Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

Sodomy and Gomorrah
(No one said we had to be unique)

Between a yellow metal fence and the grey bare bricks
"Hemmed in like a boar between arches"
In the black dank drizzle of Birmingham nocturne
Beneath a dirty ceiling that wasn't for shifting

Still there were stars to be seen
Outlines in blue and black ink
Tattooed onto the neck of a true believer
Two steps from St Catherines wake

"10 quid ya t shirts, they'll be 20 inside"
The man with the stars answered the call
The trader grinned and measured him up
and handed the disciple a SMALL

A brown note came out into the chill
And in a flash it had found a new home
Beery bitter breath mingled and with great force he said
"If it shrinks I'll come looking for you fella".

__


Shane McGowan totters on and off the stage with a glass of clear liquid in one hand and a fag permanently glued to his lips.
The black hair is now grey
But the heart is unchanged and the voice is still strong.

The Pogues play on, the beer rains down but not a drop passes my lips,
From "The Old Main Drag" to "Sally MacLennane" an endless whirling dance
From Digbeth '84 to the Powerhouse '86, an endless whirling dance
From the Apollo '01 to the Academy '09, an endless whirling dance.

The dancers dance as the melodies disperse,
The dancers disperse, the melodies are gone.
Till another time
Till another time

Ed

Can I just say for the record, that I've known Ed since we were at school together and even I can't understand what on fuck he's going on about here! John B