Henry's Songbook

Hands off the old town, time we had a showdown
Ask the question loud and long, Why, why, why

An old house is taken down because it doesn't fit the plan
No one seems to give a damn - why, why, why

I looked where once a park had been - office blocks now fill the scene
The ground is grey instead of green - why, why, why

Trucks get bigger every day, so they build a new highway
You and me will have to pay - why, why, why

A motorway is needed next, said the planner, said the architect
So the town we love is wrecked - why, why, why

Supermarkets, motorways, hurry, hurry through the maze
Living in a concrete daze - why, why, why

Time we used our common sense, no time for sitting on the fence
Ask it loud and long, my friends - why, why, why

[1986:] Being a Glasgow man, I've always been interested in Glasgow, particularly in the old part of Glasgow. And I was horrified and angry not so long ago to learn that Provand's Lordship, the oldest house in Glasgow, was to be pulled down because it was in such a bad state of repair. Thankfully, it was saved at a last minute reprieve, but I wrote this song while it was still under threat of demolition. (Iain MacKintosh, intro 'Standing Room Only')