One Better Day

[Cambridgeskip]

We don't really have the concept of the scout master's minute here in the UK. Although I like the concept! 

 

So I was kicking round the idea of doing something like it as an occasional thing with the troop to use as a thought provoker, maybe in the evening on camp and came up with this. It's the lyrics to one of my favourite songs, One Better Day by Madness. I don't know if Madness ever really made it in the USA but they were big here in the early 1980s and are still touring now. I think the story the song tells is quite obvious but I've found that different people take different things from it. Some find it quite uplifting, some find it quite depressing. I think it might work as a thought and conversation provoker though. what do you think? For info "Arlington House" referred to in the first verse was the first hostel for the homeless in London in the area of Camden, with the reference to the lock referring to Camden Lock (there's a lot of Canals in that corner of London)

 

Arlington house, address: no fixed abode
An old man in a three-piece suit sits in the road
He stares across the water, he sees right through the lock
But on and up like outstretched hands
His mumbled words, his fumbled words, mock

Further down, a photo booth, a million plastic bags
And an old woman filling out a million baggage tags
But when she gets thrown out, three bags at a time
She spies the old chap in the road to share her bags with
She has bags of time

Surrounded by his past, on a short white line
He sits while cars pass either side, takes his time
Trying to remember one better day
A while ago when people stopped to hear him say

Walking round you sometimes hear the sunshine
Beating down in time with the rhythm of your shoes

Now she has walked enough through rainy town
She rests her bag against his and sits down
She's trying to remember one better day
A while ago when people stopped to hear her say

Walking round you sometimes hear the sunshine
Beating down in time with the rhythm of your shoes
Walking round you sometimes hear the sunshine
Beating down in time with the rhythm of your shoes
The feeling of arriving when you've nothing left to lose

 

[RememberSchiff]

Rather depressing.   Maybe Beautiful Day - U2?

[Cambridgeskip]

Rather depressing.   Maybe Beautiful Day - U2?

You fall into the category of those find it depressing!

 

I've always found it uplifting. No cheerful as such, it's about a pair of people living on the street, but they find comfort and companionship in each other.

 

And that's where I think the thought for scouts lies.

[Stosh]

I like it, didn't think it depressing at all.

[Chadamus]

@@Cambridgeskip 'Our House' gained some traction here years ago, otherwise not so much as far as I recall. I like Madness. Thanks for sharing.

[mashmaster]

@@Cambridgeskip 'Our House' gained some traction here years ago, otherwise not so much as far as I recall. I like Madness. Thanks for sharing.

One Step Beyond!