Geography in Song

"Letter From Hiroshima" By THE VAPORS
Hiroshima in Japan and where the Bomb was tested, this song was written about that horrible incident
Good Group No longer around.

"white man in hammersmith palais" by THE CLASH
Hammersmith is in SW London UK, very affluent...the "hammersmith roundabout" whcih is not far the palais is the most heavily watched area in europe on CCTV..why?

"Kingston Town" By UB40
Kingston town is the largest city in Jamaica ,aslo the capital. Probably the home of Reggae.

"Dalston" by RAZORLIGHT
Dalston is a run down part of e/ne London very close to Hackney.
Some parts of Dalston will be incorperated into the Olympic village area 2012.

"Brecon Beacons" by SUPERGRASS
The Brecon Beacons a mountain range in wales, its also where the SAS do their training there. Has a national park there also covering 520sq miles.

Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson

Peace

"Walking Through Tokyo" by Saxon

Everybody knows London, that great metropolis, and that Soho and Mayfair are neighbourhoods there, even I know. I also know whereabout Kent is, an English countryside, but I don't know Lee Ho Fooks (a Chinese restaurant?) or Trader Vic's or who Lon Chaney is.

Anybody can help me out?

I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
walkin through the streets of Soho in the rain.
He was lookin for the place called Lee Ho Fooks, gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein.

Chorus:
Aaahoo, werewolves of London
Aaahoo(2x)

Ya hear him howlin around your kitchen door, ya better not let him in.
Little old lady got mutilated late last night, werewolves of London again.

Chorus 2x

He's the hairy, hairy gent, who ran amok in Kent.
Lately he's been overheard in Mayfair.
You better stay away from him, he'll rip your lungs out Jim.
Huh, I'd like to meet his tailor.

Chorus 2x

Well, I saw Lon Chaney walkin with the queen, doing the werewolves of London.
I saw Lon Chaney Jr. walkin with the queen, doin the werewolves of London
I saw a werewolf drinkin a pina colada at Trader Vic's
And his hair was perfect.

ahhhooooo, werewolves of London
Draw blood

Lyrics as always by metro

"No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys

No Sleep 'til-Brooklyn

Foot on the pedal - never ever false metal
Engine running hotter than a boiling kettle
My job's ain't a job - it's a d---- good time
City to city - I'm running my rhymes
On location - touring around the nation
Beastie Boys always on vacation
Itchy trigger finger but a stable turntable
I do what I do best because I'm illing and able
Ain't no faking - your money I'm taking
Going coast to coast - watching all the girlies shaking
While you're at the job working nine to five
The Beastie Boys at the Garden - cold kickin' it live

No Sleep 'til-Brooklyn


Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs of NewYork City.

"Jersey Girl" by Bruce Springsteen

I got no time for the corner boys
Down in the street making all that noise
Or the girls out on the avenue
`cause tonight i wanna be with you
Tonight i'm gonna take that ride
Across the river to the jersey side
Take my baby to the carnival
And i'll take her on all the rides

`cause down the shore everything's all right
You and your baby on a saturday night
You know all my dreams come true
When i'm walking down the street with you

Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la i'm in love with a jersey girl



New Jersey's nickname is "the Garden State".

Originally posted by khunmoon
Everybody knows London, that great metropolis, and that Soho and Mayfair are neighbourhoods there, even I know. I also know whereabout Kent is, an English countryside, but I don't know Lee Ho Fooks (a Chinese restaurant?) or Trader Vic's or who Lon Chaney is.

Anybody can help me out?

Apparently Trader Vic's is one of the best bars in London. Here's a link.
www.worldsbestbars.com...

I have no idea who Lon Chaney is... but it sounds Oriental.

[edit on 22-11-2006 by elaine]

Originally posted by elaine
Apparently Trader Vic's is one of the best bars in London. ... ...
I have no idea who Lon Chaney is... but it sounds Oriental.

Thanks for clearing up that bar. I found out about the guy. He was an actor of silent movies, one of the first to play scary characters. His son of the same name with the subfix Jr. was an actor too. Fits perfect in the text.

Here's another Dylan.

Though written in 1976 shortly after the independence of East African colony from Portugese rule, it might not be the country he's singing about. Some claim it to be a tiny little cove, just south of Zuma Beach, Calif. An idyllic
summer place, where guys hang with their woodys & surf bunnies frolic in the
sun.

Lyrics.

