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Post by misterj on Jul 11, 2024 14:04:05 GMT
First attempt at putting some thoughts together on how our hometown / home city deteriorated in recent years although I’m sure many places in the red wall zone going through the same? All feedback welcome.
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Post by lordb on Jul 11, 2024 21:46:11 GMT
Liked it Think perhaps less emphasis on making things rhyme? But what do I know?
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Post by misterj on Jul 12, 2024 8:26:49 GMT
Liked it Think perhaps less emphasis on making things rhyme? But what do I know? Thanks lordb!
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Post by misterj on Jul 12, 2024 8:36:54 GMT
Here’s the text version if you didn’t want see the video …………. HOME TOWN - THEN AND NOW What happened to those places we call home? In the North and the Midlands, no eternal vibe of Rome But special towns and cities with culture and history That have somehow disintegrated – it’s all a mystery Successful types used to mock our dialects and voices Because they – over there - all made educated choices They had mummies and daddies bailing them out Whilst our’s weren’t afraid to scold, smack and shout We were loved and cherished in a sort of different way But on limited occasions, certainly not everyday What has happened to the streets around our town? A hint of menace and danger – things looking down The era of boom, everyone in work But that was decades ago, now a spirit does lurk Around these parts which would depress you to Hell If you allowed it to, it has an odour, a smell Of hopelessness, of helplessness, of faded grandeur This is how it is, in contrast to the way things were The homeless, the beggars, the drunks and the users Branded as useless, decried, branded as losers Retail and Amazon sucked the business from central city A void, a vacuum, desolation now, such a pity Who has the will, the motivation, the conscience to try Soothing our fears so those tears will eventually dry? But what’s this levelling up theory being pushed? Do they think a few quid offered will see us hushed? So there’s a squadron of billionaires in the U.K. now Can someone, anyone, explain to me how Potholes remain untouched, old factories empty and sad Derelict churches, schools, shops, houses, all breaking bad Don’t any affluent folk have a philanthropist’s streak? To chase down issues, solve problems, assist the weak? The chosen few made their money in centuries gone by On the backs of others, using and abusing, telling a lie And kidding the disenfranchised they were being looked after While our ‘betters’ enjoyed cigars and champagne and laughter They have their palaces, their stately homes and castles Whilst the cost-of-living crisis brings most of us hassles How do some seem to know how to gain from the postcode lottery Whilst others don’t – makes the concept of democracy a mockery When will they commit to that levelling up catchphrase? They could easily improve peoples’ lives in so many ways And they could still be allowed to live on all that old money Everything else falls down, everyone else hurts, not funny Poverty comes in many forms, some out of our control But going back to billionaires, if they had a real soul They’d donate a percentage and still have obscene wealth Then think ‘outside the box’ and enhance the widespread health Of swathes of people through affordable homes or a rebuilt school Or care in the community or jobs creation, that’d be cool And how can any decent-sized city not have a central ring road? Our’s is three quarters complete – makes me want to explode Use some of that bloody HS2 cancellation cash A bit of tarmac, bit of concrete, bish bosh bash The Scandinavians do it best, they’re happy with their lot No formal education till age 7, they catch up and do not Allow huge differences, big gaps between rich and poor Their health system, sick pay, pensions all protected by law Low serious crime, less addictions, less inequality More time for family, socializing, a mentally stable majority For us though it doesn’t, shouldn’t, take much imagination To get things kick-started for some serious re-generation Of dismal and gloomy and dilapidated locations They’re crying out for a hero who sees it as their vocation To show politicians what levelling up is really like Creating venues of leisure, lanes for your bike Or condensing the shopping to one smaller space And the rest given to housing or gardens, a meeting base Use town centres for weekend concerts, live music, spoken word It would be marketing for performers once they’d been heard And Brexit’s not working - Covid didn’t help either A population struggling, irritated by low-level mither Will not be at their productive best if we just let things slip If it continues then social incohesion will be more than a blip Our public generally don’t care which political party’s in power Just lift us from this scenario, seize the day, try seizing the hour What happened to those places from our past? Where did it all go? And why couldn’t it last?
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Post by Eggybread on Jul 12, 2024 11:51:01 GMT
First attempt at putting some thoughts together on how our hometown / home city deteriorated in recent years although I’m sure many places in the red wall zone going through the same? All feedback welcome. Sorry mate its not my cup of tea ,I dont really do nostalgia but rather look to the future.But carry on mate dont let the likes of me put you off,well done. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/800541/images/KYqg3pYeaerc5lD_P7BR.gif)
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Post by frasier37 on Jul 12, 2024 12:20:15 GMT
Love it mate. Love artistry, love the flow style and it drew me into the story
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Post by misterj on Jul 12, 2024 15:57:09 GMT
Thanks eggybread and frazier37, appreciate your honesty
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Post by middleoftheboothen on Jul 12, 2024 16:31:15 GMT
Liked it mate 👍
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Post by marylandstoke on Jul 12, 2024 17:32:33 GMT
Oh come on.
All these posts and no one else saw Poignant Vibe supporting WoT?
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Jul 12, 2024 17:34:11 GMT
Oh come on. All these posts and no one else saw Poignant Vibe supporting WoT? POIDH
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Post by marylandstoke on Jul 12, 2024 17:42:36 GMT
Oh come on. All these posts and no one else saw Poignant Vibe supporting WoT? POIDH Without going too far into my involvement with Poignant Vibe, in those days, there were no cell phones and thus little proof. good times…good times
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Post by misterj on Jul 12, 2024 22:30:07 GMT
Poignant Vibe? I don’t follow!!
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Post by misterj on Jul 13, 2024 9:04:15 GMT
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Post by misterj on Jul 15, 2024 12:06:50 GMT
Looking forward to feedback!
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