The United Kingdom of Song #10: Ipswich

The iffypedia page for Ipswich has a picture of Ed Sheeran on it. Maybe because he grew up in Framlingham, which is not too far away. It turns out though that he was born in the same place... maybe even the same hospital!... my son was born in: Halifax. But this post isn't about Ed Sheeran, you'll be glad to know... it's about Ipswich.

Brian Cant was from Ipswich. So is Richard Ayoade. Ralph Fiennes and Percy Edwards.

Musically, Alan Davies, the bassist from Hawkwind was from Ipswich. As was John Mayhew, the man who gave up his seat behind the drumkit in Genesis so that one Phillip Collins could sit there.

Steve Wright came from Ipswich too. The serial killer, not the DJ.

I've never been anywhere near Ipswich, but there are some very pretty pictures of it on the internet. It certainly doesn't look anything like Auschwitz. But the point Jarvis was making... evil people can come from anywhere: beautiful places and ugly ones.

It's weird listening to this song now: it's like he predicted Brexit ten years before it happened. Ladies and gentlemen, a prophet for our terrible times... Mr. Jarvis Branson Cocker.

"They want our way of life"

Well, they can take mine any time they like

Cause god knows, I know I ain't living right:

I'm wrong

Oh, I know I'm so wrong

So like the Roman Empire fell away

Let me tell you; we are going the same way

Ah, behold the Decline and Fall

All hold hands with our backs to the wall

It's the end,

Why don't you admit it?

It's the same from Auschwitz to Ipswich

Evil comes

I know from not where

But if you take a look inside yourself,

Maybe you'll find some in there

250 miles north next week, to a Lancashire town in need of a fair bit of repair...