National Dried And All Bran


when i was young and in my jeans
and shirt all empire made
i played the national slot machine
and i was never paid
the US kids they rocked and rolled
over here the kids just rolled
on the crest of a brylcreem wave
while jets and sharks went shootin pool
with names like larry and buzz
it was weetabix and off to school
for post war prefab us
suez and conscription
bromide in the tea
the age of non description
rationed by the BBC
woodbines work and wireless
playing mantovani's strings
they'd service with a smile us
robbery with violins
the gaffer was a bastard
who fought the war with quids
he thought he had us mastered
and i suppose he did
"up yer arse wi yer fuckin job"
said a cinema full of teds
bill haley opened up his gob
and they ripped the place to shreds
for about 2 years they had their fling
and then like any square
they married - did the proper thing
for the slippers and the easy chair
the party political pantomime
its wondrous ways to work
says wedlocked slavery can be mine
i demand the right to smirk
here's to the Youth Of Britain
Y O B let's say for short
is your future to be a ballpoint pen
on the ration book of thought.


Copyright JCC... reprinted from 'New Deparures' No. 14, published 1982