I like to spend some time in mozambique
The sunny sky is aqua blue
And all the couples dancing cheek to cheek.
It's very nice to stay a week or two.

There's lots of pretty girls in mozambique
And plenty time for good romance
And everybody likes to stop and speak
To give the special one you seek a chance
Or maybe say hello with just a glance.

Lying next to her by the ocean
Reaching out and touching her hand,
Whispering your secret emotion
Magic in a magical land.

And when it's time for leaving mozambique,
To say goodbye to sand and sea,
You turn around to take a final peek
And you see why it's so unique to be
Among the lovely people living free
Upon the beach of sunny mozambique.

"California Dreamin'" by the Mamas and the Papas"

All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey
I've been for a walk on a Winter's day
I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A.
California dreamin' on such a Winter's day

Stopped into a church I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray
You know, the preacher liked the cold - he knows I'm gonna stay
California dreamin' on such a Winter's day

All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey
I've been for a walk on a Winter's day
If I didn't tell her, I could leave today
California dreamin' on such a Winter's day
California dreamin' on such a Winter's day
California dreamin' on such a Winter's day


Los Angeles (L.A.) located in California is the second most populated city in the U.S. It's nickname is "City of Angels".

"North to Alaska" by Johnny Horton

Way up north, (North To Alaska.)
Way up north, (North To Alaska.)
North to Alaska,
They're goin' North, the rush is on.
North to Alaska,
They're goin' North, the rush is on.

Big Sam left Seattle in the year of '92,
With George Pratt, his partner, and brother, Billy, too.
They crossed the Yukon River and found the bonanza gold.
Below that old white mountain just a little south-east of Nome.

Sam crossed the majestic mountains to the valleys far below.
He talked to his team of huskies as he mushed on through the snow.
With the northern lights a-running wild in the land of the midnight sun,
Yes, Sam McCord was a mighty man in the year of nineteen-one.

Where the river is winding,
Big nuggets they're finding.
North to Alaska,
They're goin' North, the rush is on.



Gold was discovered in the Yukon river in 1896 and there followed a brief "gold rush" with people setting out from Pacific ports like Seattle, Washington to go seek their fortunes in Alaska. Alaska is our most northern state and was acquired by us from Russia.

Originally posted by elaine

"Jersey Girl" by Bruce Springsteen

Bruce made a cover of Jersey Girl, but the song was written by Tom Waits. Just sayin'...

"Country Roads, Take Me Home" by John Denver

Almost heaven, west virginia
Blue ridge mountains
Shenandoah river -
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads



West Virginia used to be part of Virginia until Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861. It is the nation's second largest producer of coal.

"Made In Hell" by Halford:

...from memories of '68 when the Wizard shook the world
metal came from foundries where the Midland sound unfurled
the bullring was a lonely place of concrete towers of steel
("Midlands" and "bullring" refers to Birmingham, I think - the birthplace/home of Mr. Halford)
the coalmines and the industries were all I had to feel
something inside took hold of me
I really didn't know
but over time it came to me, I knew which way to go
I drove around in search of what would make it all come true
from jazz and electricity and good old southern blues



In Henry's and in Mother's is where I'd go to bang my head
The feeling took a hold of me with every word I said
The voice was born and came alive with all I saw and heard
And now I knew my destiny, I had to spread the word

I took the scream around the world, from London to L.A.
Unleashed on downtown Tokyo, blew Godzilla away
And on the sound and fury went from Sydney to Brazil
It sent the Russians crazy, 'cause they never get their fill....

"The Devil Went Down to Georgia" Charlie Daniels

The devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind 'cos he was way behind: he was willin' to make a deal.
When he came across this young man sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot.
And the devil jumped upon a hickory stump and said: "Boy let me tell you what:
"I bet you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too.
"And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you.
"Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy, but give the devil his due:
"I bet a fiddle of gold against your soul, 'cos I think I'm better than you."
The boy said: "My name's Johnny and it might be a sin,
"But I'll take your bet, your gonna regret, 'cos I'm the best that's ever been."

Johnny you rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard.
'Cos hells broke loose in Georgia and the devil deals it hard.
And if you win you get this shiny fiddle made of gold.
But if you lose, the devil gets your soul.




Coca Cola was invented in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta is the capitol of Georgia

Here's a song by Allen Ginsberg, greatest American Poet of 20th century (all honour to his memory!)
He actually did put music to his poems and recorded them.

