We Are London? - Saturday 3rd / Sunday 4th June 2017

A morning to reflect and savour - dismiss death cults for what they are; the weakness of cowards who fear life.
The long-playing album 'The Liberty of Norton Folgate' by the band Madness to be played, loud.

My brother Andrew and I walked down to the Thames at Wapping the other week, looked down at the churning, brown, unlovely waters. Took a pint between Eastern and Western horizons.

A hangman's noose drifted in the breeze and it was a little cold.

++++++++ 

"We Are London"

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na

From Regent's Park mosque on to Baker Street

Down to the Cross where all the pipesmoke neat

To Somerstown where somethings never stop

The Roundhouse, The Marathon Bar and Camden Lock

You can make it your own hell or heaven

Live as you please

Can we make it if we all live together

As one big family?

Down to Chinatown for duck and rice

Along Old Compton Street, the boys are nice

On Carnaby you still can get the threads

If you wanna be a mod, a punk, a ted or a suedehead

You can make it your own hell or heaven

Live as you please

Can we make it if we all live together

As one big family?

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, we are London

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, London's talking

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, we are London

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, London walking

In all the nightclubs, strip joints and the bars

From it's poorest paid to it's highest stars

The poets, plumbers, painters, spreads and sparks

From it's inner city to it's furthest parts

You can make it your own hell or heaven

Live as you please

Can we make it if we all live together

As one big family?

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, we are London

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, London's talking

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, we are London

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, London walking

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na

                                               

by Cathal Smyth