TAKE ME BY THE HAND AND LEAD ME THROUGH THE STREETS
OF THIS OLD CITY THAT I THOUGHT I KNEW SO WELL
BUT IT'S FOREVER CHANGING, THE FACES, THE ACCENTS
LIKE THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS DIRECTING
ROWS AND ROWS OF DIRTY BUSES
BLACK TAXIS, PEOPLE RUSHING HOME
TO THEIR OWN IMPORTANT LIVES
NOT CARING ABOUT ANYONE
OR REALISING THAT THEY ARE PART OF
SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER
TAKE ME BY THE HAND WE'LL GO DOWN TO THE RIVER
AND SEE THE ENERGY OF NATURE NOW TAMED
AND USED FOR OUR AMUSEMENT AND COMMERCIAL VENTURES
TREAD CAREFULLY THROUGH BROKEN GLASS AND DOGSH*T
WATCH YOUR BACK AGAINST THE SETTING SUN
THE PLACE COMES ALIVE WITH TWINKLING LIGHTS
AND LIMOUSINES,EXPENSIVE SHOES, DESIGNER LABELS
AND MATCHING ACCESSORIES TO DIE FOR BUT WE CAN'T FOLLOW THE FASHIONS OF THIS CITY
IT'S BEST LEFT TO THOSE IN THE KNOW
TAKE ME BY THE HAND WE'LL HEAD OUT TO THE WEST
AND SEE WHAT THE WEALTH OF THE CITY HAS CREATED
ROWS AND ROWS OF LAVISH HOUSES, LANDSCAPED GARDENS
AN AIR OF EMPTINESS WRAPPED AROUND THE MIDDLE CLASSES
THERE'S SAFETY IN THESE STREETS
NO RUMBLINGS OF VIOLENCE FELT ACROSS THE GHETTOS
JUST A SANDWICHBOARD HEADLINE OF REASSURANCE
THAT READS "THE PROPERTY BOOM RIDES HIGH!"
BUT DOWN BENEATH THE WESTWAY
A YOUNG GIRL PREPARES TO SLEEPUNDER A BINBAG
LIKE THIS CITY COLD AND ALONE
TAKE ME BY THE HAND WE'LL FIND OUR WAY EAST
PAST BOARDED-UP SHOP WINDOWS ON DARK RAINY STREETS
CLASHED CULTURES REACTING TO LIVING TOGETHER
IN TOWERBLOCKS WITH VIEWS OVER THE CITY'S SQUARE MILE SO FAR FROM THEIR GRASP
BUT IN A ONE-BEDROOMED FLAT AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD
A YOUNG BOY SITS PLOTTING WORLD DOMINATION
I'LL TAKE YOU BY THE HANDAND LEAD YOU
THROUGH THE STREETS OF THIS OlD CITY THAT I LOVE
THROUGH ROTTING CORPSES OF ENTERPRISE
WHERE SOCIETY ONCE STOOD PROUD
NOW JUST A SHELL OF IT'S OLD SELF
BUT STILL WITH A BEAUTY UNMATCHED
THROUGH TOURIST TRAPS AND ROYAL FLAGS
PAST HOMELESS BEGGARS AND WEALTHY MONEYMEN
THROUGH LEAFY PARKs AND WALLS OF STEEL
FLY-POSTERED STREETS ONCE FULL OF BURNT-OUT SQUATS NOW RECYCLED AS UNAFFORDABLE LIVING
COMPLETE WITH ENSUITE
AND ALL THE ECHOED WHISPERS OF HISTORY
AND IT'S STILL CALLIN.......
