Martyn Joseph - Nye : Song for the NHS (2015)

[@samscott4050]

I think this is the most powerful song I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Hats off to all the NHS heroes

[@leTsangs]

Happy 75th birthday NHS. Thank your Nye. The beautiful thing you believed was possible to be birthed has served people long after you have gone. I hope to think you might have dared believe it

[@madoldbatwoman]

The courage and fortitude of our wonderful dedicated NHS workers during this pandemic is amazing. They're exhausted, heartbroken and afraid - but still gently holding the hands of those dying away from their families. What many are going through is beyond me imagining. They deserve so much more than they get. We have to fight for them, because that's what they do for us no matter where we come from, how we voted or what we have in the bank. Nye Bevan's ashes must be whirling like a bloody fidget spinner. Then again, he probably wouldn't be surprised.

[@LyndaOtvos]

Genius-Martyn related his process for this song at his 2022 Berkeley concert; his story reverberates as I listen. Truth spoken in every line and best chorus. “The purpose of power is to give it away…”

[@DGaskell_Music]

If there has ever been a time to appreciate the NHS for what it is, it’s now!

[@celiadonald551]

Absolutely!!

[@insurancenocap8192]

Work? You mean wooook?

[@brendamatthews1479]

Martyn Joseph is my hero,his songs say so much especially what’s happening with the NHS this moment.

[@seancoppinger432]

4 years later, and I still cannot listen to this song without shedding tears. Martyn hit so many nails with this one.

[@tonycrimes2905]

Lovely man - not many with your conviction around these days, Martyn - thank you for this powerful song.

[@xaverneidinger4767]

This and "On this Celtic Morning" are the most passionated songs that you have ever written Mr. Joseph - find this emotion for all of your songs and you are still born at the right time and you will reach the hall of fame as many did before U ;-)

[@nwenban]

Brilliant, as ever - I'm an NHS employee - so Thank you for this song. Saw him perform it live on the recent tour - unmissable!

[@brucenichols9153]

Just heard this man on Radio 2, words fail me brilliant!

[@seancoppinger432]

Try and get to see him live, he is such a nice and approachable guy.

[@TomBedlammusic]

what a damn masterpiece this song is

[@derekdavies1734]

Hi Martyn… That was absolutely brilliant… It says so much about what’s going on right now with our NHS.. We owe them so much respect 👏👏👏

[@lockfield1]

Thank you Martyn. Let's protect our NHS.

[@latblaylock1055]

Such a wonderful tribute to the genius of Nye and his winning work, seems to me also to be a justification of socialism.

[@wendylund7874]

I carried your guitar once, seeing you to your car back in the 80s at Spring Harvest in Ayr. Full of admiration that you continue to sing meaningful and thoughtful lyrics.

[@davidfauncesmith1473]

What a great song. Fantastic lyrics! And pretty nifty guitar playing too!!

[@davidthomas9964]

In these days this should be our anthem!

[@noidealmao268]

Damn proud of having the same birthdate (excluding year) as him. My dad introduced me to him around a month ago and I instantly started to love his music.

[@jboomadmill]

Absolutely love everything about this song, amazing performer and song writer!

[@davidhewaters]

Well Amen to that. Please never stop writing songs Mr Joseph. Songs with meaning, morals and passion.

[@bcoyle7]

Beautiful. Thank you. 🙏

[@celiadonald551]

Brilliant and timely.

[@frankiehood7155]

Absolutely wonderful 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🎶👍

[@hardman909]

Great song, Martyn, I look forward to hearing you sing it live in 2016.

[@salal2007]

wonderful, thank you.

[@guzzibob]

Cheers Martyn,"By the Grace of God and the NHS go I"......great song.Good man yer`self :o)

[@Whalebone-music]

Powerful song. Thank you Martyn.

[@UnfandeMamiTomoe]

Nine days before I was born you were gone But what you left behind Great architect of health reform came forth From your soft heart and tougher mind When nothing good comes easy We fight for the dreams that we hold When you finally got that bill through though You had to stuff their mouths with gold And the purpose of power is to give it away This is my truth tell me yours And freedom won’t be freedom until poverty is gone So Nye, your dream’s alive and strong Nurse tired and drained it’s 2 a.m. She’ll summon up the strength again and smile It’s not for the weight she does this job It’s a greater call that cannot be defined The surgery, the plaster tape The arm around the aching and confused And drugs to give a little one more time to play Should never be refused And the purpose of power is to give it away This is my truth tell me yours And freedom won’t be freedom until poverty is gone So Nye, your dream’s alive and strong The accident, the cancer cell The final breath of sacrament at dawn The beating heart, the broken And the cry of the fragile being born Nine days before I was born you were gone But what you left behind Your greatest hour remains with us If we hold on with soft hearts and tougher minds For no society can call itself civilised If the sick are denied through lack of means And if you don’t believe me take a plane my friend Go break your arm, see what it costs in New Orleans And the purpose of power is to give it away This is my truth tell me yours And freedom won’t be freedom until poverty is gone So Nye, your dream’s alive and strong

[@LyndaOtvos]

Thank you for these lyrics. I’m appreciative.

