words

Hoyden to Harridan

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Isabelle Allende
Monica Ali
Dorothy Allison
Maya Angelou
Margaret Atwood
Jane Austen
Beryl Bainbridge
Toni Cade Bambara
Djuna Barnes
Pat Barker
Aphra Behn
Anne Bronte
Charlotte Bronte
Emily Bronte
Anita Brookner
Rita Mae Brown
Pearl S. Buck
Anna Burns
A.S. Byatt
Angela Carter
Ana Castillo
Willa Cather
Kate Chopin
Agatha Christie
Sandra Cisneros
Ivy Compton-Burnett
Anita Desai
Kiran Desai
Isak Dinesen
Margaret Drabble
Carol Ann Duffy
Daphne Du Maurier
George Eliot
Buchi Emecheta
Anne Enright
Louise Erdrich
Bernadine Evaristo
Susan Faludi
Penelope Fitzgerald
Janet Frame
Marilyn French
Tana French
Shere Hite
Rebecca Goldstein
Nadine Gordimer
Mary Gordon
Germain Greer
Radclyffe Hall
Joanne Harris
Bessie Head
Patricia Highsmith
Janet Hobhouse
Keri Hulme
Zora Neal Hurston
Shirley Jackson
PD James
Jamaica Kincaid
Barbara Kingsolver
Naomi Klein

Hoyden to harlot
Harridan to crone
Jezebel to virago
Witch and bitch and whore
Doxy to harpy
Termagent to hag
Concubine and shrew and strumpet
Wench and bint and slag

Afua Hirsch
Maxine Hong Kingston
Joy Kogawa
Harper Lee
Doris Lessing
Andrea Levy
Penelope Lively
Anita Loos
Olivia Manning
Eimer McBride
Mary McCarthy
Carson McCullers
Terry McMillan
Isabel Miller
Margaret Mitchell
Lorrie Moore
CE Morgan
Toni Morrison
Bharati Mukherjee
Alice Munro
Iris Murdoch
Edna O'Brien
Flannery O'Connor
Tillie Olsen
Grace Paley
Dorothy Parker
Caroline Criado Perez
Marge Piercy
Sylvia Plath
Katherine Anne Porter
Annie Proulx
Mary Renault
Jean Rhys
Marilynn Robinson
Sally Rooney
Arundati Roy
JK Rowling
May Sarton
Alice Sebold
Mary Shelley
Carol Shields
Anita Shreve
Lionel Shriver
Mona Simpson
Jane Smiley
Susan Sontag
Muriel Spark
Amy Tan
Donna Tartt
Anne Tyler
Alice Walker
Fay Weldon
Eudora Welty
Rebecca West
Edith Wharton
Antonia White
Jeanette Winterson
Naomi Wolf (!)
Mary Wollstonecraft
Virginia Woolf

Dratchell to hussy
Odalisque to bag
Battle-axe to xanthippe
Frump and scold and nag
Trollop to vixen
Wanton, jade and bawd
Hussy, quean and drab and
Bimbo, slapper, tart and slut

There are so many words
That you could use to put her down.
Where did they come from?
Who wrote them down?
Who made them up to put her down?
There are so many critical words
That you could use to put her down.

© P Lundy 1997

"Hoyden To Harridan was started 30 years ago, but it's theme remains prescient - a takedown of the engrained and often casual misogyny in society."
(Robin Murray, Clash Magazine 29.08.21)

Don’t They Know?

Don’t they know why it’s colder today?
Temperatures dropped when you went away
Don’t they know why the sun doesn’t shine?
It’s cos it learned you’re no longer mine

Don’t they see that I’m walking too slow?
That I have nowhere to go
Don’t they see someone who’s in distress?
And how come that they couldn’t care less?

They don’t know
How you lit up the room
They don’t know
How you loved a good tune
They don’t know
How you handled your spoon

I wish you weren’t so beautiful
Then I wouldn’t feel so bad
I wish you weren’t so wonderful
Then I wouldn’t feel so sad
And I with you weren’t adorable
Then I wouldn’t feel so blue
Bust most of all I wish I was with you

Don’t they see that the colour has gone?
There’s no more light, the days are too long
Don’t they see that it’s utterly changed?
The world has stopped and been rearranged

Why don’t they think to take out their phones?
And call that friend they know who’s alone
How can they just keep walking on by?
Don’t they care when they see someone cry?

They don’t know
How you made people smile
They don’t know
How you loved a good time
They don’t know
How green were your eyes

I wish you weren’t so beautiful
Then I wouldn’t feel so bad
And I wish you weren’t so wonderful
Then I wouldn’t feel so sad
And I with you weren’t adorable
Then I wouldn’t feel so blue
But most of all I wish that I was...

