Maggie's 80 today. I'd like to dedicate some songs to her:

[lectrobyte]

The Post War Dream -- Pink Floyd

Tell me true tell me why was Jesus crucified
is it for this that daddy died?
was it for you? was it me?
did I watch too much T.V.?
Is that a hint of accusation in your eyes?
if it wasn't for the nips
being so good at building ships
the yards would still be open on the Clyde
and it can't be much fun for them
beneath the rising sun
with all their kids committing suicide
what have we done Maggie what have we done
what have we done to England
should we shout should we scream
"what happened to the post war dream?"
oh Maggie Maggie what have we done?


Luminous Rose -- Robyn Hitchcock

Oh the bodies of drowned sailors and dead airmen
flounder upside down beneath the roaring wave
and the fishes eat the flesh from off their fingers
and the sea is so much deeper than the grave
and the pale English stone stands alone over me
oh the bodies rise and fall in slow motion
as the flesh gives way to coral and her charms
if you listen hard you'll hear the sea is breathing
and she's waiting there to hold you in her arms
and the pale English sun shone over me

oh the telegram is lying on the table
you left it there you can't believe its true
God finds you naked and he leaves you dying
what happens in between is up to you
and the luminous rose glows over me
over me

[mattclearing]

1. Funny, when you said Maggie, the Final Cut was my first thought.

One of the most underrated albums of all time.

[papau]

2. Maggie of Post War Dream was also my first thought! :-)

The post war dream

Tell me true tell me why was Jesus crucified
is it for this that daddy died?
was it for you? was it me?
did I watch too much T.V.?
Is that a hint of accusation in your eyes?
if it wasn't for the nips
being so good at building ships
the yards would still be open on the Clyde
and it can't be much fun for them
beneath the rising sun
with all their kids committing suicide
what have we done Maggie what have we done
what have we done to England
should we shout should we scream
"what happened to the post war dream?"
oh Maggie Maggie what have we done?

[lectrobyte]

5. I'm pretty burnt out on a lot of Pink Floyd, but The Final Cut, Animals,

and Wish You Were Here have held up pretty well.

[leveymg]

3. She really is still quite a role model (and muse), isn't she?

http://www.portnet.ne.jp/~nsp-kobe/londonrp/Bush's%20puppet.jpg

[shenmue]

4. Surprised you missed "Margaret on the Guillotine"...

the classic Morrissey screed:


"The kind people
Have a wonderful dream
Margaret on the guillotine
Cause people like you
Make me feel so tired
When will you die ?
When will you die ?
When will you die ?
When will you die ?
When will you die ?

And people like you

Make me feel so old inside
Please die

And kind people
Do not shelter this dream
Make it real
Make the dream real
Make the dream real
Make it real
Make the dream real
Make it real"


Ends with a chopping noise. :D

[lectrobyte]

7. Cool thanks.

There's probably some Killing Joke and New Model Army I should be including here too, but I'm drawing a blank. The early 80's, if you remember them, then you weren't really there. Or something like that.

[peekaloo]

6. Bravo. Here's another: Tramp the Dirt Down by Elvis Costello

I saw a newspaper picture from the political campaign
A woman was kissing a child, who was obviously in pain
She spills with compassion, as that young child’s
Face in her hands she grips
Can you imagine all that greed and avarice
Coming down on that child’s lips

Well I hope I don’t die too soon
I pray the lord my soul to save
Oh I’ll be a good boy, I’m trying so hard to behave
Because there’s one thing I know, I’d like to live
Long enough to savour
That’s when they finally put you in the ground
I’ll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down

When england was the whore of the world
Margeret was her madam
And the future looked as bright and as clear as
The black tarmacadam
Well I hope that she sleeps well at night, isn’t
Haunted by every tiny detail
’cos when she held that lovely face in her hands
All she thought of was betrayal

And now the cynical ones say that it all ends the same in the long run
Try telling that to the desperate father who just squeezed the life from his only son
And how it’s only voices in your head and dreams you never dreamt
Try telling him the subtle difference between justice and contempt
Try telling me she isn’t angry with this pitiful discontent
When they flaunt it in your face as you line up for punishment
And then expect you to say thank you straighten up, look proud and pleased
Because you’ve only got the symptoms, you haven’t got the whole disease
Just like a schoolboy, whose head’s like a tin-can
Filled up with dreams then poured down the drain
Try telling that to the boys on both sides, being blown to bits or beaten and maimed
Who takes all the glory and none of the shame

Well I hope you live long now, I pray the lord your soul to keep
I think I’ll be going before we fold our arms and start to weep
I never thought for a moment that human life could be so cheap
’cos when they finally put you in the ground
They’ll stand there laughing and tramp the dirt down