John Forgot To Sing - Pete Ham & Tom Evans (Iveys) (Badfinger)

Iveys demo late 1969 era - LYRICS.....

Wave your flag you know he's coming with a smile for you
Distant voices softly humming of the things he'll do
The mothers came - the fathers came - the bells began to ring
They knew it was a special day and John forgot to sing

Horses' hooves and people cheering only for a day
What's this strange new sound you're hearing - can it always stay
The miners came - the farmers came - the bells began to ring
They knew it was a special day and John forgot to sing

Silently they sat and waited for his few kind words
Those who loved and those who hated - these few moments shared
The blacks were there - the whites were there - the bells began to ring
They knew it was a special day and John forgot to sing

Eat the love and drink the wisdom - all these things are free
I can't give you gold and kingdoms but I give you me
The mothers ate - the fathers drank - the bells began to ring
They knew it was a special day and John began to sing

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Badfinger
• Beatles
• Paul McCartney
• John Lennon
• Inspirational
• Spiritual
• rock music
• live music
• lullaby
• classical music
• opera
• waltz

[StanKindly]

wow

[saurian11]

Such a Beautiful song!!! Just listen to the vocal harmonies of Pete and Tom...I first heard this gem on a Pete Ham website a few years ago, and finally someone has put it on YouTube...Thank You!!!!

[comicbookinker]

Again, thank you for giving us access to these gems. Another one that makes me sad at what we lost.

[rothr]

Correction, I got it now, you put this out just in time for Easter which makes much more sense - the Christian element is unmistakable, and its an amazingly 'uplifting' performance too ;)

[rothr]

Thanks Dan, unless you somehow came across this recently you show incredible restraint, waiting for this perfect time of Prince William and Kate's wedding to let it fly. It fits so nicely with the imagery of regalia on everyone's mind. FYI, there are some great people at this site who could benefit from knowing the loving Badfinger fans that follow you: rock and roll tribe.com

[billtown2]

This song is just so beautiful. The song sounds like a celebratory religious event. Who is John?  My guess (and it’s only a guess) is perhaps Pete used the name John as a tribute to his older brother. Maybe Pete heard a story in his youth about his older brother being too nervous to sing in church. Ham wrote about his mother and father, why not his brother, John. The song has so much mystery to it. Thanks to Dan Matovina for finding, restoring and releasing these gems to the public!!!

[HummingBirdJazz]

Haunting Lyrics in this demo....what a great tribute ballad. Not a hymn or holiday tune. I am feeling like this demo was about appreciation of a fallen soldier or maybe just a premonition of John Lennon's death in 1980. (John Forgot to Sing) I am haunted by the last lyric, John began to sing...John Lennon's music carries on to this day... Such a tragic story...Pete Ham died in 1975, before John and Tom Evans followed Pete's footsteps in 1983, after John. RIP my dearhearts.

[powerpopsmith]

@billbadford No way this is gibberish. Every part makes sense with the previous. It;s just, Who is, John? If you look up John The Baptist, this seems to make sense to a degree. Name Of The Game - In the book it says the chorus is Pete's quandry of his failing relationship with a girlfriend names Beverley. "Don't refuse me" is "accept our break-up" - and "Don't confuse me" is " By pushing on me, you keep bringin my old feelings back in the picture" I'm sure other sections related to something.

[billbadford]

@powerpopsmith My guess is it's Pete's attempt at a church-based hymn. It's also possible some of the lyric is gibberish. I've noticed the words in some of Pete's songs appear to be chosen for their sound rather than their meaning, like "Name Of The Game".

I recall reading that McCartney's line "the movement you need is on your shoulder" was gibberish and he wanted to change it in "Hey Jude", but Lennon loved the sound of it and convinced him to keep it.

[powerpopsmith]

I wonder what inspired this. Is it Jesus coming to town and John is John the Baptist, who finally became inspired to spread Jesus words? It's just magnificent. I wish Pete and Tom were here to talk about their songs. It's obvious Joey Molland knew nothing about Pete's lyrics and what they meant. Dan Matovina's book gives a lot of insights, but some are mysteries. Badfinger made me get into lyrics. Head First is amazing.