Bill Brown's Body
Channel: johnmorris1923
Date: 2011-08-04

A ballad by John Morris about the beleaguered body of Bill Brown, concerning euthanasia and grappling with theological interpretations of the nature of God. Musical accompaniment by Fergus Morris.

Links:
http://www.dwdnsw.org.au/
http://www.deathwithdignity.org/
http://www.dignityindying.org.uk/

Lyrics:

My mate Bill Brown was a dinkum Aussie bloke
Generous kind and cheerful, with many a funny joke,
Much loved in the community for helping other folk,
But then, he had a stroke.

"For sure it is the will of God" said a humbug priest named Sean,
God moves in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform,
So they shoved Bill in a nursing home, in an overcrowded dorm,
And there Bill still doth lie.

Bill Brown's body lies a'moulderin' in a home,
Bill Brown's body lies a'moulderin' in a home,
Bill Brown's body lies a'moulderin' in a home,
And how he wants to die.

He can't control his bladder and he can't control his bowels,
He cannot talk to others for he can't pronounce his vowels,
The poor wretch in the next bed often shouts and screams and howls,
But they won't let Bill die.

Bill Brown's body lies a'moulderin' in a home,
Bill Brown's body lies a'moulderin' in a home,
Bill Brown's body lies a'moulderin' in a home,
And they won't let him die

If it's God's will that friends like Bill should know such misery,
Then priest, your God is callous, or so it seems to me, 
And why priest why, is your God deaf to our eternal plea,
For death with dignity.