Zatopeks - Jarama Valley

  

  No need to write much about today's song as I featured London band Zatopeks (https://www.facebook.com/zatopeksband) last month (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2024/06/zatopeks-fine-sunny-day.html).

  I just wanted to let you know that the new album, Loitering And Sauntering, is out now and I'd say it's probably my favourite release of the year so far so go snap it up, you won't regret it :   https://zatopeks.bandcamp.com/album/loitering-and-sauntering 

  I played this song on last night's Just Some Punk Songs show and the chatroom loved it so I'll highlight it again here. It's a rejigged version of Woody Guthrie's Red River Valley, leaning more lyrically to the version from 1938 by Alex McDade, of the British Battalion, XV International Brigade which was published in The Book of the XV International Brigade by the Commissariat of War, Madrid. It's called Jarama Valley... 

There’s a valley in Spain called Jarama It’s a place we all know so well It was there that we fought against the fascists We saw that peaceful valley turn to hell We signed up with the Lincoln Battalion We’re proud of the fight that we made And we know that you people of the valley Will remember our Lincoln Brigade From this valley they say we are going But don’t hasten to bid us adieu Even though we lost the battle at Jarama We’ll set this valley free before we’re through You will never find peace with these fascists You’ll never find friends such as we So remember our Lincoln Battalion The people that’ll set this valley free Now all of this world is like Jarama So green, and so bright, and so fair No fascists will live in our valleys Or breathe in our new freedom’s air

Zatopeks - Fine Sunny Day

 

  London punk veterans Zatopeks (https://www.facebook.com/zatopeksband) formed in 2001 and haven't exactly been the most prolific of bands in recent times (it looks as though it's been a decade since they last released anything) but happily they're gearing up to unleash their 4th album Loitering and Sauntering which will be on on Stardumb Records.

  To get us all excited, they've dropped a single and it more than does the job. The line up is Will DeNiro (vocals), Sebby Zatopek (guitar), Spider (lead guitar), Sammie the Giant (bass/backing vocals),  Pete Sematary (drums/percussion) & Jo Mangled (backing vocals). The music is catchy, crunchy pop punk that'll have you singing along. You can find it here :                                 https://zatopeks.bandcamp.com/track/fine-sunny-day-2

  It's inspired by Sophie Scholl, a German student and anti-Nazi political activist, active within the White Rose non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany. She was convicted of high treason after having been found distributing anti-war leaflets at the University of Munich with her brother, Hans. Read more about her here : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57008360

  It's called Fine Sunny Day...

Such a fine sunny day and I’ve got to go
If I had it my way I’d have years left, but no
It’s a fine sunny day and I’ve got to go

They’ve got the judges, they’ve got the police
I bear no grudges, I’ve got true belief

I’ve got to go away for ever and ever
Don’t cry for yesterday

A kick to the head and a shock to the hand
Is what they call justice in my screwed-up land
It’s a fine sunny day and I’ve got to go

I’ve got to go away for ever and ever
Don’t cling to yesterday

They’ve got the darkness and they’ve got the cold
They’ve got no wisdom and they’ve got no soul
It’s a fine sunny day and I’ve got to go