70s 80s

Thatcher was in power

Times were tight and sour

The letter A was sprayed in a circle everywhere

And everybody's head was gettin shaved or spiked

My sister stitched her flares and made em into drainpipes

She was into Adam Ant and Wuthering Heights

I was gettin into Madness and grifter bikes

Mom had to work late I had no complaints

Used to get away with murder when Grandad babysat

Used to play fox and hound till the sun came down

Singin' Lip Up Fatty running wild through the Ghost Town

And All I wanted was Doc boots and braces

My ear pierced, so Mum "what's a racist?"

She didn't explain that we weren't quite caucasian

As we could see black children on some future occasion

And she'd keep that shtum

All my friends are gettin brainwashed

NF and swastikas they're scratchin on the desktops

Riots and violence on the TV

Broken down on Newsround while eatin Toast Toppers watchin coppers get beat down

Church discos and trips with the play scheme

Dancin to Ska, kissing the girl of my dreams

My tenth birthday and those two-tones stay pressed

Money in my card I bought One Step Beyond, yes

Lent it to a friend, never got it back

Dear Jim could you fix it for me?

Remember that?

Just a 70s baby early 80s child

Reminiscin' 'bout the days in the brick backyard

Just a 70s baby early 80s child

Reminscin' 'bout the days and you think times are hard

Oh let me tell you now, woo, oh a wicked witch was in power

And oh my god she did devour

Cast a spell called depression made a living hell

Turned man against man forgot the boys and girls

We had, no future, home computer

Had to make do with what we had

Knock-a-door-run and the hand-me-down gowns

Current beat, upbeat, Cracker Jack of Underground, synthpop, Muppet Show, electro on the radio

Mum turn it up its a new thing yeah

Now all I want is high tech's with fat bass

He's got the next best friend started scratchin and breakin

Snatch your racks and battery by the stack to keep the boom box from going flat

Didn't cope and went in over the store with a performance kid this place has never been so packed

Street light for a spot light, cardboard box for a stage

And if you had a score to settle you resolved it with your breakin'

Not like now they're using guns and bats

Robbin' old folk, we don't need no more of that

Every brick and every stone thrown

Was for you and me

They stood firm

Truly revolutionary

Gave back as good as what they got