Teenage Party
This is my entry to the Places challenge.The place is Rochford in Essex, the time anywhere between 1972-75. House parties were great fun and I still look back at them with fondness. Sadly, one of my best friends from those days died recently – this one's for you Kim:
Teenage Party -1- There’s a party at my house on Saturday night, Come with a bottle if you’ve got an invite I bought some Party 7’s, Twiglets and crisps Mum’s ironed my best flairs so I’m gonna look hip The folks will spend the night over at me nan’s I‘ve promised them things won’t get out of hand … They don’t believe me, but they understand -2- The party has started it’s a great atmosphere There’s not much food but there’s plenty of beer Slade are on the stereo, with ‘Cum feel the noize’ The girls start dancing, and get eyed up by the boys A couple of lads that I didn’t invite Are getting rather lairy and looking to fight Big Dave sorts them out, throws them into the night -Chorus- It’s a teenage party on a Saturday night It’s no big deal, but we think it’s all right Though the music and the fashions may change Everything else stays the same It’s a teenage party on a Saturday night… Hey, All the Young Dudes Aint you glad you came? -3- Most of us are drunk, though it’s not yet ten I’ve had a puff on a joint that I got from a friend. There’re bitching in the kitchen like they like to do And a long queue is forming just to use the loo Penny knocks on the door, Jenny’s locked it from inside She’d had a row with Jason and is threatening suicide She thinks she might be pregnant, and Jason’s said goodbye -4- Pete pukes up the cheap plonk he got from the offy I clean it up, Wendy makes him black coffee Delroy and Lisa are snogging on the sofa Terry takes the piss, he’s always been a joker I nip to my room, a used Johnny’s on the floor Looks like some lucky bastard has managed to score When I find out who, I’ll give him what for (he could have flushed it!) -Chorus- It’s a teenage party on a Saturday night It’s no big deal, but we think it’s all right Though the music and the fashions may change, Everything else stays the same It’s a teenage party on a Saturday night… At Devilgate Drive Aint you’re glad you came? Middle Eight It’s a long time ago and all in the past I’m getting old now, time went by so fast The old gang have all gone their separate ways But I wish somehow, we could relive those days And have a…. Chorus Teenage party on a Saturday night It’s no big deal, but we think it’s all right Though the music and the fashions may change, Everything else stays the same It’s a teenage party on a Saturday night… It’s yesterday once more Ain't you’re glad you came?
Took me back to those days myself. Might not of been Rochford but it might well of been. Great song.
Thanks, Stephen, I appreciate your coments. I was hoping this might stir some happy memories for folks and it seems to have, which is great. One thing I don’t miss, though, are Party Sevens; you may recall they were impossible to open! Cheers.
Fantastic trip down memory lane! I like the way your portrayed and spoke to the audience intermittently. Reminded me a bit of the style from the song Gordon is a Moron and Madness rolled into one. Great lyrics capturing the different scenarios from teenage parties. Unique approach.
Party 7? Twiglets? Yep – that´s my teenage years. In our case it was large bottles of dry cider (well it was Cornwall).
Hi Andy, bottles of cider are a damn sight easier to open than Party Sevens. I have a memory of my mate cutting himself quite badly trying to negotiate a Party Seven with a screwdriver.
Hi Louise, Many thanks for the kind comments – I’ll take Jilted John and Madness any day! A couple of people have suggested Squeeze, which is also pleasing. My bag is really country music, but since joining TiT I seem to be developing a very British style of songwriting, which is such fun to write. Maybe that is one of the strengths of TiT and the monthly challenges – it helps writers to find their true voice? Thanks again, Phil
As I think I said on FB….another great post punk song Phil. Terrific imagery that took me straight there. Where’s that simple life gone?
Hi Cath, I seem to be losing my country vibe and becoming post-punk; it’s funny how ones songwriting changes over time. I don’t have kids, but I like to think that young people still have parties like we used to have, which is why I put the line in the chorus about ‘whilst the music and the fashions may change, everything stays the same’, though I have no way of verifying that. I certainly hope kids today don’t have Party 7, which were impossible to open – I remember a mate cutting himself quite badly with a screwdriver trying to open one of the damned things! Many thanks, Phil
Love it Phil. Brilliant lyrics allied to a catchy hook. Post punk perfection ?
Many thanks, Alan. This was a fun one to write. It’s weird to be moving away from country-style songs to more raucous stuff, but I am really enjoyin it. Like Dylan, I may have to go electric to shouts of JUDAS!!! Cheers.
Woo! Get the cheese puffs and the frazzles out! Lyrics took us right back there, lots of fun.
I’ll put some Brut aftershave on, and wear my baggies, the shirt with the penny collars, and my platform shoes!
Mel and I are hearing this as a punk classic!! Great story telling! And your Mum and Dad were more understanding than mine!!!
Thanks, Julie, I really appreciate your kind word.s The older I get the more punky my songs seem to get. To be honest, the action takes place in my mate Kim’s house, because my parents were certainly not understanding, Dad being a vicar! Hope all is well with you guys; I am still loving Open D after Mel’s brilliant presentation, there is so much one can do with it. Cheers.
We’ve all been there. Very evocative choice of snapshot imagery which fuses into a nostalgic collage worthy of a Panorama documentary on ‘teenage life’ in the 70’s . A quirky take on the theme! Well done.
Thanks Mike, I appreciate it. This was very much written from the heart, and most of the incidents have a basis in truth. It is the gift that keeps on giving actually, because off the back of it I wrote a song about a Saturday night on Southend-on-Sea seafront in the 1970s. Thanks again. Phil