Written after staying in the Peckham, London Spike squat written about by Jack London in 'People of the abyss'. Now no longer a community squat.
lyrics
Dover to Nazareth the iron horse would run, through the vile streets of London and the chargin of the nuns. So they packed up their bibles and sold off their land , and the greatest single act of Christian charity began. They were walking on the track, with the wind at their back. Walking on the track, cheating old black jack. So was born a place where millions have slept. Dossers and alkies breaking rocks for bread. Some so drunk they couldn't stand, the spike kept them upright. Howls of lunk, and lout and loon, like linties in the night. To the urban underclass, the "Spike" was sanctuary. Now they're fed on white potion and daytime T.V. The poor law workhouse and a century of filth are gone, but the heart of the "Spike" is still living on.
credits from Steel Linin' Chant, released 20 September 2007 Music and Lyrics: D Wiseman; K Longmuir