Walking down these streets with you
Laughing like we used to do
Sharing all our hopes and dreams
Like all these lovers I can see

I wish you weren’t so beautiful
Then I wouldn’t feel so bad
(I’m still in love with you)
And I wish you weren’t so wonderful
Then I wouldn’t feel so sad
(I don’t know what to do)
And I with you weren’t adorable
Then I wouldn’t feel so blue
(I think I’ll write a tune)
But most of all I wish I was with you

Don’t they know why it’s colder today?
Temperatures dropped when you went away
Don’t they know why the sun doesn’t shine?
It’s cos it learned you’re no longer mine.

© P Lundy 2011

Leave The Stone Unturned

Leave the stone unturned my darlin’
You don’t know what you’ll find under there
Creepy things that would
Make your skin crawl
Twist your guts and streak your hair

You weren’t to know about
The things that I’d done
Before we met, when I was young
So please, don’t go digging too deep
The devil is under there.

Leave those words unspoken baby
You don’t know what emotions they’ll stir
A question is never innocent
And you may not be prepared
For what you are about to hear because

A long time ago, I did something so bad
That I cannot speak of it and hate to be asked
So baby please cease these
Endless questions
You don’t want to see me angry.

Why do you have to ask?
Why do you have to ask?
Everyone alive has something in their past
Why do you have to ask?
Why do you have to ask?
Everyone alive has something in their past
They’d rather forget.

Leave those doubts inside you baby
I think they’re much better off in there
The last fella to antagonise me
Well let’s just say, he’s no longer here.

I’ve got a short fuse
The drugs were no use
That medication
Never worked its magic on me
So baby please, don’t be frightened
I will not hurt you, but you must be silent…

Why did you have to ask?
Why did you have to ask?
I told you not to ask.
I told you not to ask.
Why did you have to ask?
Why did you have to ask?

Now everyone will remember
When they saw you last
They’ll never forget.

© P Lundy 2000

Easy Slappin'

Last night papa came home
And he stood across the door
And mama said
"No papa. You're drunk for sure

No easy slappin'
No easy slappin'
Easy slappin'
But you'd better never touch this child."

And when you walk down the street
You think you're mighty cool
But nothing's ever said
Although everybody knows about your

Easy slappin'
Your easy slappin'
Easy slappin'
But you'd better never touch this child.

One night papa came home
And he stood across the door
And mama said
"No papa. I can't take no more of your

Easy slappin'
Your easy slappin'
I'm sick of your slappin'
So I'll leave before you hurt this child."

© T Beckford 1960
© P Lundy 1993

I Wanna Be Allowed To Disagree

Say anything you want to, say it to me
Use any word in your vocabulary
Say it in curses or speak decently
Use any language but please speak to me.

Then I wanna be allowed to disagree
Make up my own mind on what I see
I hope that you will do the same for me
So we can both agree to disagree.

Your right to silence is now history
Freedoms eroded due to liberty
Compulsory ID and CCTV
Remove the last vestige of your privacy.

But you should be allowed to disagree
Make a bit of sense from what you see
If honesty's a rare commodity
Then why should you believe?

I wanna be allowed to disagree
Make a bit of sense from what I see
I hope that you will do the same for me
So we can both agree to disagree.

© P Lundy 1993

Caoimhe B
Dedicated to Rachel Corrie and Tom Hurndall, who didn't make it back home safely.

Caoimhe B
I read that you'd been wounded in the knee
Another trigger happy Israeli
And you had only just turned twenty three.

Caoimhe B
How do you do these things so fearlessly
You risk your life for others' liberty
Highlight the occupier’s cruelty.

Caoimhe B
You didn’t have to leave your family
West Cork is such a lovely place to be
You could’ve had a life that’s easy free.

But you went to help them bury their dead
Pushed away the dirt to find
An old man’s head
And a little girl
Who’d suffocated in bed
And a baby’s foot,
‘Cause it was all that was left

You dug out corpses with your bare hands
Sifted through the filth
Of the unholy lands
And you showed the world
So we would understand
The depths of man’s inhumanity to man.

Caoimhe B
I read that you were in your own country
Protesting at Ahern’s complicity*
In the invasion and the anarchy.

Caoimhe B
I think you make your point so cleverly
You show us that we all act selfishly
By doing nothing we are so guilty.

Caoimhe B
You make me feel ashamed that I am me
I get indignant at the things I see
But all I ever do is watch and read.

While you go and help them bury their dead
Push away the dirt to find
An old man’s head
And a little girl
Who’d suffocated in bed
And a baby’s foot,
‘Cause it was all that was left

You dug out corpses with your bare hands
Sifted through the filth
Of the unholy lands
And you showed the world
So that we’d understand
The depths of man's inhumanity to man.

