Dan Bull - This is England: The Musical lyrics

The 1980s was a time of strife The Falklands War, the miners' strikes The poor got poorer While all of the fat cats had the time of their life Now Shaun was a troubled lad Who could have had a family, could have had a mum and dad But his dad went away and wasn't coming back And he just wanted someone to understand that fact And that's exactly what happened one day in a dank underpa** It'd come to pa** that some c*nts were laughing At his mum's fashion and he'd had enough of that He come across a couple of lads Having a chuckle that asked him what was up? What's the matter? So he told them the answer And they brightened him right up with their banter Til Gadget come back with a grudge and some cans and demanded "budge or I'll batter you" So Shaun goes home alone He knows the ropes of the f**ery that's happening He roams the lonely roads and knows there's no-one to trust and be happy with But next day there's a tap on the pane of his gla** It came from the path and it's Gadget He's asking if Shaun wants to play But Shaun isn't sure what to say Woody wants to know would he want to go because he's sorry for the other day Boys will be boys, buildings destroyed with military toys The voiceless youth amused by noise, abuse Let Loose, an excuse to avoid the truth Loosen the noose for a moment 'til they have to go home to a home that's hopeless New shoes just won't cut it You want to let your hair down? go and cut it A new suit, boots and braces, new mates to play with, share the pain with Parents hate it, scared of changes And letting their little tearaways get away with it They're at an age where they'll go to parties And be exposed to the harsh things It's hard being dark seeing as the friends of your friends are incredibly right wing He can't mean what he says, he's a mate but He's asking you whether you're Jamaican or English Because your skin's different to his He considers you insidious Then sh** begins to get serious How did we get here to this? Giving a talk on the British and forces Being k**ed in the war in the Falklands Then Shaun took a swing at him all because this was the war where he nearly was orphaned Awful things happen, you have to draw a line, with a choice to walk away or stay behind Combo saw what the naked eye couldn't The pain inside Shaun that made him ripe For the patriots' fight for the land So he made them shake hands and say goodbye Sad, but it must be. It was time to take a drive, and travel the country And after the National Front meet Sean got moved from the back to the front seat Truly one of the gang and a thug, see That's when things really began to get ugly Tagging profanities in backstreets Bashing Pakistanis and black peeps Threatening to slash cheeks A new flag and a tat on the back of the hand, That's for keeps Our protagonist seems to have forgotten how to ask for sweets These acts in the past were petty But who can backchat to a machete Brandished by an angry fascist heavy? "put that away Meggy, your a** is sweaty" Gadge and the lads grabbed f*gs and bevvies, cans of Pepsi Ran back Through the entry, left the shop totally messy Adrenaline sent Combo in a frenzy Head red, heart hopeless and empty It's a headwreck why folks are unfriendly To people of a different origin Cos what has skin got to do with it, we're all wandering Through the sh** The human condition is truly a mission for a lunatic to live in So we stick to wishing each other well As long as we think that they're wishing it as well That's why they gave the Asian living hell Before baking a cake now they're giving it to Smell Skins have relationship issues as well And given the days he's been living in a cell Can you blame Combo for his difficulties now? There isn't much to dwell on for prisoners but how long Until they're coming out But I tell you this, getting blitzed isn't really gonna help... Sitting in a flat getting fried with a black guy Issues in the back of your mind as he acts like He's got everything you never had and wish you did Rubbing it in your face, who is this kid Immigrant from another race taking British priviliges A n***a, ripping the piss Gonna give him a kick in the face A bit of discipline'll stick him in his place, a sickening disgrace Beat him senseless; he's defenceless Leave your friend bleeding, please just end this Immediately the grief and regret sets in Left one of your best friends with his head Decked in You better get checked in to the A and E Lock yourself up, chuck away the Key When the world's on your shoulders you've got to be a soldier because Real men don't cry Real men don't cry