Jim's Note: I was standing at the kitchen sink one day reflecting on the sad state of my affairs at that particular point in time, and feeling somewhat sorry for myself. Although I was going through a bout of unemployment at the time, I was 'keeping up appearances' by pretending it wasn't having any real effect on me. But it was, and this song is one of several I wrote during that period (Don't Sell Us Pipe Dreams is another).

By the way, the word 'bloody' is often referred to as 'the great Australian adjective', and its use in that capacity has been documented in Australia since the 1850's. It has a multitude of meanings and uses depending on how and when it is used. Even American G.I.s stationed in Northern Australia picked up and began using the word during the Second World War as this 'tribute' to Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory, attests:

This bloody town's a bloody cuss,
No bloody tram, no bloody buss;
Nobody cares for bloody us!
Bloody! Bloody! Bloody!

All bloody clouds, no bloody rains,
All bloody stones, no bloody drains;
The bloody dust gets in your brains!
Bloody! Bloody! Bloody!

Keeping Up Appearances 
© 1997, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.
Click to Hear the Song | Chord chart

I know I’ve seen that face before, I recognise his grin,
Though last time he was heavier, and now he’s looking thin.
Life hasn’t been to kind to him, but who am I to know?
I'm dragging my own bloody cross, although it may not show.

CHORUS
I'm keeping up appearances, ‘cause what else can I do?
Everybody has their problems, and I know that you do too.
I used to grin and bear it, but it’s getting out of hand,
So join me in a new Crusade, and take a bloody stand.

CHORUS
And keeping up appearances, ‘cause what else can they do?
Everybody has their problems, and they know that you do too.
They used to grin and bear it, but it’s getting out of hand,
So join 'em in a new Crusade, and take a bloody stand.

And there’s a nation full of young kids, and they know they’ve been ignored,
They need some work tomorrow, but they want a just reward.
So don’t try to exploit them, and don’t pay them on the cheap,
If you treat them just like animals, well, all you’ll get is sheep.

CHORUS
No more keeping up appearances, ‘cause what else can we do?
Everybody has their problems, and we know that you do too.
We used to grin and bear it, but it’s getting out of hand,
So join us in a new Crusade, and take a bloody stand.

CODA:
Come on, mate... 
Join us in a new Crusade, and take a bloody stand.

NOTES: This song first appeared on a three song CD-R called, Celebrating May Day: The Activists Speak released May, 2002, by the South Australian May Day Committee. 

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