Caoimhe B
We need you more with each atrocity
So there is only one thing left to plead
Please bring yourself back home safely.

(*Taoiseach Bertie Ahern allowed Shannon Airport to be used for the invasion of Iraq in 2003.)

© P Lundy 2007

Epic Dream

Then I dreamt that the world got warmer
Bitter and frightened
Humans flared, heavens fried

Rasta smiled in the knowledge that
He’d said it all along
Then I woke and you smiled

And said I only sing so you’ll love me
Though lovable is something I can’t be
While spending half my life inside a dream.

Deserts swelled oceans disappeared they
Offered up old ground
Manna melted away into the sky

But the brightness of morning hit me
Harder than concrete
So I scrawled and I rhymed

And said ‘I’m gonna write a song for you
Cos it’s about the only thing I can do
So listen and I’ll make your dreams come true
For you’.

© P Lundy 1993

Without You

I’m supposed to be a singer
But I can’t even talk
I should act like a performer
But I can’t play the part without you
I can’t do a thing without you

I would like to be a lover
But I don’t have the heart
I could be a true believer
But I’m lost in the dark without you
I’m all alone without you

But if there’s nothing I can do
You know that I’d still wanna do it with you
And if you couldn’t hear a sound
You know that I’d still be here
Hanging around
Wondering what
I can still do
To get close to you

I would love to be a winner
But the race will not start
I feel tired and I feel tethered
I’m a prisoner of want, for you
You’re all I need to get through

I would like to learn the lesson
But it keeps getting harder
I’m afraid of being foolish
But I’ve made it this far just for you
I’m all alone without you

And I feel no triumph when I’ve won
Nor any tragedy when things go wrong
I’d be in limbo I’d be a joke
Flailing around without purpose or hope
Wondering what I can still do
To get close to you

I feel no triumph when I’ve won
Nor any tragedy when things go wrong
I’d be in limbo I’d be a joke
Flailing around without purpose or hope
Wondering what I can still do
Racking my brains ‘til it drives me insane
Trying to use weighs
That I haven't before
To get close to you.

© P Lundy 1993

Slatternly Girl

She held her cup
In both hands
To keep warm
Like some girls do

With fingers spread
She dipped her head
To every sweet
Herbal mouthful

My slatternly girl
Means all the world
And more to me
If I could describe
The curve of her smile
Then a poet I might be

She took me up
To her room
And her house
Was dark and cold

The ashtrays full
The curtains pulled
The walls were blue
The fridge was empty

My slatternly girl
Means all the world
And more to me
If I could describe
The the look in her eyes
Then a poet I might be

She shaved her hair
Pierced her nose
Tattooed her ass
And painted her toes

She keeps me appraised
Of her dole full days
And what her best friend says
She swears is gospel

My slatternly girl
Means all the world
And more to me
If I could describe
Her slovenly style
Then a poet I would be.

© P Lundy 1995

We Believe In Revolution

We believe in revolution
We believe in revolution

UK government stop the lies
Stop supporting genocide
UK government stop the lies
Stop supporting genocide

We believe in revolution
We believe in revolution

UK government pick a side
Justice or genocide?
UK government pick a side
Justice or genocide?

We believe in revolution
We believe in revolution
We believe in revolution
We believe in revolution

© Lyrics by Healthcare Workers & Allies 4 Palestine. Recorded in London on 18th January 2025, during the Palestine Solidarity Campaign march.

Unamused

She came to me last night
Did she bring a new song?
Angry that try as she might
What did she say was wrong?
Our children were still out of sight
But has it been that long?
She was upset about their plight
She's coming on too strong

She'd trusted what I'd said
You didn't lie to her
Of all her suitors I impressed
The honesty was there
Our fecund future would be blessed
And what you said was fair
Our tireless passion know no rest
You made a special pair

And yes those times were good
A bit of praise at last
I always was in the right mood
Because you had a blast!
I touched her like a lover should
You didn't go too fast
In beauty's birth we did collude
The inspiration vast

But then I let her down
What did she say you'd done?
I swore I'd always be around
She was your only one
Then there was someone else I'd found
What's wrong with having fun?
She wore her clothes but made no sound
It's what you do when young

It broke her heart to see
I think she's gone too far
All our children so lonely
In fact it's quite bizarre
Undernourished, frail and weak
You tried to be a star
While I caressed the phantom she
You played a mean guitar

She came to me last night
I'd tell her to feck off!
To tell me that this isn't right
Have you not done enough?
I've given up without a fight
It's not like things weren't tough
So now she will switch off the light
Go on and call her bluff.