This is a controversial song, a very political one. About CIA dope dealing in Indochina. A lot of names.

China, Thailand, Bangkok, Laos don't need explanation.
Chiang Mai is the capital city of Northern Thailand at the border of the Golden Triangle.
Xieng Quang province on the Plain of Jars, is a central province of Laos.
Saigon, former capital of South Vietnam, now HoChiMien City, Tan Son Nhut, an American base there during the Vietnam War.
Long Cheng was a secret American base in Laos.

CIA Dope Calypso
In nineteen hundred forty-nine
China was won by Mao Tse-tung
Chiang Kai Shek's army ran away
They were waiting there in Thailand yesterday

Supported by the CIA
Pushing junk down Thailand way

First they stole from the Meo Tribes
Up in the hills they started taking bribes
Then they sent their soldiers up to Shan
Collecting opium to send to The Man

Pushing junk in Bangkok yesterday
Supported by the CIA

Brought their jam on mule trains down
To Chiang Mai that's a railroad town
Sold it next to the police chief's brain
He took it to town on the choochoo train

Trafficking dope to Bangkok all day
Supported by the CIA

The policeman's name was Mr. Phao
He peddled dope grand scale and how
Chief of border customs paid
By Central Intelligence's U.S. aid

The whole operation, Newspapers say
Supported by the CIA

He got so sloppy and peddled so loose
He busted himself and cooked his own goose
Took the reward for the opium load
Seizing his own haul which same he resold

Big time pusher for a decade turned grey
Working for the CIA

Touby Lyfong he worked for the French
A big fat man liked to dine & wench
Prince of the Meos he grew black mud
Till opium flowed through the land like a flood

Communists came and chased the French away
So Touby took a job with the CIA

The whole operation fell in to chaos
Till U.S. intelligence came in to Laos
Mary Azarian/Matt Wuerker I'll tell you no lie I'm a true American
Our big pusher there was Phoumi Nosavan

All them Princes in a power play
But Phoumi was the man for the CIA

And his best friend General Vang Pao
Ran the Meo army like a sacred cow
Helicopter smugglers filled Long Cheng's bars
In Xieng Quang province on the Plain of Jars

It started in secret they were fighting yesterday
Clandestine secret army of the CIA

All through the Sixties the dope flew free
Thru Tan Son Nhut Saigon to Marshall Ky
Air America followed through
Transporting comfiture for President Thieu

All these Dealers were decades and yesterday
The Indochinese mob of the U.S. CIA

Operation Haylift Offisir Wm Colby
Saw Marshall Ky fly opium Mr. Mustard told me
Indochina desk he was Chief of Dirty Tricks
"Hitch-hiking" with dope pushers was how he got his fix

Subsidizing the traffickers to drive the Reds away
Till Colby was the head of the CIA

Most interesting about this song is the character gallery.

William Colby was head of the CIA.
Marshall Ky was vice president of South Vietnam.
The only thing I can find out about Mr. Mustard is a figure of a Lennon song, supposely hiding all his cash/stash!?
President Thieu was the last South Vietnamese president.
General Vang Pao is a wellknown figure of the Hmong people, allies of US in the war, now largely exiled in the States and France. Meo are Thai name for Hmong/Mong tribes.
Phoumi Nosavan was a Lao political figure and CIA protege at the time.
Mary Azarian/Matt Wuerker are American illustrators.
Touby Lyfong a Meo aristochrat.
Mr. Phao is a common Thai name. I could give some suggestions as to who, but I don't know enough and those guys are still alive, big generals and the like today. Maybe that's why Ginsberg just calls him "Mr.".

If you wanna know more about CIA dope pedling, please visit my thread War on Terror financed by drugs?

[edit on 25-11-2006 by khunmoon]

Olivers Army by ELVIS COSTELLO
The song written as a political song features the countries of :Northern Ireland (regarding the troubles in there) South Africa (apartheid) Palestine (the trouble there)

lyrics:
""Hong Kong is up for grabs
London is full of Arabs
We could be in Palestine
Overrun by a Chinese line
With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne

But there's no danger
It's a professional career
Though it could be arranged
With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear

If you're out of luck or out of work
We could send you to Johannesburg""

