London Songs

[SiennaInLondon]

I love punk/new wave, partly because it reminds me of my city. What are the songs that remind you of your London? They don't have to have London in the title or mention London in the lyrics but they have to remind you of London.

This painting is from John Virtue's specially commisioned collection entitled London, for the National Gallery. Just to get you in the mood!

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Here are some of mine

'Haunted' by The Pogues. This is one of my favourite songs of all time

Do you remember that sunny day?
Somewhere in London
In the middle of nowhere
Didn't have nothing to do that day
Didn't wanna do nothing anyway

You got a way of walking
You got a way of talking
And there's something about you
And now I know I never ever
Want to be without you

[Chorus:]
I want to be haunted by the ghost
I want to be haunted by the ghost
I want to be haunted by the ghost
I want to be haunted by the ghost
Of your precious love
Of your precious love

The first time I saw you,
Standing in the street
You were so cool,
You could have put out Vietnam
My girlfriends ask me, "What's he like?"
I say, "He's kind of shy,
But that's the kind of girl I am,
He's my kind of guy"

[Chorus]

I'll build my world around you
I'll bless the day that I found you
I'll stand beside you, I'll never leave
Or tell you all those lies
That you'd never believe

 

[SiennaInLondon]

'London Boys' by Marc Bolan and T-Rex

Oh yea we're the London boys
Oh yea we're the London boys
Oh yea we're the London boys
Oh yea we're the London boys
Do you remember
Going to Petticoat Lane
With all the conceptions
Moving in your brain
Oh yea we're the London boys
Oh yea we're the London boys
Don't you remember that we're just the London boys
Oh yea we're the London boys
Mighty mean mod king
Dressed like fame
London to Brighton
And then back again
Changing life's patterns
To get to the top
And when you get up there
You don't know if you're there or what

 

[susie_bubble]

Bloc Party - So here we are
Not so much the lyrics. Just the feel of the song....I love listening to it when I'm sitting on the top deck of the night bus going really fast.

 

[SiennaInLondon]

'Up The Bracket' by the The Libertines

I saw two shadow men on the Vallance Road
Said they'd pay me for your address
Oh I was so bold

I said you see these two cold fingers
These crooked fingers I show
Yous a way to mean no

Well they didn't like that much I can tell you
Said "sunshine I wouldn't wanna be in your shoes"
They chased me up two flights of stairs
Caught me in the lift how I sighed and said
Hello, 'cause you're impossible

But it's just like he's in another world
He doesn't see the danger on show
Wind up like Joseph bloody in a hole

And it's just like she's in another world
And how they suit each other oh no
But they never get close
It's impossible

Saw the same two men on the Cally road
Said now they'd double their offer
I was so bold

To say you see these two cold fingers
These crooked fingers I show
Oh yous a way to mean no

But it's just like he's in another world
He doesn't see the danger on show
He'll end up like Joseph bloody in a hole

It's just like she's in another world
How they suit each other oh no
But you never get close
It's unstoppable

But it's just like we're all in another world
How we suit each other oh no
But we never get close
Thats close enough now...

 

[Hye Park Lover]

I don't know why, but the day we caught the train - Ocean Colour scene reminds me of being in London on a nice day

 

[susie_bubble]

^Oh man....that song brings back some memories!

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Bloc Party - So here we are
Not so much the lyrics. Just the feel of the song....I love listening to it when I'm sitting on the top deck of the night bus going really fast.

Cool. I'll download it.

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Anything by The Jam. Weller and Strummer are the two people with the most distinct 'London' voices. 'Down In The Tube Station At Midnight':

The distant echo -
Of faraway voices boarding faraway trains
To take them home to
The ones that they love and who love them forever
The glazed, dirty steps - repeat my own and reflect my thoughts
Cold and uninviting, partially naked
Except for toffee wrapers and this morning’s paper
Mr. jones got run down
Headlines of death and sorrow - they tell of tomorrow
Madmen on the rampage
And I’m down in the tube station at midnight
I fumble for change - and pull out the queen
Smiling, beguiling
I put in the money and pull out a plum
Behind me
Whispers in the shadows - gruff blazing voices
Hating, waiting
Hey boy they shout - have you got any money?
And I said - I’ve a little money and a take away curry,
I’m on my way home to my wife.
She’ll be lining up the cutlery,
You know she’s expecting me
Polishing the glasses and pulling out the cork
And I’m down in the tube station at midnight

