Castlemilk Town Hall Disco

(How many people are there in this wee room?)
(Eight altogether, six children, ma husband and maself)
(Yes, and where on earth do ye all sleep?)
(Well, these two beds this is what ye call a 'hole-in-the-wall')
(and a bed cabinet, which we put down at night for the children)
(Yes)
(Well the children are used to going to bed early)
(The result is I've got to put the six,
The children in this hole-in-the-wall)
(Owing to the fact when the cabinet's down)
(We have no room at all)
(This table has got to be moved over to the sink)
(And these chairs piled on top)
(And the awful thing is that ma husband had TB)
(He was in hospital for eleven month)
(and I got to put those children in that bed)
(That ma husband has to go into)
Castlemilk was developed in the 50s
Forming Europe's largest housing estate
Accommodating over thirty thousand people
From various Glasgow slums
But the flashy high-rises were sub-standard
And the area lacked guidance and communal pursuits
Post-war unity suffered under the lack of communication
Which bred insecurity, which bred unrest
But it could have been oh so different

Free of charge and free of stress
A night to escape domestic mess
It was a place to meet and a place to greet
Was a place to get on yer dancin' feet

Miracles on decks by the Reverend Miller
Preachin' to the masses with the latest floor-fillers
Old Mrs Meechan she just canny sit because
She knows how to work it

The place was jumpin' by half-past nine
Two hundred empty stomachs ready to dine
A table full of sausage rolls and chicken legs
Even Hunter brought a salad, garnished with eggs

A chance to advance neighbourly relations
And share and laugh and drink, in moderation
It opened at nine and twelve there was a lock-in
The Castlemilk Town Hall disco was a-rockin'

When folks get to talkin'
Their fears, they start walkin'
Communication's good 'cos it's free
With understandin'
I'll greet you on the landin'
Now we're in the Town Hall society

All the Lees were spread across both ends
Finding fulfilment from makin' new friends
Nobody budged when Rab got off his seat
A bridge was built between the Tay and the Fleet

Franny shouts on Welshy, but not today!
Tellin' his mum to put her money away
He didny really feel the need tae go and warn her
He didny really feel like shootin' up in the corner

Youngsters tried together to prove their age
Glenwood regardless, or Maggies and Grange
And John had got in and pulled an older blonde
Who kept him from hangin' about at the pond

So if ye need a reason, whatever the season
Hit the place and plan for some pleasin'
A pick-you-up if you've had a fall
Every month at the Castlemilk Town Hall

When folks get to talkin'
Their fears, they start walkin'
Communication's good 'cos it's free
Some conversation
Helps stem the depravation
It's alright if it's dark and ye can't see
'Cos I know you and you know me

I know you and you know me
I know you and you know me
I know you and you know me