If Music Could Talk

As someone who has lived a sizeable chunk of my adult life in London, I am slightly embarrassed that it took me so long.

But, on Friday, for the very first time (at least knowingly), I took the fabled route "over Vauxhall Bridge and via Pimlico".

Someone on one of these forums once pointed out that, if you were chasing the coppers out of Ladbroke Grove, you would actually go via Pimlico and then over Vauxhall Bridge.

Alas, I wasn't.

Which begs the question, has anyone ever had cow foot curry?

MarkyJacobs wrote: ↑

15 May 2017, 10:31am

As someone who has lived a sizeable chunk of my adult life in London, I am slightly embarrassed that it took me so long.

But, on Friday, for the very first time (at least knowingly), I took the fabled route "over Vauxhall Bridge and via Pimlico".

Someone on one of these forums once pointed out that, if you were chasing the coppers out of Ladbroke Grove, you would actually go via Pimlico and then over Vauxhall Bridge.

Alas, I wasn't.

Actually it is correct. You would go from All Saints Road and through Pimlico to get to Vauxhall Bridge therefore you would go over Vauxhall Bridge and via Pimlico (although you don't need the 'and' but helps the lyrics).
Having said that that is a long way across central London to get there from A S Road. If you wanted to cross the river Hammersmith Bridge is a hell of a lot closer.

If you were chasing coppers you wouldn't necessarily want to chase them over the nearest bridge.

I've not had cow foot curry, but I do remember having a conversation with an elderly West Indian lady about cooking with said animal parts. I'm sure the song would have been on my mind.

Another time, I found myself having a drink and a smoke with a couple of newly befriended Rastas outside the Pelican (I think), off Portobello Road. Stuck between the two of them, and in good spirits, I piped up, "A couple of years ago down Ladbroke Grove..." To my surprise, they totally understood the reference.

I've walked over the Hammersmith Bridge on the way back to Ladbroke Grove several times with Mick, but not the Vauxhall. Maybe Don wrote that bit!

When London's black youth actually did give the coppers the run-around a few years back, good songwriting on the subject was conspicuous by its absence.

Discuss?

There are actually five bridges between Hammersmith Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge.

Over Hammersmith Bridge and via Hammersmith might not have sounded good?

MarkyJacobs wrote: ↑

16 May 2017, 5:29am

When London's black youth actually did give the coppers the run-around a few years back, good songwriting on the subject was conspicuous by its absence.

Discuss?

In rock music, yes. It was very present in London's grime scene. A real defining cultural moment. You can't really expect a sixty year old genre to be where the working class youth express themselves. The Sex Pistols left the barrelhouse piano of music hall and ragtime banjo well alone.

Silent Majority wrote: ↑

16 May 2017, 8:24am

In rock music, yes. It was very present in London's grime scene. A real defining cultural moment. You can't really expect a sixty year old genre to be where the working class youth express themselves. The Sex Pistols left the barrelhouse piano of music hall and ragtime banjo well alone.

My post-BAD listening has not been particularly rock-centric. Nevertheless I did fear I might have been looking in the wrong places. Any pointers for me?

The Clash and BAD's civil disorder stylings were perhaps highly romanticised.

I heard a post-riots interview with Mick in which he said something like: "They had all that power, and all they wanted to do was rob Footlocker." He was, of course, spot on.

I remember myself being quite relieved when things calmed down. As someone who has always considered myself quite anti-establishment, part of me felt slightly embarrassed to be thinking in this way.

The Sex Pistols are busy celebrating Trump and Farage as saviours of the working class, are they not?

MarkyJacobs wrote: ↑

16 May 2017, 5:37am

There are actually five bridges between Hammersmith Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge.

Over Hammersmith Bridge and via Hammersmith might not have sounded good?

Over Hammersmith Bridge and via Shepherds Bush Road?

101Walterton wrote: ↑

16 May 2017, 3:24pm

Over Hammersmith Bridge and via Shepherds Bush Road?

Personally, I don't think we need involve firearms...

What a great song though. Shame it has those rinky dink drums and such a dry sound. The live performances show it coulda been a contender.

MarkyJacobs wrote: ↑

16 May 2017, 11:05am

Silent Majority wrote: ↑

16 May 2017, 8:24am

In rock music, yes. It was very present in London's grime scene. A real defining cultural moment. You can't really expect a sixty year old genre to be where the working class youth express themselves. The Sex Pistols left the barrelhouse piano of music hall and ragtime banjo well alone.

My post-BAD listening has not been particularly rock-centric. Nevertheless I did fear I might have been looking in the wrong places. Any pointers for me?

The Clash and BAD's civil disorder stylings were perhaps highly romanticised.

I heard a post-riots interview with Mick in which he said something like: "They had all that power, and all they wanted to do was rob Footlocker." He was, of course, spot on.

I remember myself being quite relieved when things calmed down. As someone who has always considered myself quite anti-establishment, part of me felt slightly embarrassed to be thinking in this way.

The Sex Pistols are busy celebrating Trump and Farage as saviours of the working class, are they not?

Lydon was but one member. So no.

MarkyJacobs wrote: ↑

16 May 2017, 11:05am

I heard a post-riots interview with Mick in which he said something like: "They had all that power, and all they wanted to do was rob Footlocker." He was, of course, spot on.

MJ is a multi-millionaire white rock star who lives in one of the most expensive parts of one of the most expensive cities in the world. If he said that, or something along those lines, then that's really disappointing.

'They don't mind throwing a brick,' ffs.

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

16 May 2017, 6:57pm

Lydon was but one member.

Yes, the voice.