A Song For Covid-19: Don't Lock Me Down

With the UK’s coronavirus cure beginning to look worse than the disease, and quality of life deteriorating as rapidly as the economy, the grounds for opposing a further extension of lockdown are, at the very least, fair and reasonable, and they need not involve citation of the recently reported rank hypocrisy of epidemiologist Professor Neil Ferguson. There are, of course, two sides to the story and valid arguments to be made in opposition to the current regime being relaxed.

The opponents of the extension may feel that they are starting at a disadvantage. After all, the government’s “Stay At Home” mantra has a certain element of force, even if it has a touch of “four legs good, two legs bad” about it when closely examined. Perhaps they need to counter it with a campaign song? I offer a parody of ELO’s “Don’t Bring Me Down” developed for solo acoustic guitar over the last few days. The original, from their 1979 “Discovery” album, made it to number 3 in the UK charts 41 years ago, and did not feature a string section, a rarity for ELO: -

You’ve stopped me working and I’m out of my mind
You got me drinking loads and wasting my time
Don't lock me down, no no no no no
Can’t stand it no more, stuck here behind this front door
Don't lock me down

Don’t wanna stay here texting anxious friends
They’re telling me we’ll never see the end
Don't lock me down, no no no no no
It’s really a bore, we’re not all aged eighty four
Don't lock me down

Don't lock me down, it’s abuse*
Don't lock me down, there’s no excuse
Don't lock me down, cut me loose
Don't lock me down

What happened to the life we used to know?
We lost our pleasures somewhere down the road
Don't lock me down, no no no no no
Our savings no more, our pensions straight through the floor
Don't lock me down

The Chinese virus caused this crazy blight
One of these days they’d better make this right
Don't lock me down, no no no no no
They’re asking for war, we need to settle the score
Don't lock me down

[Chorus]

Can’t take a walk and have a break on the grass
‘Cause some policeman’s gonna kick your ass
Don't lock me down, no no no no no no no no no
Common sense is no more, they claim we’re breaking the law
Don't lock me down

You’ve got me ranting, got me wasting away
You’ve got me crawling up the walls every day
Don't lock me down, no no no no no
We’ll tell them once more, and then we’ll break down the door
Don't lock me down

We’ll tell them once more, and then we’ll break down the door
Don't lock me down

* ELO fans and other music aficionados (geeks?) may recall that the original lyrics simply had the filler word “groos” at the end of each chorus line. It may or may not have been intended as the German greeting “Gruss”, and in early live performances Jeff Lynne substituted it with “Bruce”.