The 'Cosh'
Society Unraveled: The 'Cosh' Chronicles Social Chaos and Injustice
Lyrics
Everything is turning upside down in this town
Describes a chaotic situation where everything is going wrong in the town.
The crime rate's rising up as employment swoops down
Highlights the rising crime rate and decreasing employment opportunities.
Kids can't trust their parents to protect them no more
Expresses a lack of trust in parents' ability to protect their kids.
And if you're black or Irish you just can't trust the law
Suggests mistrust in the law, especially for those who are black or Irish.
Winos on the corner with no hope and no plan
Depicts the grim reality of individuals with no hope or plan, like winos on the corner.
Kids on 5 quid drug deals waiting for their man
Describes a dark scenario involving kids engaged in drug deals.
Estates in states of chaos, hatred scrawled on the walls
Portrays chaotic and hateful conditions in housing estates.
The men of law and order writhe about on the floor
Indicates a state of disorder where law enforcement officers are struggling.
No-one dream of living, those hopes lie on the rocks
Suggests a lack of dreams or aspirations, with hopes shattered.
Your newly detached haven is a cardboard box
Describes a stark contrast to the idea of a comfortable home, emphasizing homelessness.
(Chorus:)
Chorus expressing the impact of violence symbolized by "the cosh" on the country.
And it seems, and it seems
-Someone's used the cosh and the country's on its knees
-Old folk freeze to death in flats where damp streams down the walls
Describes dire living conditions for the elderly, facing death due to cold in flats.
Poll tax bailiffs scream unheard in countless council halls
Highlights the harsh actions of bailiffs enforcing the poll tax.
Plans for new development that never cure the mess
Criticizes failed plans for development that do not solve existing problems.
Benefits that won't be paid unless you've an address
Addresses issues with social benefits, conditional on having a fixed address.
And no-one dream of living, those hopes lie on the rocks
Reiterates the lack of dreams and shattered hopes for a better life.
Your newly detached haven is a cardboard box
Repeats the image of a detached haven reduced to a cardboard box.
(Chorus)
Chorus expressing the widespread impact of violence on the country's well-being.
Our Welfare State's collapsing and no-one seems to care
-As long as money's being made and profits there to share
Points out the collapse of the Welfare State with indifference from those in power.
Buy into a service that belonged to you and me
Criticizes the privatization of public services.
Soon you'll find our country is the UK pic
Warns about the consequences of surrendering public services to profit-driven motives.
And no-one dream of living, those hopes lie on the rocks
Reiterates the theme of shattered dreams and hopes for a better life.
Your newly detached haven is a cardboard box
Repeats the imagery of a detached haven reduced to a cardboard box.
(Chorus)
Chorus emphasizing the impact of violence on the country, bringing it down to its knees.
Down on its knees, down on its knees
-Someone's used the Cosh and the country's down on its knees
Concludes with a repetition of the imagery of the country brought down to its knees due to violence.
Down on its knees, down on its knees
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