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Trickle Down Town

by Steve White & The Protest Family

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webhex From the hundreds of songs Steve's written since 2016, they had to pick only a handful. Every one is a gem. as a band their sound has improved with Andy: bin bags, should i be wearing a mask, those grooves are danceable! personally i love "holding your breath" because that really resonated to my personal experience in lock down. i love supersonic: never heard anyone explain "we're going backwards" so to the point, and so swingingly. Dead end friends resonates as a mum. Thanks lads
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1.
Bin Bags 02:12
They’re crying about woke They’re crying she’s a bloke They’re crying ‘bout appendages The vestiges of yesterdays They’re crying about words That they think are absurd They’re crying ‘bout the language Being savaged for the damaged It’s bin bags Bin bags It’s just bin bags Bin bags They’re crying about Bragg They think that it’s a drag That he’s standing with the persecuted Most disputed and excluded They’re crying about caring And storytelling scaring They’re crying ‘bout the activists Who won’t assist the anti-ists It’s bin bags Bin bags It’s just bin bags Bin bags They said you couldn’t call ‘em By the colour that they are They said it was the looney lefties Who had gone too far They say that what goes around Comes around again And now it’s gender critical, it’s You can’t call it’s Minds are small, it’s Bin bags Bin bags It’s just bin bags Bin bags They don’t like their lives disrupted Opinions deconstructed To understand it’s complicated Other people should be feted Not just accommodated And your words can show that you care Your words can show that you care It’s bin bags Bin bags It’s just bin bags Bin bags Bin bags
2.
The River 03:21
She pulled him out of the river Fed him, clothed him, found him a home Cos pulling folk out the river Is the only way she’s ever known She pulls him out of the river And tomorrow she’ll pull him out again She pulls him out of the river But she’ll never meet the bastards That keep throwing him in Keep throwing him in She pulls them out of the river Without ever asking from where they’ve come Fishing souls out the river And some days her day’s work is never done She pulls him out of the river And tomorrow she’ll pull him out again She pulls him out of the river But she’ll never meet the bastards That keep throwing him in Keep throwing him in Fishing souls out the river Seems that’s the way it’s always been While the soulless bastards in government Keep throwing them in She pulls him out of the river And tomorrow she’ll pull him out again She pulls him out of the river But she’ll never meet the bastards That keep throwing him in Keep throwing him in She’s fishing souls out the river Seems that’s the way it’s always been While the soulless bastards in government Keep throwing us in Keep throwing us in Keep throwing us in
3.
Trickle down misery Trickle down poverty Trickle down lies And Trickle down dishonesty Trickle down rules From a Trickle down clown Only trickle down In Trickle Down Town Trickle down parties With Trickle down cakes Trickle down suitcased Trickle down fakes Trickle down fines Come trickling down From fifties to thousands In Trickle Down Town In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town The Trickle down cough’s Still Trickle down persistent The Trickle down prof.’s Still pretty non-existent Now poxy monkey pox Is trickling down ‘Cause the A/C’s always off In Trickle Down Town In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town The Trickle down penny Still hasn’t dropped The Trickle down rises Still haven’t stopped Rishi’s five pence Is nowhere to be found On any forecourt In Trickle Down Town In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town Trickle down prices Are Trickle down rising A Trickle down crisis Is hardly surprising When Trickle down profits Are still never found In the Trickle down pockets Of Trickle Down Town In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town The Trickle down prince Reads a Trickle down speech To a Trickle down house With Trickle down reach Sat on a Trickle down throne Next to a Trickle down crown Now they boo the national anthem In Trickle down Town Now they boo the national anthem In Trickle Down Town In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town Only shit trickles down Only shit trickles down In Trickle Down Town
4.
She had to stop watching the news when she became the news Another poverty safari into a lifestyle she didn’t choose She hardly has the lights on at this time of year And like the feeling going around She’s feeling like she’s gonna drown And she don’t know what she’s gonna do when the sun goes down She don’t know what she’s gonna do She don’t know what she’s gonna do She don’t know what she’s gonna do when the sun goes down Blackouts to hide from bailiffs rather than warplanes But it’s war just the same, in all but name, with a wartime price to be paid And something to eat will have to wait until tomorrow now ‘Cause like the feeling going around She’s feeling like she’s gonna drown And she don’t know what she’s gonna do when the sun goes down She don’t know what she’s gonna do She don’t know what she’s gonna do She don’t know what she’s gonna do when the sun goes down When the sun goes down When the sun goes down She don’t know what she’s gonna do when the sun goes down
5.
Molly shouted into the wind But the wind never replied Molly shouted louder but the wind never hears The wind just blows on by All Molly needed was someone to listen…. So, Molly sent a message to her dead-end friends Dead-end friends are right on trend Molly sent a message to her dead-end friends But dead-end friends can’t heal… ‘Cause dead-end friends aren’t real Molly ran down a one-way street With something terrible to say Molly ran harder but nothing came back Nothing ever comes the other way All Molly needed was someone to listen So, Molly sent a message to her dead-end friends Dead-end friends are right on trend Molly sent a message to her dead-end friends But dead-end friends can’t heal… ‘Cause dead-end friends aren’t real The wind, it never listens The street, it never changes The wind, it never listens And Molly Was ready To be among the stars… Molly sent a message to her dead-end friends Dead-end friends are right on trend Molly sent a message to her dead-end friends But dead-end friends can’t heal… ‘Cause dead-end friends aren’t real Molly sent a message to her dead-end friends Dead-end friends are right on trend Molly sent a message to her dead-end friends But dead-end friends can’t heal……. ‘Cause dead-end friends aren’t real
