Songs 7 May1986

Trevor Leggett was head of the Japanese Department of the BBC.

This is one of his broadcasts to Japan

Zubari for 7 May 1986

Hello listeners!

When we first study Japanese, we foreigners note that it is specially adapted for making good slogans: DAN-JO-DO-KEN and SONNO-JOI for example. The English versions are rather long: EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN!

However, in our history the long sentences have been made attractive by making the words into a song.

In one of the British civil wars at the end of the 17th century, a certain popular song caught the popular feeling perfectly. The Army, and the people, were singing it continually. A historian said it mobilized public enthusiasm so much that one could say: “This song won the war.”

The song was called Lilliburlero, and here it is.

RECORDING: LILLIBURLERO

A century later, at the time of Britain’s war against Napoleon, a popular composer called Charles Dibden wrote many patriotic Sea Songs. Sometimes after a public concert of them, many young men would rush to join the Navy to fight against Napoleon. Napoleon said: “Dibden’s songs are worth more than a regiment to is England”.  Here is one of them; it is called Bang the Spaniards.

RECORDING: BANG THE SPANIARDS!

Those two songs were really beneficial to Britain. But another song, composed about 40 years ago, has been a great disadvantage. It is called An Old Spanish Custom.  It was originally entirely humorous. In Spain, before drinking wine, it was once the custom to spill a couple of drops on the floor as an offering to God. It was just a superstition. There is a similar custom in Buddhist monasteries in Japan, where a few grains of rice are put on the edge of the table before eating.

British tourists used to be puzzled when they saw it. They would ask a British friend who had lived in Spain: he would just say: ‘It’s an old Spanish custom.  The meaning is, that it is too difficult to explain. Just accept it.

This phase came to be used by British Trade Unions to justify over-manning. After an introduction of new machinery, the Trade Union insisted that the number of men doing a job be kept the same.  So some of them were now idle. But when the question was asked: ‘Why are these men there?’ The reply was: “It’s an old Spanish custom.”  The meaning was: ‘Don’t ask any more, but just accept it.  Or we shall strike.’

Recently there have been big reforms in British industry, and the reformers say: “No more old Spanish customs.” Foreigners are often bewildered by the phrase, but British people know what it means.

Well, here is the song. I hope we shall never hear it again.

RECORDING: IT’S AN OLD SPANISH CUSTOM

© Trevor Legget