ground is not worth taking
Some connections are not worth making
There's an old church bell no longer ringing
Some old songs are not worth bringing
North...
(Higher ground is not worth taking)
North and south of the river
song performed by by U2

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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North
The East has that Englishmen
And the rising sun
The West has the open plains
And how they were won
On Independence Day
For all it's worth
You can ring those southern belles
I'm going
North
Up were the rushing rivers run and salmon leap
I could even get there in my sleep
Give me the ice and snow
Time to go...
North
So run up a banner and we'll stand underneath
You gave me a starry flag
For one with a leaf
I'm on the borderline
I jump back and forth
There's nothing to stop me now
I'm heading...
North
Up where the polar bears and moose and geese will play
And some of them address you en franais
Give me the ice and snow
Time to go...
North
And so I must leave you all
Alas and alack
And though we are parting now
I'll always come back
So as the compass points
That's where I'll be
But if you could only see
The perfection of...
North
It's something I will always carry in my heart
A place when dreams begin and life can start
Who cares what people know?
Let me go...
North
song performed by by Elvis Costello

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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North & South Of The River
I want to reach out over the loch
And feel your hand across the water
Walk with you along an unapproved road
Not looking over my shoulder
I want to see, and I want to hear
To understand your fears
But were north and south of the river
Ive been doing it wrong all of my life
This holy town has turned me over
A young man running from what he didnt understand
The wind from the loch just get colder, colder
There was a badness that had its way
But love wasnt lost, love will have its day
North and south of the river
North and south of the river
Can we stop playing these old tattoos
Darling I dont have the answer
I want to meet you where you are
I dont need you to surrender
cause theres no feeling thats so alone
As when the one youre hurting is your own
North and south of the river
North and south of the river
North and south of the river
Some high ground is not worth taking
Some connections are not worth making
Theres an old church bell no longer ringing
Some old songs are not worth bringing
North...
(higher ground is not worth taking)
North and south of the river
song performed by by U2

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Quiet Crown
I want to fly a little to the right, Ill never get to crowsdell
And I want to stay awake all night to realise (Im not Ben Hoy)
What should I take with me to the north? Its the good north
The promised success, the appropriate north. Its the good north
Apparently, youre happy, youve realised
Im meant to be, unhappy, Ive realised (Im not Ben Hoy)
What should I take with me to the north? Its the good north
The promised success, the appropriate north. Its the good north
I want to reunite, Ill never save (What will you save?)
When everything is broken now
I want to reunite Ill never save (What will you save?)
Everything is broken
I want to fly a little to the right, Ill never get to crowsdell
And I want to stay awake all night to realise (Im not Ben Hoy)
And what should I take with me to the north? Its the good north
The promised success, the appropriate north. Its the good north
I want to reunite I need to save (What will you save?)
When everything is broken now
When everything is broken now
When everything is broken now
When everything is broken now
Everythings gone now, everythings gone now
(Youve gone now, when everythings broken now)
Everythings gone running without a sound
song performed by by Idlewild

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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And also, we are providing, you know, a nuclear power plant in the north, two light water systems, so some 4 or 5 billion dollars we are providing to meet with North Korean requests on the condition North Korea will not produce a nuclear weapon.
quote by Kim Dae Jung

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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PDA
yours is the only version of my desertion that I could ever subscribe to
that is all that I can do
you are a past dinner the last winner I'm raking all around me
until the last drop is behind you
you're so cute when you're frustrated, dear
you're so cute when you're sedated, dear
i'm resting
sleep tight, grim right, we have two hundred couches
where you can sleep tight, grim right, we have two hundred couches
where you can sleep tight, grim right, we have two hundred couches
where you can sleep tonight, sleep tonight, sleep tonight, sleep tonight
you are the only person who's completely certain there's nothing here to be into
that is all that you can do
you are a past sinner, the last winner and everything we've come to
makes you you
and you cannot safely say while I will be away
that you will not consider sadly how you hurt me this free
you will not reach me I am resenting a position that is past resentment now I can consider now there is this distance so
sleep tight, grim right, we have two hundred couches
where you can sleep tight, grim right, we have two hundred couches
where you can sleep tight, grim right, we have two hundred couches
where you can sleep tonight, sleep tonight, sleep tonight, sleep tonight
something to say
something to do
nothing to say
when there's nothing to do
song performed by by Interpol

