Those Were the Days

Uh, okay, this is my cheesy intro
And this is mine
Right, yes, it's Lady Sovereign, Big Midget (S-O-V)
Okay, um, this is a song all about how I grew up
So yeah, listen

We used to play jump the line or who could wrap the swing
Around the frame the most times, back in the day
Riding our bikes around the estate
And playing basketball in the cage, those were the days

I remember them water fights, the tap outside
Used to race to it on our bikes
Grinning with two front teeth missing, we did what we liked
Those days I'm missing, those days were alright

Knock down ginger, knock knock then shift
Two minutes later we got locked in the lift
Laughing when we got out, got into silly arguments
About who found the pound on the ground

Bopped to the shops bought about ten ice pops
The weather was hot so they melted in our pockets
Used to carry my belongings in them McDonalds bumbags
That was back then so boy don't mock it

Yeah, yeah, yo, those were the days I will never forget
Yeah, yeah, yo, those were the days I could never regret
Yeah, yeah, yo, those were the days I will never forget
Yeah, yeah, those were the days

We used to race down the hill in old Safeway trolleys
I wasn't indoors playing with Barbies or dollies
I was outside jumping off walls or playing football
Or getting chased by the local pit bull

The old character that every borough had
Mad Phillip, Gingerbeard, or Mad Max
The places you wouldn't wanna see when you're on your jacks
In the places you wouldn't be in if you stick to your packs

Stayed out 'til it was pitch black, sprayed my name on
Concrete slabs, and I never got bitch-slapped
Seen a couple of mans get stabbed, been chased by the mad man
Gotta get back so I can

Catch a joke with my next door neighbor
We played the first Mortal Kombat on the Sega
Back then, playing the latest jungle tunes we had on cassette
Those were the day I will never forget

Yeah, yeah, yo, those were the days I will never forget
Yeah, yeah, yo, those were the days I could never regret
Yeah, yeah, yo, those were the days I will never forget
Yeah, yeah, yo, those were the days

Remember Naf Naf jackets and spliffy jeans?
Adidas campus, them things were in
It wasn't about the king of the bling
It was the king of the rim, or the king of the swing

Back then, well I kinda had less
But less was much better 'cause it saved a lot of stress
I hung out in Coffers community center
Now they've knocked it down and replaced it with an Asda

My parents' way of telling us to get our backs in
Was them sounding some old fucking klaxon
We soldier marched back up to Redcliffe Walk
Chalkhill Estate don't exist no more, it's just talk

Yeah, yeah, yo, those were the days I will never forget
Yeah, yeah, yo, those were the days I could never regret
Yeah, yeah, yo, those were the days I will never forget
Yeah, yeah, those were the days

Those, those, those were the days
Those, those, those were the days