"Tokyo storm Warning" by Elvis Costello
Again another semi-political song, about Tokyo /Hong Kong and the Falklands (malvinas), features other countries as well:
Lyrics:
""Holidays are dirt-cheap in the Costa del Malvinas
In the Hotel Argentina they can hardly tell between us
For Teresa is a waitress though she's now known as Juanita
In a tango bar in Stanley or in Puerto Margarita
She's the sweetest and the sauciest""
Chorus: What do we care if the world is a joke
(Tokyo Storm Warning)
We'll give it a big kiss
We'll give it a poke
(Tokyo Storm Warning)
Death wears a big hat 'cause he's a big bloke
(Tokyo Storm Warning)
We're only living this instant""

"Luxembourg" by Elvis Costello
Luxembourg is the smallest country in Europe in 2005 it had the highest GDP per capita in the world, it is a tax haven and a member of the EU, famouse for "secret and off-shore bank accounts hahaha.

"Dont cry for me Argentina" by the BUSINESS
This song was sung by the above group in outrgae over the FALKLANDS it is a PRO BRITISH song.
The Falklands (malvinas as the Argentinians call them) are a group of islands of the south pacific ocean, they are a self governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom.
In 1982 they were invaded by Argentina in a two month long war with the UK, which resulted in the defeat of the Argentinians.
They are STILL in the hands of the U.K.
lyrics:
""Oh what a night in Sappro
We wiped that smile right off your face Diego
So don't worry Argentina
God might have his hands free
For your next game but you aint got no money.

Don't cry for me the bulldog biting back
1~~ 0 to the English boys so what do you think of that .

Liaring cheating scheming bunch of dress wearing poofs
Who"ve taken more dives than a prostitutes muff
The hand of god is the foot of Beckham
Igess thats no mean feat its nice to see
One thing god dosnt cheat .

Dont cry 4 me Argentina
The truth is we never loved u
All through your wild days
Your mad existence
We kept the Falklands
You kept your distance""

"West side Boys" by THE COCKNEY REJECTS
The west side is an area of the ground inside WEST HAM football stadium
WEST HAM is a part Of EAST LONDON U.K, but the ground is in a town called UPTON PARK, which boarders WEST HAM.
Sadly the area refered to in this song (west side) although still there is not as it used to be when this song was written.
Lyrics:
""We're Not the North Bank
We're Not the South Bank
We are the the West Side Upton Park

We meet in the Boyleyn every Saturday
Talk about the team that
we're gonna do today
Steel cap Dr. Martens and iron bars
Smash their coaches or do'em
in their cars

We're Not the North Bank
We're Not the South Bank
We are the the West Side Upton Park
We can sing until we drop
We can take the Shed or take the Kop
Highbury and Parton run in fear
When the West Side Boys appear""

"Mexican Radio" Wall of Voodoo

I feel a hot wind on my shoulder
And the touch of a world that is older
I turn the switch and check the number
I leave it on when in bed I slumber
I hear the rhythms of the music
I buy the product and never use it
I hear the talking of the DJ
Can't understand just what does he say?

I'm on a mexican radio. I'm on a Mexican - whoah - radio

I dial it in and tune the station
They talk about the U.S. inflation
I understand just a little
No comprende, it's a riddle

I'm on a mexican radio. I'm on a Mexican, whoa-Oh, radio
I'm on a mexican radio. I'm on a Mexican, whoa-Oh, radio

I wish I was in Tijuana
Eating barbequed iguana
I'd take requests on the telephone
I'm on a wavelength far from home
I feel a hot wind on my shoulder
I dial it in from south of the border
I hear the talking of the DJ
Can't understand just what does he say?


Tijuana, Mexico has one of the busiest land border crossings in the world. It has the reputation of being a "wild, party town".

"Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin

Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream
I am a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been
To sit with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen

They talk of days for which they sit and wait and all will be revealed

Talk and song from tongues of lilting grace, whose sounds caress my ear
But not a word I heard could I relate, the story was quite clear
Oh, oh.

Oh, I been flying... mama, there ain't no denyin'
I've been flying, ain't no denyin', no denyin'

All I see turns to brown, as the sun burns the ground
And my eyes fill with sand, as I scan this wasted land
Trying to find, trying to find where I've been.

Oh, pilot of the storm who leaves no trace, like thoughts inside a dream
Heed the path that led me to that place, yellow desert stream
My Shangri-La beneath the summer moon, I will return again
Sure as the dust that floats high in June, when movin' through Kashmir.



Kashmir is a region on the northern borders of India and Pakistan. It is famous for it's natural beauty and has often been referred to as the "Switzerland of the East".
It lies between the Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range.