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Released in 1991

School - Kept in Confusion

Written by Paul McCartneyCarl Davis

Last updated on July 10, 2019


Album This song officially appears on the Liverpool Oratorio Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1991

Master album

Related songs

Kept in Confusion” is the fourth track of the second movement – entitled “School” – of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio, released in 1991.

II: SCHOOL.  1953. The war baby – Shanty – now 11 years old and at school, celebrates his Liverpool upbringing. With classmates, he skips lessons to “sag off” and sunbathe in the graveyard of Liverpool Cathedral. Sleeping on a gravestone, he dreams of ghosts of the past and the future. One of the ghosts, Mary Dee, is his bride-to-be. Waking and back at school, Shanty and his classmates are taught Spanish in the form of a folk song by their new mistress, Miss Inkley.

“Liverpool Oratorio” liner notes

Lyrics

SHANTY

Kept in confusion,

Trapped by illusion,

Thinking of speaking my mind.

Dreams of the future,

Ghosts of the past left behind.


Constantly drifting,

Endlessly lifting

More weight than one man can bear.

Into the future,

Ghosts of the past everywhere.


MEN'S CHORUS (ghosts)

You're sleeping amongst us,

We're in your dream,

Who are you?

Why call us?

What does this mean?

Disturbing our slumber,

You move so fast.


SHANTY

Ghosts of the past.

Tossing and turning,

Somehow I'm learning

Secrets I'd rather not know.

Can't it be simple?

Why does it have to be so?

Officially appears on

Live performances

School - Kept in Confusion” has been played in 6 concerts.

Latest concerts where “School - Kept in Confusion” has been played

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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