Songs of Renown: Lal Waterson "Reply to Jo Haines"

"Read your letter, tore the page; wondered whether to write in rage; then I thought it better you use your trade." Lal Waterson, Reply to Jo Haines

Legendary British folk singer  Lal Waterson wrote Reply to Joe Haines  in response to an article published in the UK tabloid press just days after the death of Queen star Freddie Mercury which criticised the singer’s promiscuous lifestyle and essentially blamed him for being a victim of AIDs.

Lal Waterson was so incensed by Joe Haines's article that she wrote the song as a direct response.

The song was recorded by Lal Waterson's sister Norma Waterson’s for her second solo album The Very Thought Of You (1999).

Reply to Jo Haines
Lal Waterson

Read your letter, tore the page
Wondered whether to write in rage
Then I thought it better to use your trade
No-one should ever die of AIDS
No ordinary fellow, centre stage
No Cinderella, what a face
Gave us so much pleasure and some change
His likes will never come again
Read your letter, such a shame
And I think it better you think again
What's it matter how he came
Bye bye Bulsara—what a name
No ordinary fellow, centre stage
No Cinderella, what a face
Gave us so much pleasure and some change
No-one will ever take his place
© 1999 Topic Records

Read more about the song here, here