Motorway Song
(Leon Rosselson)
They're going to build a motorway
Through me back garden
No one can explain why I came to be chosen
They're going to build a motorway
They're ripping up the trees
Soon the lorries will be zooming through
Me cabbages and peas
Word came from the council
Was just about to plan
I didn't understand,
It sounded very grand
They talked of urban redevelopment
Improving the environment
They says to ease the traffic flow
A bit of my back garden had to go
Well, I dunno
I suppose that those who started it must know best
And I wouldn't like my vegetable patch
To stand in the way of progress.
They're going to build a motorway
Through me back garden
No one can explain why I came to be chosen
They're going to build a motorway
They're ripping up the trees
Soon the lorries will be zooming through
Me cabbages and peas
The brother lives in Lilac Grove
It's just across the street
I've not seen him in weeks
We always used to meet
And have a pint or two at Paddy Lowe's
It's just a heap of rubble now
The pawn shop's disappeared
And so's the barbers where we always used to go
Well, I dunno
These noisy great machines are workin' nonstop
And funny things are growin'
And it looks as though the bomb's dropped
The bulldozers are movin' in now
On me back garden
No one can explain why I came to be chosen
The bulldozers are movin' in
They've ripped all the trees
Soon the lorries will be zoomin'
Through me cabbages and peas
I don't go out much any more
Can't find my way around
Wind nearly knocks me down
There's tunnels underground
An' just to get about from place to place
Is like a bleedin' steeple chase
Day an' night the traffic flows
It's best to plug your ears and hold your nose
Well, I suppose
I'm better off than some, don't think I'm just sour
I'm grateful for the grandstand view I'm getting
Of the rush hour
They've built an eight-lane motorway
Through me back garden
No one can explain
Why I came to be chosen
They've built an eight-lane motorway
They've ripped up all the trees
Now the lorries zoom where once I grew
Me cabbages and peas
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recorded by the Black Family (1980)
MJ
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!