Dear John Profumo
A satirical look at the Midas nuclear warning system, which purported to offer an extra two minutes notice in the event of a nuclear attack. In particular it focuses on the politician who oversaw the acquisition of the American system (at great public expense), John Profumo, who would shortly be exposed as having lied to Parliament. (Within a year, he and Midas would both be gone.)
"The Midas Early Warning System was intended to give us two EXTRA minutes' warning of impending nuclear attack. It was quietly abandoned, thirteen million pounds and all, about a year after I wrote this song (though I doubt if there was any connection). The song is addressed to Profumo because he was Minister of War at the time and because he seemed to represent perfectly the attitude of the well-bred 'them' towards 'us'. The BBC in their wisdom refused to allow a projected radio broadcast of this song on highly technical grounds - the man actually responsible for Midas, they sad drily, was Julian Amery, Minister of Aviation." - LR (Look Here (songbook), 1968)
Recordings
Version 1 (1962) Live solo rendition recorded in Cambridge