Up Here in the North of England
Northern Echoes: A Musical Chronicle of Foreign Relations and Cultural Identity
Lyrics
Traveling overseas I was accosted by a student
Traveling overseas, the speaker was approached by a student.
Who asked me where I came from, she was pretty
The student, who was attractive, inquired about the speaker's origin.
Children don't put smack in your veins
Advice to children: avoid drug use ("smack in your veins").
Lennon cut his teeth here
John Lennon gained early experience or influence in this location.
And the party-pooping left wing
The left-wing, critical of conservative politics, resisted playing along with the Tories.
Wouldn't play the Tories game
Reference to political dynamics where unconventional love affairs are sought with foreign delegations.
We're always in the market for an off-beat love affair
The desire for unique relationships with condescending foreign delegations.
With a foreign delegation condescending for a share
A metaphorical pressure cooker with steam symbolizing tension and potential conflict.
Of a pressure cooker spouting steam
Continuation of the metaphor, suggesting a situation ready to explode.
That threatens to unload
Warning of a significant and powerful event about to happen.
With a power so formidable
A metaphorical power so formidable that even the Russian bear (a symbol of strength) is cautious.
The Russian bear is in the woods somewhere
A reference to being in a band due to personal failure at an audition.
Television comedians united in approval
Television comedians express approval for drama depicting real people in real times.
The drama that confronts you with real people in real times
Reflection on the speaker's motivation for being in a band.
I'm only in a band because I failed my own audition
Recognition of the current difficult situation, promising to return a call once things are resolved.
You have to see somebody suffer other than yourself
Anticipation of Pete Townsend's arrival, with an understanding of his character.
Right now we're in a jam
A metaphor suggesting there is much to think about but little tangible progress.
We'll call you back when we get straight
Acknowledgment of regional prejudice against those from the North.
'Cos Townsend's coming 'round
Observation that the North is frequently in the public eye.
He understands, he won't be late
Reiteration of the desire for unique relationships with foreign delegations.
There's lots of food for thought
Recognition of environmental changes, possibly political, attributed to Heseltine.
But not a great deal on our plate
Mention of McDonald's recognizing the speaker's location, achieving fame in Turin.
The southerners don't like us
Reflection on the decline from a prosperous past when the region was involved in shipbuilding.
Who can blame 'em seems we're always in the spotlight
Expressing concern about the current deteriorating state of affairs.
We're always in the market for an off-beat love affair
Reference to the proliferation of trees following Heseltine's involvement.
Heseltine came up now trees are sprouting everywhere
Recognition of becoming a notable part of folklore in Turin, Italy.
McDonald's finally found us and we're folklore in Turin
Reminiscence of the past when the region was involved in shipbuilding.
We used to pull the ships in
An acknowledgment of the current decline or challenging situation.
Now we're goin' down
A lamentation on the present state of affairs in the North of England.
Look at the state we're in
A visual observation of the current, possibly distressed, state of the region.
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