Reading the lyrics for the first time, I found them very disturbing
“Delilah
I saw the light on the night that I passed by her window (stalking)
I saw the flickering shadows of love on her blind (ditto)
She was my woman (ownership)
As she deceived me, I watched and went out of my mind (the crime of passion excuse – she drove me to kill her!
My, my, my, Delilah (ownership)
Why, why, why, Delilah (blame)
I could see, that girl was no good for me (blame and excuse)
But I was lost like a slave that no man could free (ditto)
At break of day when that man drove away, I was waiting (premeditated – he didn’t just happen to have the knife with him!)
I crossed the street to her house and she opened the door
She stood there laughing (laughing is not a crime)
I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more (killing someone is.)
My, my, my, Delilah (ownership)
Why, why, why, Delilah (blame)
So before they come to break down the door
Forgive me Delilah, I just couldn’t take anymore (excuse/blame)
She stood there laughing (blame for something that is not a crime unless you think you own this woman and feel entitled to her respect at all times!)
I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more
My, my, my, Delilah (ownership)
Why, why, why, Delilah (blame)
So before they come to break down the door
Forgive me, Delilah, I just couldn’t take anymore (crime of passion – she drove me to kill her!)
Forgive me, Delilah, I just couldn’t take anymore (blame.)
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Barry Mason / Les Reed / Jordi Bastard
When there were calls for Welsh Ruby fans to stop singing it at ruby matches Tom Jones said, “It’s not a political statement,” Jones told the BBC on Thursday. “This woman is unfaithful to him and [the narrator] just loses it … It’s something that happens in life.”
No, the narrator did not just lose it – that is the excuse that men have always used to excuse domestic violence. Tom is right in that it is something that happens in life, but it’s not a ‘crime of passion or a legitimate defense, let alone should it be glorified as a Welsh national anthem! Sure chose Tom Jones song just not that one.
#welshnationalanthem #TomJones #Delilah
