A song about the political and social climate of Thatcher’s Britain, this was meant to be released as a single but was shelved in favor of One Better Day.
You're looking and listening and hoping
That things are changing for the better
You're trying to see if what you're teaching is the truth sir
You're looking and listening and hoping
That things will change for better
Don't want to preach or teach the blues to you now brother
I just left Victoria Gardens
And walked through cardboard city land
A burnt out star was asking
How would I like to shake his hand
I walked on in no hurry (hurry hurry hurry)
And wondered where did we go wrong?
We're looking and listening and hoping
That things are changing for the better
Don't want to preach or teach the blues to you now brother
I walked on in no hurry (hurry hurry hurry)
And wondered where did we go wrong?
Looking listening hoping that things are changing for the better
(Only time can tell)
It's a bloody fine situation
That we find ourselves in
He said something I couldn't mention (here)
And we laughed with him again
I walked on in no hurry (hurry hurry hurry)
And wondered where did we go wrong?
Looking listening hoping that things are changing for the better
And trying to see if what you're teaching is the truth sir
She said it's for the good of us all
(of us all, of us all, of us all)
Looking listening hoping that things are changing for the better
Don't want to preach or teach the blues to you now brother
I'm not so sure
(sure, sure, sure)
And now it is early evening
I look across grey Leicester Square
A large and silent crowd were walking
Said they had every right to be there
Victoria Gardens was written by Cathal Smyth & Mike Barson.
Victoria Gardens was produced by Alan Winstanley & Clive Langer.
Madness released Victoria Gardens on Mon Feb 20 1984.