Belsen Was A Gas

[Fuggle]

Probably the most controversial song by the sex pistols, it was written by Sid Vicious who said it was not meant to be anti-semetic rather that it was designed to offend the generation then in charge of running the country whom had grown up during the years of World War Two. Belsen held a particular place of horror in the older British generation's psyche because Nazi propaganda films had systematically portrayed the camp in the early stages of the Nazi regime (particularly for the foreign press) as being a well run camp for Jewish families trying to emigrate out of Nazi Germany (something seized upon by Nazi apologists within the UK such as Oswald Mosley) - this was in horrifying contrast to what British troops discovered upon its liberation in 1945 (many suffered from nightmares for years after). There had been further outrage when newsreels showed the captured camp staff responsible smiling and laughing, particularly during their trial at Nuremberg.

Just to point out - A Gas was 60's/70's slang for something that was great e.g. 'It's alright now, in fact its a gas' from Jumping Jack Flash.

To add to the controversy they recordered a second version called 'Belsen Was A Gas: Ronnie Biggs Movie Version' which Ronnie Biggs sang on. Biggs was involved in the great train robbery and convicted but later escaped and fled to paris where he took a new identity and had plastic surgery before eventually settling in Brazil. This version woas intended to be released as a single but wasn't allowed due to Ronnie Biggs's involvment.

anyway here are the lyrics...

Belsen was a gas I heard the other day
In the open graves where the jews all lay
Life is fun and I wish you were here
They wrote on postcards to those held dear
Oh dear

Sergeant majors on the march
Wash the bodies in the starch
See them all die one by one
Guess it's dead guess it's glad
So badBelsen was a gas I heard the other day
In the open graves where the jews all lay
Life is fun and I wish you were here
They wrote on postcards to those held dear
Oh dear

Be a man kill somone kill yourself be a man
Be someone kill somone be a man kill yourself

Ronnie Biggs movie version…

[Spoken:] Ok this time for real...
"Belsen Was A Gasser"

Belsen was a gas I heard the other day
In the open graves where the Jews all lay
Life is fun and I wish you were here
They wrote on postcards to those held dear
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear....

Dentist search their teeth for gold
Frisk the Jews for bank notes rolled
When they found out what they got
Line them up and shoot the lot
Kill a man, be a man, kill a man...

Wonder what the Jews would say
If I told them where Boorman was today
Would they start a vendetta
You'd better ask Ernie Ledbetter
Ledbetter, Ledbetter, Ledbetter....

So if anyone has taken the time to read all this I am very interested in ant comments you might have.

Posted by george trees frogblog