70s 80s - Radio Edit

Thatcher was in power, times were tight and sour
The letter A was sprayed in a circle everywhere

And everybody's head was gettin' shaved or spiked
My sister stitched her flares and made 'em into drain pipes
She was into Adam Ant and Wuthering Heights
I was getting into madness and grifter bikes

Mom had to work late, I had no complaints
Used to get away with murder when grandad babysat
Used to play fox and hound 'til the sun came down
Singin' Lip Up Fatty, running wild through the ghost town

And all I wanted was doc boots and braces
My ear pierced, so mum, what's a racist?
She didn't explain that we weren't quite Caucasian
As we could see black children on some future occasion
And she'd keep that shtum, all my friends are gettin' brainwashed
NF and swastikas, they're scratchin' on the desktops

Just a '70s baby, early '80s child
Reminiscin' 'bout the days in the brick backyard
Just a '70s baby, early '80s child
Reminiscin' 'bout the days, and you think times are hard

Hmm-mm, ay
Hmm-mm

Riots and violence on the TV broken down on news round
While eatin' toast toppers, watchin' coppers get beat down
Church discos and trips with the play scheme
Dancin' to ska, kissing the girl of my dreams

My tenth birthday and those two-tones stay pressed
Money in my card, I bought One Step Beyond, yes
Lent it to a friend, never got it back
Dear Jim, could you fix it for me? Remember that

Just a '70s baby, early '80s child
Reminiscin' 'bout the days in the brick backyard
Just a '70s baby, early '80s child
Reminiscin' 'bout the days, and you think times are hard

Hmm-mm, ay
Hmm-mm

Oh, let me tell you now
Whoa, woman, wicked witch was in power
And oh my God, she did devour
Cast a spell called depression, made a living hell
Turned man against man, forgot the boys and girls

We had no future, home computer
Had to make do with what we had
Knock a door, run, and the hand-me-down gowns
Current beat, upbeat, Cracker Jack of Underground
Synth pop, Muppet Show, electro on the radio
Mum, turn it up, it's a new thing, yeah

Now all I want is high techs with fat bass
He's got the next best friend, started scratchin' and breakin'
Snatch your racks and battery by the stack
To keep the boom box from going flat
Didn't cope and went in over the store
With a performance kid, this place has never been so packed

Street light for a spot light, cardboard box for a stage
And if you had a score to settle, you resolved it with your breakin'
Not like now, they're using guns and bats
Robbin' old folk, we don't need no more of that

Just a '70s baby, early '80s child
Reminiscin' 'bout the days in the brick backyard
Just a '70s baby, early '80s child
Reminiscin' 'bout the days, and you think times are hard

Hmm-mm, ay
Hmm-mm

Every brick and every stone thrown was for you and me
They stood firm, truly revolutionary (they stood firm, truly revolutionary)
Gave back as good as what they got (gave back as good as what they got)
Every brick and every stone thrown was for you and me
They stood firm, truly revolutionary (they stood firm, truly revolutionary)
Gave back as good as what they got (gave back as good as what they got)