Dick Gaughan - 'No Gods (and Precious Few Heroes)' (Glasgow, 2013)

[@sobellfanatic]

Dick was one of the most captivating performers ever: Rooted the audience to the spot. Years ago I persuaded a mate to come see him; he changed my mate's life - he walked in completely uninterested in "folk" music and left a convert.

[@r.8995]

2024 still here!

[@trioofone8911]

Such a great song, interpreted here by one of the greatest Scottish songers

[@jimfell7147]

Dick Gaughan for prime minister, so glad he walks the earth. Presented him here in Canada and what a man.

[@mick9708]

He's still around with his music but unfortunately no longer walks among us

[@gamerknown]

@@mick9708 When did he die? He was performing in January 2024

[@jacobite2353]

@@gamerknown He didn't, Mick might've confused him with Alistair Hulett another scottish socialist singer.

[@gckelly68able]

Relevant today as much as it ever was !

[@chrisdansey2600]

Written by the mighty Brian McNeill.

[@_Andy_A]

That last verse is sublime

[@edmundcoyle364]

Great.

[@mindbending11]

Superb, I'm listening to this on Burns night 2016, it's good to hear an 'angry' song fir a change.

[@colingordon8265]

"Men who think like sheep are even better..." The continuing problem.

[@Jimmusselburgh]

what a legend..................

[@anastazjas660]

he's great!

[@brianglover1180]

Class.

[@colinmclean6302]

Sublime ....

[@billywatson]

Epic!

[@tinaloflin1174]

Brilliant.

[@archimedesnation]

Legend

[@brownkevi1]

Brilliant! What would we do without Dick? Who else sings the socialist songs? He's what makes us (despite Thatcher, Blair, individualism, private property, privatisation of our common property (like the recent example of the Post Office), and the desperate pursuit of capitalism, economic growth - which means ever more exploitation - and so on) still Scotttish, with our fundamental political, cultural, social and economic concerns for social justice and social solidarity.

[@alteredbeast7145]

"They still prefer sheep to thinking men" Brilliant line, but to me the poles have shifted. The left are the problem. Hopefully a Conservative independence movement arises. "The lies of a past that we know were never real" Theyre not lies, we are one of the oldest nations on earth. Randolph and Douglas were real, we invented much of the modern world. History is important, though communists would rather you forget it. Which is my problem with Marxism. It doesnt work. My granda was a coalminer, but you dont answer savagery with savagery. I enjoy ol Dicks songs but he was an idiot.

[@DaveAlbiston]

'clear and present'

[@KINGcalgacus]

not sure if this a pro indy or a no indy lol...but....PIE SUPPERS IN THE SKY...is my favourite lyric EVER...

[@TielhardSJ]

It is a paraphrasing of Joe Hill's The Preacher and the Slave.

[@grahamlive]

I think it's possibly pro indy, but contains a warning not to rely too heavily on politicians, perhaps full of empty patriotic rhetoric to get us there. That's my interpretation anyway. I know Dick didn't write the song but he is pro indy FWIW.

[@elsiemacdonald]

I think it's pro indy but saying not to hold onto this rose glasses view of Scotland and realise we have to fight for an actual future and not some romantic view of Scotland which isn't actually true.

[@alandent2434]

It's a song that enjoins the workers to unite and fight, not sit on their arses believing in heroes and gods to come and do the job for them whilst they just behave politely to the landlord's minion when paying the rent. It's about Scotland but it's applicable to the whole of the working class. In my view the Tweedledum or Tweedledee of the independence referendum isn't relevant here: an independent Scotland may well be just as pro-boss as the Westminster crowd - just look how long Alex Salmond went round after Trump and how long it took him to realise what a fool he'd been made to look.

[@poc9652]

The socialist alternative victory in Seattle is a cause of celebration for us all. ! I love this song and this rendition

[@voddynblack]

i meant this

[@Frakfayt]

I have always wonder who the "Fat politician" is...Any idea among the Scots here?

[@divod2k9]

I'm not quite sure when this song was written but it's possible he could be referring to Alex Salmond, Scotland's former first minister before Nicola Sturgeon.

[@robertmccutcheon4672]

I believe it referred to Willie Whitelaw, a minister in Thatcher's government.

[@JayNewberyy]

"The 'fat' politician who told people to be proud of their past was John Smith [Labour leader, 1993 - 1994]." (Pr. comm. Brian McNeill)

[@brother1ray]

I think it was "Norman Lamont" who Dick said in a live performance "couldn't even say his ain name properly!"

[@MarkJVSomers]

@@divod2k9 Long before that, I think.

[@rippedtorn2310]

ProIndy but warning that , just as the slogan in Eire during their Indy war, no point in just replacing the accents of our rulers . This doesn’t helps the worker . SNP took a wee left turn and now have been in power for over a decade . There’s no tartan messiah!!

[@edmundcoyle364]

The great Dick, telling it as it is. As for the shambolic SNP, what's the (real) story, I'd be curious to know. Dick has plenty to say about them.

[@voddynblack]

shite n for ciaran too

[@colingordon8265]

I hope the present SNP government are listening.