We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Out Beyond The Tower

from Lyrics by Thursday's Child

lyrics

Out Beyond The Tower
Chris Pyam/Ken Punshon 2010

Spitalfields and Whitechapel, Wapping, Bethnal Green
The old East End of London, the darkest place you've seen
Limehouse, Stepney, and Mile End; the Isle of Dogs, and Bow
Poplar, Blackwall, Shadwell Docks, and Millwall as you know

[Out beyond The Tower, Out beyond The Tower
The East End of London, Out beyond The Tower]

In the 19th century, as industry had grown
Many working people had come to call it home
The docks stretched east from Tower Bridge, down along the Thames
To dirty, odorous industries these workers were condemned

A tight-knit-lipped community, out towards the east
With glue works and the breweries, their sickly stink of yeast
To keep the gentry's noses clean the factories built downwind
Avoiding soap vats, rendering, the pure for tanners skins

People lived their squalid lives with drunkeness and crime
Between the bridges and cul-verts, the maze of railway lines
Robbery, rape, and violence; gangs that ruled the streets
A breeding ground for criminals, iniquity, deceit

[]

Behind the high brick walls and palings dockers plied their trade
While outside, the prostitutes, a 'healthy' living made
Thoroughfares were filthy, and oft unlit at night
Many drunkards from the pubs were spoiling for a fight

Wave and wave of immigrants enriched the human stew
Each successive tide in time, has aimed to pass on through
Protestant church for Huguenots, Irish Catholics came along
It later was a synagogue, and now sings Islaam's song

[]

Now the Isle of Dogs has changed, become Canary Wharf
Where bastions of finance their su-rround-ings do dwarf
A sparkling new marina made from St. Katharine's dock
Trendy folk in Spitalfields are selling posh new frocks

[Out beyond The Tower, Out beyond The Tower
Everything is changing now, Out beyond The Tower
Out beyond The Tower, Out beyond The Tower
The East End of London, Out beyond The Tower]

credits

from Lyrics, released July 21, 2012

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Thursday's Child image

Thursday's Child UK

Thursday's Child was born on a Monday (August Bank Holiday 2009)!

Chris Pyam and Ken Punshon got together to try out a couple of ideas for songs. That afternoon they created about eight songs; since then over 100 more have emerged, with a few more 'bubbling away'.

Heather Dunn joined us in Nov 13 to contribute additional harmonies during the creation of our third album (Carry My Thoughts). ... more

contact / help

Contact Thursday's Child

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Thursday's Child, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now