Ice cream sundaes

Lemonade or coke

Blowing bubbles through a straw

Sucking out the dregs

Makes an interesting sound

Like coming up for air

On the menu hamburgers

And strange shaped sausages in a ring

Bacon rashers and chips

 

Outside kicking stones and cans

In streets of idle pleasure

Looking for who knows what

Who knows where?

Among the flashing lights and slot machines

Hands in pockets

A time of disinterested leisure

 

Along the front chased by the wind

Arms outstretched an aeroplane

Trying to glide

Pushed along by gusts a ship in full sail

Past the salt and vinegar smell of fish and chips

We come upon

Pork pie and kiss me quick hats

That blow frantically like demented banshees

Outside seafront shops

Together with lengths of bright coloured lights

Strung between lampposts

Sending out their frantic signal

In the half light of a fading day

Come, come over here

They yell

Want a goodtime

Bring your copper and your silver

Sample the tired and yawning rides

That turn and spin

To the Wurlitzer organ sound

Of a number of half baked jolly tunes

In my head round and round

All done to gloss over

The pale green peeling paint

On seafront lampposts and benches

The rusting charm of seaside shelters fading

Now the only place to escape the underpass

As quickly we are blown back to the car

 

Brighton 1970 something ?