Polished Decay

Polished Decay

There used to be a row of bars along this street
Where the punks and the bikers would hang out and meet
Music and communion were the order of the day
They’d dance at night and sing the late hours away

Then the council hiked the rents up and forced them all out
Now there’s offices and business firms scattered about
Expensive apartments pushed the culture away
This street was a victim of the polished decay

Polished Decay
It’s on the streets today
It’s the overriding factor of the urban age
It’s vacant and it’s hollow
But it’s here to stay
So we might as well give in to the polished decay

The sordid streets of Soho were the land of the free
From the clip joints to the cabaret to the Colony
The strangest creatures of the night in dark unity
Were brought together in the den of iniquity

Now the neon signs have flashed their last
The red lights are out
The chainstores and the hipster bars are what it’s about
Now they’re even trying to throw Tin Pan Alley away
The district is succumbing to the polished decay

Polished Decay
It’s on the streets today
It’s the overriding factor of the urban age
It’s vacant and it’s hollow
But it’s here to stay
So we might as well give in to the polished decay

Every place with character is being knocked down
Every street looks like every other street in town
Every town looks like every other town in the world
Every place with any heart and soul is lost to the herd

The wealthy elite dictates the one way of life
If you don’t want to conform prepare yourself for strife
Just like they stole the Indians’ land to create the USA
They wipe us out, contaminate us with the polished decay

Polished Decay
It’s on the streets today
It’s the overriding factor of the urban age
It’s vacant and it’s hollow
But it’s here to stay
So we might as well give in to the polished decay

Polished Decay
It’s on the streets today
It’s the overriding factor of the urban age
It’s vacant and it’s hollow
But it won’t go away
So we’ll be damned if we surrender to the polished decay

Lyrics: Aidan Cross
Music: Armstrong/Cross/Edwards/Kloos/Sarsen