In the throes of Conservative-Liberal Coalition Britain, I finally came to the realisation that any political party would readily ruin its constituents given a five year chance. What was originally brought to my attention with the student protests, multiple strikes by the RMT and ASLEF, and austerity measures on austerity measures, was cemented by being forcibly removed from the Labour Party twice for speaking out against my MP. I once spoke to a girl who told me she didn't like my music, because it "wasn't party political enough." I had written this song several months before, I made a point of not playing it whenever she was listening.
Influences for this song include The Postal Service, The Gaslight Anthem, The Clash, The Ruby Kid, and Kano.
lyrics
I take the 8:18 out of Queen’s Road Station
And I work for a pittance that I give to this nation,
And they pillage, and steal before it gets in my pocket,
And the taxes they’re taking? We’ll see none of it
‘Cause their “best interests” warfare,
And their overseas torture;
BAE has the NHS well in its crosshairs,
While the lower among us, we simply live to survive,
They’re living life with blood on their knives.
The bombs are dropping, and the protesters scattering,
We won’t stop singing ‘til these wars ain’t happening.
A coalition simply strings us along, it tells me
Something in England just seems so fucking wrong.
We all sit at home, and keep track of our nation
Through a box in the corner, that feeds us information
And if it asked you to jump, you just ask how high,
And if it shows you a riot, don’t think to ask why.
It’ll tell you sweet truths about bloodshed, and slaughter,
The next dictator that’s just slept with your daughter,
And all the nuclear weapons he’s keeping under his bed,
You’ve found a new evil that you wanna’ see dead.
The bombs are dropping, and the protesters scattering,
We won’t stop singing ‘til these wars ain’t happening.
A coalition simply strings us along, it tells me
Something in England just seems so fucking wrong.
I hate that a protest song’s a means of catharsis,
It’s a terrible shame that we can’t just move past this,
The dearly departed, the heroes, and the fear,
The right wing resentment at “them” being here;
It’s a fear of the unknown that comes from Whitehall,
In a country divided, they will conquer us all
So cast off the knowledge you can’t change a thing,
With ire in our hearts, and blood on our strings.
The bombs are dropping, and the protesters scattering,
We won’t stop singing ‘til these wars ain’t happening.
Which side you on, boys? Which side you on, because
Something in England just seems so fucking wrong.
credits
from The Way Back,
released September 2, 2016
Asher Baker - Vocals, Lyrics, Guitar
James Routh - Guitar, Bass Guitar
Luke Hesketh - Drums
Alberto Brigandi - Piano
Kelsey Beth-Crossley - Backing Vocals
Barney Boom - Vocals
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