I think this was the first time I wrote a song for a specific purpose. I was playing at Gingers on New Year's Eve, 1979, and wanted to have a new song to celebrate the passing of the 70s and the arrival of the 80s. It's a mixture of nonsense and serious ideas that tried to encapsulate some of the significant themes and trends of the time. It was the kernel of a good song but like so many others I didn't ever take the time to refine it. It had quite a pleasant, upbeat rocky feel.
WELCOME TO
THE EIGHTIES
Welcome to the eighties: it’s been a little shaky
Makin’ it this far and seeing the seventies out
No matter how you’re feeling your head may still be reelin’
It’s been 16 years since Twist and Shout
The Beatles never did reform; police still wear uniform
It’s even more the age of “complete this form please”
Will the pie carts go stereo, computers steal your radio?
Talk to friends on video?
Silicon chippio; space shuttle it’s a go
Will you work out where you want to go?
We haven’t seen the last of Mexico
Doom and catastrophe, will interstellar geography
Be within the reach of the simple man?
If the awesome brand new eighties features such a creature
If the awesome brand new eighties features such a creature
Peace, love and happiness, or peace, love and syphilis?
Or dole bludgin’ blues in an urban slum?
Queueing up forever buying cheque-fulls of sun
Queueing up forever buying cheque-fulls of fun
Queueing up forever buying cheque-fulls of glum?
Tricky Dicky Nixon and smilin’ Jimmy Carter
Darling Maggie Thatcher – Big Jim couldn’t catch here
Dear old Mother England has lost her way
Sone quit and rested; others were arrested
Making mega buck-ups the political way
Vietnam, Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa
Iran, Pakistan, Uganda, Kampuchea
What’s there to say?
Electronic pinball; Tommy’s gone to Rollerdrome
Can’t escape those neon lights, there’s a moog in every home
Windy Hill by laser
light; casinos take your dollars right?
They’re all run by UFOs on eastern mystic guru might
Buddha, Hare Krishna, praise the Lord and Allah
Will the 1980s please tell us just who the hell is right?
Well if you’re confused then join the club
Join me on a flight to Sirius tonight
If you’re confused then join the club
Join me on a flight to Sirius tonight
to Sirius tonight
to Sirius tonight
It’s too serious tonight.
Copyright 31/12/79
