Liverpool Of Love
I blew a kiss to you across a crowded street
You didn't see me but it swept you off your feet
I was only waiting for a new wave to arrive
While watching Margaret Thatcher's 80s pass me by
Chorus
In my Liverpool of love
In my Liverpool of Love
I learnt the greatest love of all is the greatest lie
In my Liverpool of love
La, la, la, love
The streets were empty and the music all but died
Teardrops exploded and the palest fountains dried
And so I moved away and raised a family
I thought you never knew how much you mean to me
A lifetime later I brought my son to you
Pray silence all you people in the music room
And the mother heard him sing a city's song renewed
Then we heard a strong voice sing a song of dignity
And we saw a picture taker who could capture melody
We saw two friends on Steamboats twisting on a breeze
And we saw the saddest beauty telling everyone to breathe
In this Liverpool of love,
In this Liverpool of love,
We learnt the greatest love of all is the greatest lie
In this Liverpool of love
La, la, la, love
Written 5th to 22nd February 2008
Words and music by Eddie Cooney
The 1980s were an awful time in Britain and the politics knocked the heart out of the ordinary working man and woman. The left wing was full of careerist, novelty politicians and the right wing were in almost unopposed government. For a short while around 1981 it seemed the country was coming to its senses. It looked like the Tories would lose the next election. Then they used the old propaganda trick of calling an unnecessary war and all hope of getting rid of the worst political regime in my country, in my lifetime, was lost.
The evil of Margaret Thatcher's regime permeated and poisoned all of us whether we wanted it to or not. Specifically it knocked the heart out of Liverpool. Thatcher appointed a minister for the city. The solution to Liverpool's so-called 'inner city problems' was to plant trees and to have a garden festival. Yeah, plant some flowers, that'll stop the growth of heroin... But Ok, at least a garden was something. The plan was to build it on wasteland along the banks of the river Mersey. It would be a thing we could use in the future. Then they realised gardens that big cost big money and they built a great big fence, topped with barbed wire all around the site. Whoever heard of a garden bordered with barbed wire? Then they charged an entrance fee. Yeah, a garden of love, my arse.
The 80s went from bad to worse. Money became the yuppie God and 'The Greatest Love Of All' was the nearest we had to a hippy anthem. The reason why Thatcher was able to say 'There is no such thing as society,' and get away with it was because everybody else was going, 'Yeah, and the greatest love of all lives inside of me.' So I say 'The greatest love of all is the greatest lie' because there is no such thing as love until you take a chance, trust and give. Love is a mutual thing. It is not an individual thing. If you have a problem with say... self-loathing, then don't mix it up with love. Love somebody, not yourself.
So I moved away and, to be honest, I felt betrayed. I felt disappointed. I raised a family. I loved my wife and children. Part of me fell into self-loathing. My wife and I raised 2 beautiful kids. I contributed nothing to society. I even gave up singing my songs to whoever would listen. Thatcher would have been proud of me. But all regimes fall and whatever people think of Tony Blair's regime now, it blew an undeniably positive wind through the city of Liverpool. People started using words like 'regeneration' and the music started again.
In 2003 I took my son to see a Dexys Midnight Runners concert in Liverpool and I found a vibrant, lively city that took me completely by surprise. The streets that had been empty 10 years before were full of people. The city was back!
I dusted off my guitar in 2006 and decided to see if anybody liked any of the batch of sad songs I'd written in my absence. I started to fumble through my songbook and at least people didn't throw things. My son was now old enough to join me and last week I took him out to sing to my new friends. I played guitar for him and he sang Minnie Ripperton's 'Loving You' and The Zutons 'Valerie' (a city's song renewed). It was a marvellous moment for me and I'm not quite sure how I got here from there but I'm singing songs to anyone who will listen and my son is too.
On the morning of 5th February 2008 I awoke from a dream. In my dream I was singing the chorus of 'Liverpool Of Love' and everyone around was joining in. I knew it was time to write a new song about Liverpool. The bridge and last verse mention a host of people who I admire for what they do and who they are. They are all from the Liverpool scene. You should come here and see them. There's a lot of original, talented artists here singing new songs and taking new photographs. There's a lot of beauty to be found.
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Lovely song Eddie. Never heard it before.
hazelcastle 1 year ago
Hello Hazel, thanks for commenting on my song. I really appreciate it. - Eddie
eddiemetall 1 year ago
great song man! just stumbled on it by chance? whats the chords please?
maverick4876 3 years ago 2
Hi,
I sent you the chords in a message. Hope you can work it out OK. All the best.
eddiemetall 3 years ago
eddie
just listened to this and its got me all nostalgic. great song. wonderful to hear it again.
still feel very proud to have been included in the last verse.
hope you're well
al 8-)
alunparry 3 years ago 3
Al, you are an inspiration. That is why you, and all the others, are there.
eddiemetall 3 years ago