The history and politics of the English protest song

2010

Liar Liar

Tune: Original
Lyrics: Captain Ska
Composer: Captain Ska

First released in 2010 as an attack on the coalition government’s decision to increase student fees, it was updated in 2017, when it became a Top Ten hit, to attack Prime Minister Theresa May after she broke her promise not to call an election. It was revived in 2019 for Boris Johnson. The song’s message might seem to be that all politicians lie, but each version of the song targets a specific offence by a particular government.

Cause: Equal Rights | Multiculturalist
Theme: Political Process | Rights
Addressed to: Voters
Target of Protest: Elected Representatives
Proposal/Solution: Ballot