Roger McGough

Roger Joseph McGough, CBE (born 9 November 1937) is an English poet from Liverpool, and one of three poets in the best-selling anthology The Mersey Sound. (The other two are Brian Patten and Adrian Henri.). He was also a member of The Scaffold, who reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in 1968.

The general at the radar screen
Rubbed his hands with glee,
And grinning pressed the button
And started world war three.

Quotes

• There's the moon trying to look romantic
  Moon's too old that's her trouble
  Aren't we all?
  • "Aren't We All", from The Mersey Sound (1967)

• Wasn't a bad party really
  Except for the people
  • "Aren't We All", from The Mersey Sound (1967)

• The general at the radar screen
  Rubbed his hands with glee,
  And grinning pressed the button
  And started world war three.
  • "Icarus Allsorts", from The Mersey Sound (1967)

The general at the radar screen
he should have got the sack
But that wouldn't bring
Three thousand million, seven hundred, and sixty-eight people back,
Would it?

• The general at the radar screen
  he should have got the sack
  But that wouldn't bring
  Three thousand million, seven hundred, and sixty-eight people back,
  Would it?
  • "Icarus Allsorts", from The Mersey Sound (1967)

• When the busstopped suddenly to avoid
  damaging a mother and child in the road, the
  younglady in the greenhat sitting opposite
  was thrown across me, and not being one to
  miss an opportunity i started to makelove
  • "At Lunchtime A Story of Love", from The Mersey Sound (1967)

• … i stood up and
  said it was a pity that the world didn't nearly
  end every lunchtime and that we could always
  pretend. …
  • "At Lunchtime A Story of Love", from The Mersey Sound (1967)

there is a mushroom cloud in the back garden
i did i tried to bring in the cat
but it simply came to pieces in my hand
i did i tried to whitewash the windows
but there weren't any

• When you are posthumous it is cold and dark
  and that is why patriots are a bit nuts in the head
  • "Why Patriots are a Bit Nuts in the Head", from The Mersey Sound (1967)

• he thinks about his journey nearly done.
  One day he'll clock on and never clock off
  or clock off and never clock on
  • "My Busconductor", from The Mersey Sound (1967)

• there is a mushroom cloud in the back garden
  i did i tried to bring in the cat
  but it simply came to pieces in my hand
  i did i tried to whitewash the windows
  but there weren't any
  • "Mother the Wardrobe is Full of Infantrymen", from The Mersey Sound (1967)