I first felt a fist, and then a kick
I could now smell their breath
They smelt of pubs and wormwood scrubs
And too many right wing meetings
My life swam around me
It took a look and drowned me in it’s own existence
The smell of brown leather
It blended in with the weather
It filled my eyes, ears, nose and mouth
It blocked all my senses
Couldn’t see, hear, speak any longer
And I’m down in the tube station at midnight
I said I was down in the tube station at midnight

The last thing that I saw
As I lay there on the floor
Was jesus saves painted by an atheist nutter
And a british rail poster read have an awayday - a cheap holiday -
Do it today!
I glanced back on my life
And thought about my wife
’cause they took the keys - and she’ll think it’s me
And I’m down in the tube station at midnight
The wine will be flat and the curry’s gone cold
I’m down in the tube station at midnight
Don’t want to go down in a tube station at midnight

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Other's include Bowie's (well Gershwin's) "A Foggy Day (In A London Town), The Ramones' (Ok they're not English...so?) "Needles and Pins", The Pretenders' "Hymn To Her". Nothing to do with London but it's like a hymn to city, "She will always carry on, something is lost, something is found. They will keep on speaking her name, somethings change, some stay the same". Gorgous song. Trying to stay away from mentioning "London Calling' and 'Penny Lane' and stuff... oops

 

[Jadee]

How could you forget The Kinks !

Waterloo Sunset ,Dedicated Follower of fashion (how appropriate on a fashion forum!)

Waterloo Sunset

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night
People so busy, makes me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright
But I don’t need no friends
As long as I gaze on waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunset’s fine

Terry meets julie, waterloo station
Every friday night
But I am so lazy, don’t want to wander
I stay at home at night
But I don’t feel afraid
As long as I gaze on waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunset’s fine

Millions of people swarming like flies ’round waterloo underground
But terry and julie cross over the river
Where they feel safe and sound
And they don’t need no friends
As long as they gaze on waterloo sunset
They are in paradise

Waterloo sunset’s fine

Dedicated Follower of fashion

They seek him here, they seek him there,
His clothes are loud, but never square.
It will make or break him so he's got to buy the best,
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion.

And when he does his little rounds,
'Round the boutiques of London Town,
Eagerly pursuing all the latest fads and trends,
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion.

Oh yes he is (oh yes he is), oh yes he is (oh yes he is).
He thinks he is a flower to be looked at,
And when he pulls his frilly nylon panties right up tight,
He feels a dedicated follower of fashion.

Oh yes he is (oh yes he is), oh yes he is (oh yes he is).
There's one thing that he loves and that is flattery.
One week he's in polka-dots, the next week he is in stripes.
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion.

They seek him here, they seek him there,
In Regent Street and Leicester Square.
Everywhere the Carnabetian army marches on,
Each one an dedicated follower of fashion.

Oh yes he is (oh yes he is), oh yes he is (oh yes he is).
His world is built 'round discoteques and parties.
This pleasure-seeking individual always looks his best
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion.

Oh yes he is (oh yes he is), oh yes he is (oh yes he is).
He flits from shop to shop just like a butterfly.
In matters of the cloth he is as fickle as can be,
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion.
He's a dedicated follower of fashion.
He's a dedicated follower of fashion.

The Libertines
They're so english, many of their songs evokes London.

The Bucket Shop

First stop was the bucket shop
To pick the pieces of your life up
And scream looking glad
Since all that you despised

You're thinking back to the Chicken Shack
And the smashing of the glass
And the knife in the back, well
My boy who would've believed your lies?
All your lies?