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Nor We of Her to Him
He said no word of her to us
Nor we of her to him,
But oh it saddened us to see
How wan he grew and thin.
We said: she eats him day and night
And draws the blood from him,
We did not know but said we thought
This was why he grew thin.
One day we called and rang the bell,
No answer came within,
We said: She must have took him off
To the forest old and grim,
It has fell out, we said, that she
Eats him in forest grim,
And how can we help him being eaten
Up in forests grim?
It is a restless time we spend,
We have no help from him,
We walk about and go to bed,
It is no help to him.
Sometimes we shake our heads and say
It might have better been
If he had spoke of us to her
Or we of her to him.
Which makes us feel helpful, until
The silence comes again.
poem by Stevie Smith

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Condition of Traditions
How will we handle,
The complete absence of fading values.
And the dismissing of those messages,
Through the years.
Those messages missed and blocked,
By closed ears.
How will we handle the loss of standards,
And our way of self righteous life.
How will we handle the right 'not' to fight,
In needless struggle.
Or clinched our teeth upon a bullet...
As tormenting pain surrounds,
To black and whiten...
Dimming colorized sights.
How will we handle scandle,
And revelations disbelieved.
How many awakened from deep and peaceful sleep,
Will move forward and aware they are seeking outreach.
And...
Just how many will be amused,
By thoughts of being used and abused by slick trickers!
Soliciting more of their conflicts,
In daylight and on city streets.
How can any of this be handled,
While being fixed quickly...
In the midst of this mix!
If...
Conditions of traditions are still disrespected.
Ignored and neglected.
And ammunition is deficient for the ones who are depicted as the:
Grim and down and out dreamers.
Depicted as the:
Grim and down and out dreamers.
Depicted as the:
Grim and down and out dreamers.
Depicted as the:
Grim and down and out dreamers.
How will we handle,
The complete absence of fading values.
And the dismissing of those messages,
Through the years.
Those messages missed and blocked,
By closed ears.
How will we handle the loss of standards,
And our way of self righteous life.
And ammunition is deficient for the ones who are depicted as the:
Grim and down and out dreamers,
With selfish lives.
Grim and down and out dreamers,
With selfish lives.
And ammunition is deficient for the ones who are depicted as the:
Grim and down and out dreamers.
Depicted as the:
Grim and down and out dreamers.
Depicted as the:
Grim and down and out dreamers.
Depicted as the:
Grim and down and out dreamers.
With-selfish-lives!
Grim and down and out dreamers.
With-selfish-lives!
Grim and down and out dreamers.
With-selfish-lives!
Just how will we handle the loss of standards,
And our way of self righteous life.
'How can any of this be handled,
While being fixed quickly...
In the midst of this mix!
If...
Conditions of traditions are still disrespected.
Ignored and neglected? '
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Why Should I Cry For You?
Under the dog star sail
Over the reefs of moonshine
Under the skies of fall
North, north west, the stones of farve
Under the arctic fire
Over the seas of silence
Hauling on frozen ropes
For all my days remaining
But would north be true?
All colours bleed to red
Asleep on the oceans bed
Drifting on empty seas
For all my days remaining
But would north be true?
Why should i?
Why should I cry for you?
Dark angels follow me
Over a godless sea
Mountains of endless falling,
For all my days remaining,
What would be true?
Sometimes I see your face,
The stars seem to lose their place
Why must I think of you?
Why must i?
Why should i?
Why should I cry for you?
Why would you want me to?
And what would it mean to say,
That, i loved you in my fashion?
What would be true?
Why should i?
Why should I cry for you?
song performed by by Sting

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Old North Sydney
They're shifting old North Sydney—
Perhaps ’tis just as well—
They’re carting off the houses
Where the old folks used to dwell.
Where only ghosts inhabit
They lay the old shops low;
But the Spirit of North Sydney,
It vanished long ago.
The Spirit of North Sydney,
The good old time and style,
It camped, maybe, at Crow’s Nest,
But only for a while.
It left about the season,
Or at the time, perhaps,
When old Inspector Cotter
Transferred his jokes and traps.
A brand new crowd is thronging
The brand new streets aglow
Where the Spirit of North Sydney
Would gossip long ago.
They will not know to-morrow—
Tho’ ’twere but yesterday—
Exactly how McMahon’s Point
And its ferry used to lay.
The good old friendly spirit
Its sorrows would unfold,
When householders were neighbours
And shop-keeping was old;
But now we’re busy strangers,
Our feelings we restrain—
The Spirit of North Sydney
Shall never come again!
poem by Henry Lawson

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