© P Lundy 2008

Easygoing Baby

Easygoing baby
Tell me why you’re feelin’ so down
There’s no one less deserving
Unhappy isn’t what you’re about
You don’t invite disaster
By behaving in an unpleasant way
You only deal in sweetness
Never have a bad word to say

So easygoing baby
Tell me how you’re feeling
I hate to see you this way
Sitting there and crying
Easygoing baby
Tell me why you’re feeling so down

I’ll wrap you up in cotton wool
You’ll never have to suffer fools
I’ll hire a guard to watch your door
So when I’m gone you’ll be safe from harm
I’ll keep you warm when nights are cold
While you’re in need my life’s on hold
I’ll stay with you, this oath I swear
When you're in need I will be there

Take it easy baby
Keep on shining your love light
Go back to who you once were
Happiness personified
It’s just the way the world is
For there to be good there must be bad
But I am here to shield you
From anything that may make you sad

So easygoing baby
Tell me how you’re feeling
I hate to see you this way
Sitting there and crying
Easygoing baby
Tell me why you’re feeling so down

I’ll wrap you up in cotton wool
You’ll never have to suffer fools
I’ll hire a guard to watch your door
So when I’m gone you’ll be safe from harm
I’ll keep you warm when nights are cold
While you’re in need my life’s on hold
I’ll stay with you, this oath I swear
When you're in need I will be there.

© P Lundy 1998

Four On The Floor

I woke up with the room already warm
By nine o’clock I was in the mood for fun
We met up at a café at half past ten
To get ready for the day's adventure
Then we took a taxi to the fields and the tents
And met some friends...
It was gonna be a lovely day

We lost everyone within an hour or two
Bumped into people we never expected to
The conversation went from deep to trite
The general theme was 'everything is alright'
Then we went and

Danced to four on the floor
We jumped around and
Danced to four on the floor
The rhythm made us
Wanna dance even more
Everyone was smiling
Everyone was dancing with me

I believe you can find
Whatever it takes to make you happy
Yeah I know that you’ll find
Whatever it takes to make you happy

We sat around a fire as the sun went down
The field looked like
A happy party battleground
All manner of indulgence was strewn around
A dozen different systems fought for sound
We got a second wind around half past ten
Courtesy of that crazy great mate again
Who said he’d see us right down the front
We’re gonna go right down to the front
We took off and then we

Danced to four on the floor
We jumped around and
Danced to four on the floor
The rhythm made us wanna dance even more
Everyone was smiling
Everyone was dancing with me

I believe you can find
Whatever it takes to make you happy
Everybody is dancing
There’s a sea of faces smiling at me
Yeah I know that you’ll find
Whatever it takes to make you happy
And that you’ll live your life
The way that you want to and
Not the way that you are told to.

© P Lundy 1997

I Never Knew a Girl Like You Existed

I’ve been looking everywhere
Tryin’a find a special girl
I’ve been all around the world
But I still couldn’t find her

I’ve been looking up and down
I’ve been looking all around
I had been to every town
But I still couldn’t find her

And then one day I walked out my door
Now I don’t have to look no more because

I never knew a girl like you existed
You are my dream come true
If I had this chance and then I missed it
I would be such a fool

We had lived on the same street
Just waiting for the chance to meet
Sometimes the more you look
The less you see
(You can’t see the wood for the trees)

But ever since I walked out that door
Well I don’t have to look no more because

I never knew a girl like you existed
You are my dream come true
(I'm so in love with you)
If I had this chance and then I missed it
I would be such a fool
(I know what I must do)
With your mermaid eyes
You are one in a million
I know what I must do
(Give you my love so true)
Ask you a very simple question

Will you marry me?

Because I never knew a girl like you existed
You are my dream come true
(I'm so in love with you)
If I had this chance and then I missed it
I would be such a fool
(I know what I must do)
With your mermaid eyes
You are one in a million
You make me feel so good
(Give you my love so true)
And all I wanna do
Is spend the rest of my life with you.

© P Lundy 2011

The Old Man and The Band

I watched the old man
As he watched the band
He couldn't get up
So that he could dance.

Instead he played rhythm
Deftly with his hand
To make the connections
That made him feel glad.

His thumb was the bass drum
The forefinger? Snare.
The second was tom tom
The third in reserve.

His hand lifted up
When the music dropped out
And hovered like smoke
Till the band gave a shout.

Then he played once again
With smiles on his face
Each rhythm's refrain
Was reflected with grace.

The man was complete
In his dark suit and tie
He came every week
And he would till he died.

Because all that you need
Is a firm steady hand
To hold on to rhythm
And dance with the band.

© P Lundy 2016