We knew of "The Troubles" for most of our lives
They were there before we were born
But, to speak of "The Troubles" to those who don't know
They can't see that our country is torn

Pop stars sing songs about England go home
They make money, while we fight the fight
They stand on the sidelines just flapping their gums
While we live, breathe, and sleep this all night

Soldiers unknowing, just why they're here
They choose sides because that's what they do
They don't know the issues, how deep "The Troubles"  go
They're just here, and that's all they know

The orange and green, divided as one
Catholics and Protestants alike
Both fight their battles and both live for peace
And the British...can get on their bike

A land half as lovely, torn asunder by war
would be laid waste, with nothing to show
But "The Troubles" aside, there's lots here to see
And lots of great places to go

It's a war of attrition, where neither side wins
Each army gets recruits from the womb
You stay on your side, and I'll stay on mine
And we'll disagree to agree to our tomb

Fighting for freedom, religion or rights
It's political, hatred and worse
Religions involved, and we've only one God
So which side does God cheer or God curse

The battle still wages, though not like before
It's a war that is fought underground
"The Troubles" remain, and will for all time
And I pray for the dead, not around

We are alone, together
In the cold climes,
Transpenine Traversing, Riverbank Residing, City and Satellite Dwelling,
But out of apparent sight of capital
Some of us lost jobs, the railway and soon the hospital
Where we both End
                                    And
                                           Begin
                              End
                                     And
                                            Begin
Put a penny in the meter, don’t let the draft in!
Soon the heat will make our flats
All expand then retract
Then we’ll see the demise of the world at large,
Until the North becomes just a group of cats
Huddling for warmth under cars.

Mr McParland;
our Primary 4 teacher lived in Newry,
Northern Ireland.
Not a City in those days,
but a dangerous border town.
He had wiry hair like a blonde Afro.

Pat Jennings;
world class goalkeeper for his country,
was also born in Newry.
Our man claimed to know him,
and went to school with the green giant.
We believed without reproach.

Yours truly;
age 6 & 7, in the years of the Hunger Strikes,
born in Belfast.
I was enthralled because Pat was of another
world to kids reared in our divided times.
A symbol of hope on an island of doubt.

There, amongst the northern skies,
Tears driven by ghostly squalls to
Fall on the blackened, bleak rooftops
Of this northern town, forgotten.
Left to a grey Victorian rot
Decaying factory ceilings collapsing on,
Litter strewn floors, newspapers decompose
With triumphs from yester year
Industrial dust stained brickwork
Grimy reminder, of the grim past
Haunted dim gaslight probing the fog
Days, nights only separated by murky light
A ghostly silence, hangs like a grimy fog
Cloaking lost sounds of dull beating on metal,
Boots tramping over cobbled stones,
The sounds of clocking on, clocking off, no more

He just wanted a one-night stand
That carried one month too long
Bloomed into a full relationship
That felt completely wrong
And don’t you dare ask why
‘Cos he wont wanna explain
How he loved you for just
One day

Yet you’re constantly telling me you don’t need a man
To break your heart again
Your north star died a long time ago
That would’ve led you to a place you’ll never know

Scream at the Earth the mother of
All this confusion
But she just told you to be quiet
And quit your *******
If you complain than you’re crazy
But don’t hide in your shell
‘Cos I would love you more than you could ever
Hate yourself

Yet you’re constantly telling me you don’t need a man
To break your heart again
Your north star died a long time ago
That would’ve led you to a place you’ll never know

And all you’ve got are all your
Fears and insecurities
And all **** that people put
In your head
And all I’ve got are all my
Fears and insecurities
But when I’m with you I am
So captivated


When I saw in your eyes it was like
Looking into space infinite
All the emotional planets orbiting around
What’s looking back at me
And the laugh that brought me back to
When I was a child and everything was fine
It was like a soft song to let my
Heart unwind

Yet you’re constantly telling me you don’t need a man
To break your heart again
Your north star died a long time ago
That would’ve led you to a place you’ll never know
Constantly telling me you don’t need a man
To break your heart again
So, I will be that close friend
Who will be there until the end

https://spencercarlson.bandcamp.com/track/northern-star

It rose from cold mist
A dark misty eyed demon
Alone was it's prey