What if Punk Never Happened

[Verse 1: Itch]
When on a cold Tuesday morning I was walking in the town
I had my headphones blaring, I didn't notice what was around
I crossed the road, a car swerved, nearly ran me down
I looked in the driver’s seat, I swear to God it was Doc Brown
He said, “are you Michael J Fox?”
I said, “no, I’m Johnny Fox”
He said, “yeah, that's close enough, you best get inside
Cause I’m taking you with me to see another time
A place you could only have dreamed of in your mind
It's an alternative reality situated just outside of Clapham
So strap yourself in cause where we’re going you don’t need roads
To get to where punk never happened”
We landed in a concrete desert, rubble as far as the eye could see
I says to Doc, “where we going?”, Doc says he’s following me
We found the only building in the city that was left standing
It was my local venue, I know cause I recognized the landing
And there’s a gig on tonight, this town ain’t so bad
I got everything I need right here in this pad
So I pulled out a bottle and took a heroic swig
Made myself comfortable and got ready for the gig
Well, an hour after doors and there was still no-one there
The sound man was on acid, the fucking long hair
And the bands never showed cause they didn't see the point
When all the kids are at home still smoking a joint
They won’t go out and do nothing, man, not on your nelly
They’re just watching the telly and then their feeding their belly
Their parents listen to The Beatles while they listen to Nirvana
Green Day and The Pistols, well, they never heard either
They got long sleeve T-shirts , they never shower
Man, they still believe in flower power
Yeah, the hippy dream’s faded, but they got nothing new
So they wear flares and slippers and burn incense sticks too
The kids would rather skate than go out and smash the state
While their parents sit still and meditate
Man, action’s at a low when people just don’t care
They zoned out to their surroundings, the anger’s not there
And I’m stuck in this hippy, grunge reality
Where the buildings are crumbling down from apathy
Yeah they grab you at school when you’ve just turned 13
And show you your brand new, life long routine
You can sleep and work, and work and sleep
So you can save up the money to buy a new Jeep
So you can sleep and work, and work and sleep
Then sleep then work then work then sleep
I pulled a fanzine out my back pocket, held it in my hands
And watched the colors slowly fade away
The words bled right off of the pages til it had nothing left to say
I banged on the jukebox but it was useless
It had no good records on
Not even something weak like
‘The Best Punk Album In The World...Ever! Volume 1’
And outside the windows, I saw the excavators coming to tear the place down
No-one stopped them, for there is no community left in this town
There’s no-one around to fight Margaret Thatcher
The power of the flower just couldn’t match her
Too strong was the will of Parliament to cause damage
That with no punk rock everything went unchallenged
Land got knocked down to build more land
That got knocked down again for a couple more grand
With no punk the protests were full of throwbacks calling each other comrade
Of course the young folks’ attendance started to fade
So it was easy for the police to move in, they were trusted
And that’s when the whole damn town got busted
They moved CCTV cameras in everywhere
But the people were too apathetic to care
They made them carry ID cards to state where they’re from
As if by being born they had done something wrong
They shipped all the poor folk to live out in the edges
So the rich folk could move in and peer over their hedges
“But before you leave, you’d better build our homes
There, we’ve done you a favor, now you’re on your own
This ain’t your home no more, go find somewhere new
I know you ain’t got the money cause it’s me who employs you
I know everything about you, what you eat, how you dress
Your hobbies, your turn-ons, and your email address
While I had you working in the dark, you didn’t realize
That I completely stopped your ability to organize
I didn’t let you have a reason to communicate
I banned punk rock knowing you hippies would seal your own fate
I controlled everything you wrote, everything you created
I distracted you with advertisements so you forgot what you hated
I fed your dark side, kept you consuming and competing
And like a dog that doesn’t know when to stop eating
You took it all, oh, and long was it my intention
You could have beat me if punk rock was your invention”
Instead the city will be sold to the highest bids
If only Sham 69 had of united the kids

[Verse 2]
If only the 4 Skins had told us ACAB
If only The Ramones had let us know we were a happy family
If only The Buzzcocks had shown us how to do it ourself
If only Crass had shown us there are things more important than wealth
If only The Vandals had shown us it was OK to smile
If only The Dead Kennedys had helped us put our government on trial
If only Rancid had played live, and brought with them that vibe
If we had Sick Of It All and Madball we could put them all on the frontline
If we had GG Allin we’d have learned it’s OK to be hated
If we’d have had The Refused then we could have innovated
If we’d had Poison Idea then they couldn’t push us over
If we’d had Minor Threat then we could have done it sober
If we’d have had Against Me we could have done it unplugged
If we’d had Operation Ivy we could have done it then fucked off
If we had The Blitz, The Clash, Disorder, Propagandhi
The Exploited, NOFX and anyone that’s handy
There’s a lesson to be learned, one that I will take home
When I return to my normal reality zone
Punk rock has the power to change the world
It lies in every single punk rock boy and girl
So don’t let anyone tell you you’re not worth the earth
These streets are your streets, this turf is your turf
Don’t let anyone tell you that you’ve got to give in
Cause you can make a difference, you can change everything
Let your dreams be your pilot, your imagination your fuel
Tear up the book and write your own damn rules
Use all that heart, hope and soul that you’ve got
And the love and the rage that you feel in your gut
And realize that the other world that you’re always looking for
Lies right here in front of us, just outside the door
And it’s up to you to go out there and paint the canvas
After all, you were put on the earth to do this
So shine your light so bright that all can see
Take pride in being whoever the fuck you want to be
Throw your fist in the air in solidarity
And shout, “viva la punk, just one life, anarchy”