6.
The Gable 03:56
They’re coming down the High Road Or on the bus from Walthamstow They’re coming on their holidays From Amsterdam and Oslo They’re coming from the familiar They’re coming from places that we don’t know And the gable still ain’t in the middle And this is still Brisbane Road One of them’s from Chile But now he knows Leyton’s his home Some of ‘em are Irish, some of ‘em are Cyprish Some of ‘em are home grown Some want to play for Ingerland Some want to play elsewhere in the world And the gable still ain’t in the middle And this is still Brisbane Road They’ll make us cry, they’ll make us moan They’ll soar like eagles, and sink like stones They’ll make us cheer, they’ll make us groan And the gable still ain’t in the middle And this is still Brisbane Road Laurie looks on from Coronation Gardens Maybe the best we’ve ever seen But Laurie knows from beyond the South Stand It takes all sorts to make a team Laurie looks on from Coronation Gardens As here we are and here we are and here we go And the gable still ain’t in the middle And this is still Brisbane Road They’ll make us cry, they’ll make us moan They’ll soar like eagles, and sink like stones They’ll make us cheer, they’ll make us groan And the gable still ain’t in the middle And this is still Brisbane Road Some of us are Orient born Some of us got here another way Some of us want to live in the flats Some of us want to move away Some of us are here every week And for some of us the final whistle’s blown And the gable still ain’t in the middle And this is still Brisbane Road The gable still ain’t in the middle And this is still Brisbane Road
7.
Zorro, The Lone Ranger The Phantom of the Opera, Darth Vader Batman, but Batgirl’s is better Wolverine, V for Vendetta Optimus Prime and Leatherface Stanley Ipkiss’ is pretty ace Should I be wearing a mask? Zorro, The Lone Ranger The Phantom of the Opera, Darth Vader Batman, but Batgirl’s is better Wolverine, V for Vendetta Optimus Prime and Leatherface Stanley Ipkiss’ is pretty ace Should I be wearing a mask? The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Raphael’s red, Donatello’s purple Leonardo, Michelangelo The Green Hornet and Cato too Mexican wrestlers, Wonder Woman Spiderman did but Peter Parker couldn’t Should I be wearing a mask? Zorro, The Lone Ranger The Phantom of the Opera, Darth Vader Batman, but Batgirl’s is better Wolverine, V for Vendetta Optimus Prime and Leatherface Stanley Ipkiss’ is pretty ace Should I be wearing a mask? The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Raphael’s red, Donatello’s purple Leonardo, Michelangelo The Green Hornet and Cato too Mexican wrestlers, Wonder Woman Spiderman did but Peter Parker couldn’t Should I be wearing a mask? Catwoman, Doctor Doom Hannibal Lector, Ghostface too Phillipe of Gascony, Jigsaw Killer But not Michael Jackson in Thriller Captain America, The Flash And highwaymen wore them for cash Should I be wearing a mask? Should I be wearing a mask?
8.
Air Miles met Jeff; said “you’re a man I can use On occasion when I need an underage to abuse. A man in my position can’t be seen in teen coition And you’ll keep quiet or face the noose” Air Miles Andy counts ‘em out and counts ‘em in again Air Miles met Jeff; said “get your bank on the phone You can sort out my ex with a sizeable loan It’s the morals we lack, not the means to pay it back Did I tell you I was eighth to the throne?” Air Miles Andy counts ‘em out and counts ‘em in again Air Miles Andy counts the pimp amongst his closest friends Air Miles Andy never sweats Takes his tea in Pizza Express Air Miles Andy counts ‘em out and counts ‘em in again Air Miles met Koo; he said “yeah I think you’ll do I’m pretty sure my mother’s gonna like you too. You look young for your age, and we’re on the same page And you’ll defend me until you’re blue” Air Miles Andy counts ‘em out and counts ‘em in again. Air Miles met Virginia; she was just seventeen. Delivered on the orders of Jeffrey Epstein On the issue of consent, everyone knew what it meant To say “no” to the son of a queen. Air Miles Andy counts ‘em out and counts ‘em in again Air Miles Andy counts the pimp amongst his closest friends Air Miles Andy never sweats Takes his tea in Pizza Express Air Miles Andy counts ‘em out and counts ‘em in again When Air Miles met Emily, who could expect That he’d treat the victims with such disrespect? He said “Yeah, I knew Jeff. Of his favour I’m bereft And I ain’t got no regrets” Air Miles Andy counts ‘em out and counts ‘em in again Air Miles Andy counts ‘em out and counts ‘em in again Air Miles met the Queen; she said “son you’re fired. The world’s got you down as a rapist and a liar. Put your hand on her breast but keep it out of the press. Clear your Buck House desk and retire.” Air Miles Andy counted ‘em out to count ‘em in again Air Miles Andy counted the pimp amongst his closest friends Air Miles Andy never sweats Air Miles Andy never regrets Air Miles Andy never respects Air Miles Andy England expects Takes his tea in Pizza Express Air Miles Andy counts ‘em out and counts ‘em in again
9.
