THE WHY MEMORIAL
(the Old Barbed "Why Here"?)

If you want to find the Butcher, I know where he is, I know where he is, 
Oh I know where he is
If you want to find the Butcher, I know where he is, his name it is written in the stone.
I saw it, I saw it, His name it is written in the stone I saw it, name it is is written in the stone.

If you want to find the Baker, I know where he is, I know where he is, 
Oh I know where he is
If you want to find the Baker, I know where he is, he died with a bullet all alone.
I saw it, I saw it, He died with a bullet all alone I saw it, died with a bullet all alone.

If you want to find the Candlestick maker, I know where he is, I know where he is, 
Oh I know where he is
If you want to find the Candlestick maker, I know where he is, his flame it no longer burns.
I saw it I saw it, His flame it no longer burns I saw it, flame it no longer burns.

If you want to find their Grandsons, I know where they are, I know where they are, 
Oh I know where they are
If you want to find their Grandsons, I know where they are, they're leaving all their litter here.
I saw them I saw them, leaving all their litter here I saw them leaving all their litter here.


The tune is from "the Old Barbed Wire" though the scansion of candlestick maker needs thought. It has to be him though.

© Cresby June 1998   http://cresby.com

This was a project set in a songwriting workshop.  The inspiration was devised by Sandra Kerr 
who had just spent half an hour in a memorial garden preparing mentally for the task of running 
a workshop.  The memorial was in the form a of a garden featuring a stone cross, on whos 
horizontal members were perched an empty crisp bag, a Coke can  and sundry other discards.  
What, Sandra asked, was the direction of our inspiration?  I quickly canvassed opinion for a 
colaborative effort.  No one seemed interested in a shared experience which I reasoned was the 
quickest route for the 15 minutes we had.  Perhaps piqued by the rejection, stunned into action 
I got inspiration and the formulaic nature of the song allowed me to finish it with time to 
spare.  No one else managed more than a verse.  Sometimes a problem shared is a problem halved.  
Sometimes irritation is a better spur.  I was pleased with the result, the swiftness of its 
birth takes nothing from its message or its worth.