[@jerrydykman8805]

Martyn performed in Morden Manitoba Canada Tuesday April 19 2016. Great show.

[@amygoldstein3771]

Hello. I just heard this beautiful song for the first time tonight. It's shameful that in the year 2020 we don't have anything that begins to compare to this in the US. For those wondering about how much it costs to set a broken bone in my country, with insurance (as long as you don't require surgery) it's $150. Without, it can go higher than $2,500.

[@DomincHardy-hm8dh]

Get this around the globe

[@mandywithell]

Heard this on Radio 2 last night driving my truck down the A1 metaphorically stopped me in my tracks.

[@the1andonlytitch]

Beautiful song

[@TallinnTadgh]

cracking tune. Came across Martyn by chance having been checking the Tiree Music Festival website. sadly I missed the festival again! Will try to see it and Martyn soon

[@charlesdoherty9879]

TallinnTadgh , iv only just caught up with his music, well , a small amount of it so far, a friend of mine put me on to him , really glad he did, this guy is superb, would love to catch him live , checked his tour and unfortunately he ain’t coming to Glasgow, hopefully he will soon 👍

[@stephaneyale4187]

I just love it

[@jackdaw7781]

Shared on Hodgson's Choice. A poignant and topical song indeed.

[@pfroberts100]

Nye where are you when we need you

[@mandywithell]

Whether it was Nye Bevan or someone else who was the architect of the NHS I think we can all agree (well those of a socialist conviction) that the NHS is under threat from Private providers and possibly TTIP if it is implemented. The NHS is a service that needs protecting as someone said break an arm (or was it leg) in the USA and see how much it costs you.

[@the1andonlytitch]

It's under huge threat from Brexit now

[@noidealmao268]

It's not from Brexit, no. Why push the guilt of a ruler onto some innocent movement you dislike?

[@arsenalvibes]

Couldn't you have turned the lights on? Great to hear a powerful song with meaning from you

[@livmurray1958]

When nothing comes easy we fight for the ....freedom won't be freedom till poverty is gone, drugs should never be refused,

[@lynnejohnson8832]

Let's hope the current situation will mean an end to NHS cuts - hmmm.... brilliant song though

[@Ca-jz6le]

💜

[@kalamityfame2609]

Fab.

[@AnnJoyner-w6m]

😊

[@samry7794]

lyrics?

[@davestrider4973]

Thought this was American. I have no more thoughts about him singing this to the states as lullibys

[@billellson2472]

What ignorant codswallop. Bevan was not the 'great architect' of health reform. The concept of the NHS was in the 1942 Beveridge report and those things the public value about the NHS are to be found in wartime coalition Minister of Health Conservative Henry Willink's 1944 white paper 'A National Health Service'. The relevant part of Beveridge and the white paper can both be found on the Socialist Health Association website.

[@guzzibob]

+Bill Ellson Merry Christmas Bill www.nhshistory.net/cvbevan.htm

[@billellson2472]

+guzzibob Try original sources 'A National Health Service' www.sochealth.co.uk/national-health-service/the-sma-and-the-foundation-of-the-national-health-service-dr-leslie-hilliard-1980/a-national-health-service/

[@billellson2472]

+guzzibob and Beveridge: www.sochealth.co.uk/national-health-service/public-health-and-wellbeing/beveridge-report/beveridge-comprehensive-health-rehabilitation-services/

[@billellson2472]

+guzzibob and Beveridge: www.sochealth.co.uk/national-health-service/public-health-and-wellbeing/beveridge-report/beveridge-comprehensive-health-rehabilitation-services/

[@guzzibob]

+Bill Ellson "The Beveridge Report of 1943 set out plans for the future of post-war Britain. It identified the main issues facing British society, including disease, and laid the foundations of what would become known as the Welfare State. When Labour came to power in 1945, an extensive programme of welfare measures followed - including a National Health Service (NHS). The Minister of Health, Aneurin Bevan, was given the task of introducing the service." www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers/alevelstudies/origins-nhs.htm Granted Bill but Nye Bevan did a great job to impliment the NHS..I think "ignorant codswallop" was a bit strong for both the song,Martyn Josepn and Nye Bevan,you could`ve just pointed it out.