A bit slow off the mark here, it's true, but then it's a busy life, between the hangovers and the periods of abstinence. And then of course there's the manifold preparations for the ever-looming Love Declaration Celebration, which is no longer far off, and all the other little things that pile up. I mean, who the fuck has time to watch movies these days? In any case, made some time last weekend to at last watch Anton Corbijn's Control, the biopic on Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. And damn fine it was too, and of course it's resulted in a personal commitment to listen to more Joy Division. One of the highlights of the flick (for me, at least) was John Cooper Clark's rendition of Evidently Chickentown, a spoken word piece for which he is arguably best known. Along with the immortal words, I give you the radio-friendly version of the poem (which is a shame, because no word in the English language is quite as versatile as 'fuck') and Joy Division's Transmission, as sung by the cast of Control.

Evidently Chickentown

the fucking cops are fucking keen
to fucking keep it fucking clean
the fucking chief's a fucking swine
who fucking draws a fucking line
at fucking fun and fucking games
the fucking kids he fucking blames
are nowhere to be fucking found
anywhere in chicken town

the fucking scene is fucking sad
the fucking news is fucking bad
the fucking weed is fucking turf
the fucking speed is fucking surf
the fucking folks are fucking daft
don't make me fucking laugh
it fucking hurts to look around
everywhere in chicken town

the fucking train is fucking late
you fucking wait you fucking wait
you're fucking lost and fucking found
stuck in fucking chicken town

the fucking view is fucking vile
for fucking miles and fucking miles
the fucking babies fucking cry
the fucking flowers fucking die
the fucking food is fucking muck
the fucking drains are fucking fucked
the colour scheme is fucking brown
everywhere in chicken town

the fucking pubs are fucking dull
the fucking clubs are fucking full
of fucking girls and fucking guys
with fucking murder in their eyes
a fucking bloke is fucking stabbed
waiting for a fucking cab
you fucking stay at fucking home
the fucking neighbours fucking moan
keep the fucking racket down
this is fucking chicken town
the fucking train is fucking late
you fucking wait you fucking wait
you're fucking lost and fucking found
stuck in fucking chicken town
the fucking pies are fucking old
the fucking chips are fucking cold
the fucking beer is fucking flat
the fucking flats have fucking rats
the fucking clocks are fucking wrong
the fucking days are fucking long
it fucking gets you fucking down
evidently chicken town