Last week, Jim (NewEpicAuthor, A Unique Title For Me) set a theme of noise (my choice). This week, theme of primary directions.
I’m taking a bit of a chance this week. When I thought about Jim’s prompt, a song came to me which stems from my mid-teens (1985, to be exact). I loved this song at the time, and have enjoyed it ever since. I hope you will, too.
Now, it is not a blockbuster song. It’s not even my normal type of music. I first heard it when it hit the regular charts, so it was getting airplay on the popular stations, and it is a tune which just stuck with me. The band who performed it, Dream Academy, were not particularly well known – we’d all (myself included!) struggle to name any of their other songs. It only reached #15 in the UK, although it was better-received in the USA, where it reached #7 on Billboard (so maybe there’s a small chance you remember it?) I’ve also heard samples of the tune on more recent music. Regardless, I loved it.
The song was written by band members Nick Laird-Clowes and Gilbert Gabriel as an elegy to a UK folk musician called Nick Drake, who influenced the band but who died in 1974. The sleeve of the single also contained a commemoration to Drake. It fits with Jim’s prompt so I will present it today. My choice is Life In A Northern Town by Dream Academy. Tell me what you think.
Incidentally I am not absolutely sure, but I believe that the video location was Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
The Salvation Army band played
And the children drunk lemonade
And the morning lasted all day, all day
And through an open window came
Like Sinatra in a younger day
Pushing the town away, ohAh hey ma ma mommy doo-din-nie-ya
Ah hey ma ma ma hey-y-yah
Life in a northern town
Ah hey ma ma ma maThey sat on the stoney ground
And he took a cigarette out
And everyone else came down to listen
He said in winter 1963
It felt like the world would freeze
With John F. Kennedy
And The BeatlesYeah, yeah
Ah hey ma ma mommy doo-din-nie-ya
Ah hey ma ma ma hey-y-yah
Life in a northern town
Hey ma ma ma ma
Ah hey ma ma ma
Ah hey ma ma ma hey-y-yah
All the work shut downThe evening turned to rain
Watched the water roll down the drain
As we followed him down to the station
And though he never would wave goodbye
You could see it written in his eyes
As the train rolled out of sight…bye-byeAh hey ma ma mommy doo-din-nie-ya
Ah hey ma ma ma hey-y-yah
Life in a northern town
Ah hey ma ma ma ma
Ah hey ma ma mommy doo-din-nie-ya
Ah hey ma ma ma hey-y-yah
Life in a northern townAh hey ma ma ma ma
Nick Laird-Clowes and Gilbert Gabriel
Ah hey ma ma mommy doo-din-nie-ya
Ah hey ma ma ma hey-y-yah
Ah hey ma ma ma ma
Take it easy on yourself
Ah hey ma ma mommy doo-din-nie-ya
Ah hey ma ma ma hey-y-yah
Mister Bump 
I do remember this song. I am so glad you chose it. It was one of those that had slipped through the cracks of my memory. I’m adding it to my playlist.
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Oh good – I’m glad it wasn’t just me 🙂
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Oh, this did get a lot of airplay here back in the day! Thanks for the share. 😊👍
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Love this song! First time I’ve seen the video. Looks windy and cold. Nice choice today!
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It looked very “northern” to me, but I had no clue where until I looked it up. It’s not a place I ever visited – the stone is generally lighter down here so it looks different. It’s difficult to find the exact words to describe it.
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Everyday life for so many people! Great choice.
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It’s weird, isn’t it? It’s difficult to put into words the difference, but nonetheless there is a difference if you just look at photos.
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What I remember from this song is the, “Ah hey ma ma ma hey-y-yah” part. Thanks for sharing this today Pete.
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More brilliant lyrics 😆
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Oh yes, this song was very popular here in the US. I haven’t heard it in ages, thank you so much for sharing!
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I remember this song. First time learning it was an elegy to Nick Drake, whose music I love. The video is so good also, a wonderful look at English urban landscapes with hills.
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I must admit I never listened to Nick Drake. I meant to as a result of this post, but, you know…
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Pink Moon is one of my favorites, and I’m sure youtube has it. His music has sharp lyrics and haunting melodies.
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This is a new one for me, and I like it a lot, especially the chorus parts. 🙂
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[…] Jim (NewEpicAuthor, A Unique Title For Me) set a theme of things to do with primary directions (my choice). This week, theme of cash and […]
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[…] Jim (NewEpicAuthor, A Unique Title For Me) set a theme of things to do with primary directions (my choice). This week, theme of cash and […]
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