Let me tell you ‘bout a boy named Harry And all the fuss about the girl he married She weren’t like them, she was a celebrity No eyes of blue, American too She would never fit in to their family But she sang Harry, Harry won’t you fly with me It could be so much better Shooting Taliban together What a power couple we will be Let me tell you bout a bloke called Charlie Spent his whole life waiting for his mum’s last party Crowned at last and everything would be alright Then son number one And son number two Had a set too and broke the dog’s bowl in a fight While she sang Harry, Harry won’t you fly with me It could be so much better Shooting Taliban together What a power couple we will be Let me tell you bout a woman called Camilla Charlie’s regular date for dinner The Princess of All Our Hearts ain’t for me I wanna be your tampon Come on, let’s get it on I don’t care if I’m indiscreet And she sang Harry, Harry won’t you fly with me It could be so much better Shooting Taliban together What a power couple we will be Let me tell you bout a prince called William The whole of Wales was his dominion Hier to the throne, all he has to do is stay alive But he fought with his brother In the absence of his mother About their choice of royal wives And she sang Harry, Harry won’t you fly with me It could be so much better Shooting Taliban together What a power couple we will be Let me tell you bout the whole damn lot of ‘em How much better it would be to be shot of ‘em Off with their heads, and those of all their friends Gold, gilt and greed Something we don’t need And that’s the way the story ends While she sang Harry, Harry won’t you fly with me It could be so much better Shooting Taliban together What a power couple we will be
10.
Supersonic 04:42
They’re building tower blocks in a place they call the village And the pub conversation is turning alt-right There’s a bus bound for Luton for families that were local While they try to stop the soup kitchen from working at night And it’s all Trump and Hard Brexit while the real facts leg it And to think that we used to have Supersonic flight Now we sing for our supper or we sing for another While the noose around our benefits is startin’ to get tight And we used to look after the sick and the disabled With the crumbs from our table, but “so long as I’m alright” A helping hand from the cradle to the grave For the hero and the knave And we used to have supersonic flight Supersonic flight I wanna fly to school on my hoverboard Visit New York on Concorde In Tomorrow’s World the future was bright And we were all passengers On supersonic flight Your Mum’s alright, she’s got a decent pension We probably should mention that she always casts a vote Generation Y, and you Millennials It’s something of which you should probably take note They had social mobility, financial stability, limited hostility They even had supersonic flight Supersonic flight Supersonic flight I wanna fly to school on my hoverboard Visit New York on Concorde In Tomorrow’s World the future was bright And we were all passengers On supersonic flight Time Team 2518 digging at the site of the Walthamstow Scene What was it like when these people were alive? All they left behind was plastic bags and PM2.5 We found real signs of poverty, the occasional king or knight Do you think that they were capable Of supersonic flight? Supersonic flight Supersonic flight Supersonic flight I wanna fly to school on my hoverboard Visit New York on Concorde In Tomorrow’s World the future was bright And we were all passengers On supersonic flight Supersonic flight Supersonic flight Supersonic flight
11.
Martin knew something was wrong But Tina was pretty cool Martin knew something didn’t belong Tina never went to school Martin got pushed around Tina got left at home Tina got pushed down Martin wished that he was gone He just wanted to go where Tina goes The way she wears her hair The way she wears her clothes He just wanted to know what Tina knows He just wanted to go where Tina goes They said that Martin was gay They said that Tina was wrong Told him to go away Told her she didn’t belong They shut the door on her By shutting the door on him Making spaces safer Denying her the very thing She just wanted to go where Tina goes The way she wears her hair The way she wears her clothes She just wanted to know what Tina knows She just wanted to go where Tina goes Martin’s got it figured out It’s never been his skin It belonged to Tina all along She’s always been there for him Martin’s got it coming out The road ahead’s still long It’s a hostile environment Where she was waiting all along Cos she just wanted to go where Tina goes The way she wears her hair The way she wears her clothes She just wanted to know what Tina knows She just wanted to go where Tina goes Martin and Tina share the same DNA It’s always been that way She’s always been that way Martin and Tina share the same DNA And it’s OK It’s gonna be OK
12.
Joanna’s holding it together But she can’t keep the kids off school forever It’s so much harder in the nice weather Holding her breath Some days they’re just climbing the walls While she’s trying to make work phone calls They can’t go and play with next door’s Holding her breath The first ten seconds are easy The second ten seconds are harder Then you’re living one second at a time When you’re holding your breath The first ten seconds are easy The second ten seconds are harder Each second after that lasts a lifetime Holding your breath She’s listening to the prime minster back today The very little he had to say She’s trying not to be afraid And holding her breath Shelagh Fogerty says the lockdown’s fraying And that’s what the traffic outside is saying Joanna finds herself praying And holding her breath The first ten seconds are easy The second ten seconds are harder Then you’re living one second at a time When you’re holding your breath The first ten seconds are easy The second ten seconds are harder Each second after that lasts a lifetime Holding your breath Each second after that lasts a lifetime When you’re holding your breath
13.
Get a job, get a second job, get a better job And pretend that Covid never happened Budget for your tea, better budget 30p And pretend that there’s no increase in the gap, and You’re gonna have to wait four hours for an ambulance You’re gonna have to live at home with your parents You’re gonna have companies that don’t do what they oughta You’re gonna have some of them shitting in the water Do away with your daily latte Your Netflix subscription will have to wait another day Bring your bus pass if you want to have a vote Don’t turn up here in a small boat Be prepared to join a queue For tomatoes, cucumbers too But a good little Brit knows what to do Go to work on some turnip stew Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