And no-one's going to sell you any alibis
A-li-bis

All you dirty small town girls
How I wish you were here now
And show me how to be the man, I'm your man
As only you can, as only you can
My White City girl

Well someone said you were an angel
Only what kind of angel
Would whisper 'hello'
And shout 'goodbye'
My White City girl

And I've seen you go down
On one too many times
It chills my bones to seem that way
Oh ... that way
And this aching heart of mine

You said you live your life by the Albion creed
So pure in thoughts and word and deed
Well, oh my boy, what did you gain?
Just empty bottles and ... roots
And holes in the years of your cowboy boots
And that makes she'll never forget your name
Or your lies...

And no-one's going to sell you any alibis
A-li-bis

Albion

Down in Albion
they’re black and blue
but we don’t talk about that
are you from round here?
how do you do
I’d like to talk about that

talk over
gin in teacups and
leaves on the lawn
violence in bus stops
and pale thin girl with eyes forlorn

gin in teacups and
leaves on the lawn
violence in dole queue's
and pale thin girl behind the checkout

but if you're looking for a cheap sort
that’s in false anticipation
i'll be waiting in the photo booth at the underground station
so, come away, wont you come away
we’ll go to capford, watford, lincoln, digben, liverpool,
anywhere in Albion

oh yellowing classics and
canons at dawn
coffee wallows and pith helmets
and oh an English sun

oh reebok classics and
canons at dawn
coffee wallows and pith helmets
and oh an English sun

but if you're looking for a cheap tart
that’s glint with perspiration
theres a four mile que outside the dissused power station
ah come away, wont you come away
we’ll go to margate, scarbrough, wigan, sheperds bush,
ah anywhere
but if you're looking for a cheap sort
that’s glint with perspiration
i'll be waiting in the photo booth at the underground station
ah come away, wont you come away
we’ll go to anywhere in albion

I'll stay away from London Calling but I'll mention The guns of Brixton cos' it does remind me of London and I'm a naughty Clash fan

 

[pantherdash]

The Rakes-22 Grand Job
The Others- William
Bloc Party- Banquet (not os much the lyrics just the whole excitement and pace of the song!)

 

[KhaoticKharma]

Of modern bands, I think that the Kaiser Chiefs and Bloc Party best evoke the London spirit. But how could we forget the ultimat punk London song, London Calling by the Clash!

Kaiser Chiefs- 'I Predict a Riot'

Watching the people get lairy
Is not very pretty I tell thee
Walking through town is quite scary
And not very sensible either
A friend of a friend he got beaten
He looked the wrong way at a policeman
Would never have happened to Smeaton
And old Leodiensian
La-ah-ah, la la lalala la
Ah-ah-ah, la la lalala la

I predict a riot, I predict a riot
I predict a riot, I predict a riot

I tried to get in my taxi
A man in a tracksuit attacked me
He said that he saw it before me
Wants to get things a bit gory
Girls run around with no clothes on
To borrow a pound for a condom
If it wasn't for chip fat, well they'd be frozen
They're not very sensible

La-ah-ah, la la lalala la
Ah-ah-ah, la la lalala la

I predict a riot, I predict a riot
I predict a riot, I predict a riot

And if there's anybody left in here
That doesn't want to be out there

Watching the people get lairy
Is not very pretty I tell thee
Walking through town is quite scary
And not very sensible

La-ah-ah, la la lalala la
Ah-ah-ah, la la lalala la

I predict a riot, I predict a riot
I predict a riot, I predict a riot

And if there's anybody left in here
That doesn't want to be out there

I predict a riot, I predict a riot


The Clash - 'London Calling'



London calling to the faraway towns

Now war is declared, and battle come down

London calling to the underworld

Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls

London calling, now don't look to us

Phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust

London calling, see we ain't got no swing

'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing



[Chorus 1:]

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in

Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin

Engines stop running, but I have no fear

'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river



London calling to the imitation zone

Forget it, brother, you can go it alone

London calling to the zombies of death

Quit holding out, and draw another breath

London calling, and I don't wanna shout

But when we were talking, I saw you nodding out

London calling, see we ain't got no high

Except for that one with the yellowy eyes



[Chorus 2: (x2)]

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in

Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin

A nuclear era, but I have no fear

'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river



Now get this



London calling, yes, I was there, too

An' you know what they said? Well, some of it was true!

