Gin Palace

The Mekons

Now here’s an 80’s album that does not sound like ‘87 — one of their first forays into full fledged COW PUNK — the terrific HONKY TONKIN’. A record that will sound good until the end of time. This track is a special one as Langford just has a way of making a political statement by telling a sweet story with clever phrases. Never didactic. He paints a picture of some down and out folks — the outcasts of Liberty Hill — on the fringe, out in the cold in an alcoholic haze. ❤️ A community center for the hopeless…

BONUS: A fun LIVE VERSION from London where Jon and Sally banter. 😆

Down in the Glen there's a band of old men
Drinking their cider till dawn
Warming to fires made of ashcans and tyres
The outcasts on Liberty hill
In the Gin Palace now!
We're swaying together as one
Ill-defined features and hair stood on end
The Dandys the Fops and the Goths
Come on and get dressed baby pull on your pants
We're going to go out tonight
Through the dirty dark streets
So cold and so bleak
See the lights turn fog into gold
A community centre for the hopeless
The brains of the dispossessed
Sometimes it turns reeling into your arms
Cling together excited and laughing
Strangers flung together on a fast fun-house floor
It turned you out of your bed
The right to stew in your own juice
The freedom to freeze and die
Inside so hot so bright and so loud
The people all talking at once
Flashing dark eyes shining red lips
Beautiful glistening clothes
In the Gin Palace now!
We're swaying together as one
They've cashed in the chips on our shoulders
In the Casino economy
Place your bets