Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Motorway Song

Motorway Song

Motorway Song
(Leon Rosselson)

        They're going to build a motorway
        Through me back garden
        No one can explain why I came to be chosen
        They're going to build a motorway
        They're ripping up the trees
        Soon the lorries will be zooming through
        Me cabbages and peas

Word came from the council
Was just about to plan
I didn't understand,
It sounded very grand
They talked of urban redevelopment
Improving the environment
They says to ease the traffic flow
A bit of my back garden had to go
Well, I dunno
I suppose that those who started it must know best
And I wouldn't like my vegetable patch
To stand in the way of progress.

        They're going to build a motorway
        Through me back garden
        No one can explain why I came to be chosen
        They're going to build a motorway
        They're ripping up the trees
        Soon the lorries will be zooming through
        Me cabbages and peas

The brother lives in Lilac Grove
It's just across the street
I've not seen him in weeks
We always used to meet
And have a pint or two at Paddy Lowe's
It's just a heap of rubble now
The pawn shop's disappeared
And so's the barbers where we always used to go
Well, I dunno
These noisy great machines are workin' nonstop
And funny things are growin'
And it looks as though the bomb's dropped

        The bulldozers are movin' in now
        On me back garden
        No one can explain why I came to be chosen
        The bulldozers are movin' in
        They've ripped all the trees
        Soon the lorries will be zoomin'
        Through me cabbages and peas

I don't go out much any more
Can't find my way around
Wind nearly knocks me down
There's tunnels underground
An' just to get about from place to place
Is like a bleedin' steeple chase
Day an' night the traffic flows
It's best to plug your ears and hold your nose
Well, I suppose
I'm better off than some, don't think I'm just sour
I'm grateful for the grandstand view I'm getting
Of the rush hour

        They've built an eight-lane motorway
        Through me back garden
        No one can explain
        Why I came to be chosen
        They've built an eight-lane motorway
        They've ripped up all the trees
        Now the lorries zoom where once I grew
        Me cabbages and peas

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recorded by the Black Family (1980)
MJ