London calling at the top of the dial

After all this, won't you give me a smile?

London calling



I never felt so much alike [fading] alike alike alike

 

[Manuva]

Razorlight - In The City
That's my London song, I love listening to it late at night when walking in London.

Well it's a close one, a real close one
but no-one gets hurt and she's got twice the fun
now they kiss in the rain
And did someone call out someone's name
From a white cadillac on a wide wind
To her white dress across the great divide
Into the warm moonlight
And she's been reading Bukowski for days
leans over, spits her name in my face
And says "Well now you know how it feels"
"Well now you know how it feels"

And I was looking for you
Looking for you
Looking for you in the city last night

And the boys in the band steal a kiss in the mystery of the night
11:59 to zero, little blonde hair in jeans, holds her tight
Turns on the heat and starts to fight and sayin' "that's my man"
Well the myth of love must have been there
The spirit of possession was there

And the boys at the bar
Yeah they're mixing up their medicines
The girls were on their mobile trying to get reception
and Johnny's shadow's getting long but he keeps on singing
His shadow getting long but he keeps on singing

But I was looking for you
Looking for you
Looking for you in the city last night

And people so strange
People so strange
People just keep talking in the city last night

Take off your shades and scroll down to number nine
You're living on the guest list, up against the meat rack
Head back, hand out, it's getting loud in here
Think you're going to have to shout
And she's tearing off her clothes
He's mixing his drinks all up
Streets divide them
It's an empire of signs
and Honey say she can read
And it looks like trouble
And it tastes like chocolate if you want it
It looks like trouble
but it tastes like chocolate if you want it

Still I was looking for you
Looking for you
Looking for you in the city last night

And people so strange
People so strange
People just keep talking in the city last night

And I was looking for you
And I was looking for you
And I was looking for you in the city last night

And I was looking for you
Yeah I was looking for you
Yeah I was looking for you in the city last night

It's alright!
It's alright!
If you say my name
It's alright!

 

[susie_bubble]

^Agreed about Kaiserchiefs and Bloc Party! They've got LONDON written all over them. Verve - Bittersweet Symphony also reminds me of London. It's just the video imagery really, the ppl bumping into each other that reminds me of London.

 

[Manuva]

Oh, and The Libertines, Times For Heroes reminds me of london especially
'Did you see the stylish kids in the riot'

Oh, how I *love* London. It's my favourite place in the world..

 

[Kalista]

^Agreed about Kaiserchiefs and Bloc Party! They've got LONDON written all over them. Verve - Bittersweet Symphony also reminds me of London. It's just the video imagery really, the ppl bumping into each other that reminds me of London.

Bittersweet symphony reminds me of London too. As does (of course!) 'London Calling' by The Clash

 

[pantherdash]

forgot to mention any Basement Jaxx track usually reminds me of london too!

 

[Manuva]

^Are you by any chance a fan of the go! team?

 

[KhaoticKharma]

'Bus Stop' by the Hollies isn't super London-esque, but it really swingin' sixties to me, and where do you think of when you think of swingin' sixtiesB) ...

Bus Stop (G. Gouldman)
Bus stop, wet day, she's there, I say
Please share my umbrella
Bus stop, bus goes, she stays, love grows
Under my umbrella

All that summer we enjoyed it
Wind and rain and shine.
That umbrella we employed it
By August, she was mine

Every morning I would see her waiting at the stop
Sometimes she'd shop and she would show me what she'd bought
Other people stared as if we were both quite insane

Someday my name and hers are going to be the same

That's the way the whole thing started
Silly, but it's true
Thinking of a sweet romance
Beginning in a queue

Came the sun the ice was melting
No more sheltering now
Nice to think that that umbrella
Led me to a vow

Every morning I would see her waiting at the stop
Sometimes she'd shop and she would show me what she'd bought
Other people stared as if we were both quite insane

Someday my name and hers are going to be the same

Bus stop, wet day, she's there, I say
Please share my umbrella
Bus stop, bus goes, she stays, love grows
Under my umbrella

All that summer we enjoyed it
Wind and rain and shine
That umbrella we employed it
By August, she was mine