Poet Linton Kwesi Johnson live with the Dennis Bovell Dub Band. The eagle and bear are the USA and Russia of the cold war. Linton was a published poet before he set his poems to music, achieving multiple awards and is one of three poets published by Penguin Modern Classics when still alive. The Eagle and the Bear is from his 'Making History' album of 1983 (reissued for Record Store Day in 2021).
Dennis Bovell (MBE) was first known in the band Matumbi in the late 70's. He wrote and produced 'Silly Games' for Janet Kay, and has worked as producer for artists such as Madness, I-Roy, Fela Kuti, Bananarama, Orange Juice and The Slits. He has regularly collaborated with Linton Kwesi Johnson since 1979, co-writing the music for Linton's poems, and is the bass-playing band leader of his Dub band.
This session was recorded on October 17 1985 for French TV.
More about LWJ is here: en.wikipedia.o...
and the official site for himself, his record label LKJ Records and associated artists, is here:
lintonkwesijoh...
Dennis Bovell info: en.wikipedia.o...
dennisbovell.b...
Lyrics:
Di Eagle and di Bear a keep a living in fear
Of the impending nuclear warfare
But as a matter of fact, believe it or not
Plenty people don't care whether it imminent or not
Or who is first one to attack or if the human race
Or survive or not
For those whom is aware
Them life already coming like a nightmare
And you can see it everywhere
The famine and the fear
The doubt and the drought
Desperation and despair
And you can see it all around
The massacres abound
Dead bodies all around
The atrocities abound
Missing persons can' t be found
Dictators get dethroned
New clowns are quickly found
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