about

“Now they boo the national anthem in Trickle Down Town”

Nearly eighteen months in the making, Trickle Down Town, the long-awaited successor to 2016’s Protest For Dummies, surveys post-pandemic, post-Brexit Britain and finds it wanting.

Here version seven of The Protest Family, first encountered on the home-recorded EP The debased street music of the vulgar, cover topics ranging from the cost of living crisis to trans-allyship and inclusive football anthems to the everyday experience of lockdown, all with their customary ferocity and wit and, while nominally folk/punk, they merrily genre-hop with elements of glam and garage in the rock, hints of ska in the punk and even songs that might be described as country-tinged (or Country and East End, as Steve calls it).

Post-Covid and Brexit, the new album also finds us in the post-second Elizabethan era and it will surprise no one that Steve White & The Protest Family have something to say about that.

Looking for a new national anthem? Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain.

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released June 2, 2023

Recorded by Ali Gavan at Brighton Road Studios

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Steve White & The Protest Family UK

"[They] remind me of The Clash" - Basil Gabbidon (Steel Pulse)

"I love this band. Punk minstrels who chronicle our times with humour, passion and immense talent." - Bob Oram, Morning Star

"Everybody please visit: Steve White & The Protest Family" - Tom Robinson

"Constructive political music" - Joe Solo
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