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Click on the ‘Play’ button above to hear the song and read the lyrics below. If the player doesn’t start straight away, wait and then press the ‘Play’ button again.
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Camden Town 60’s Child is an original song written, produced and with lyrics by Paul Robert Thomas with music exclusively commercially licensed to Paul from the album Some Folk.
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The track Camden Town 60’s Child is available to download on Bandcamp HERE
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The album Some Folk is available to download at all good download stores HERE and on Bandcamp HERE
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Camden Town 60’s Child captures a modern, urban folk reality. It has that sharp, cynical, street-level observational style reminiscent of classic British folk-rock and protest music—with a heavy dose of punk attitude. It is a gritty, blues-infused urban folk song that serves as a cynical reality check on aging, the romanticization of the past, and the commercialization of counterculture.
The Confrontation with Aging: The song centers on a chance encounter at a Camden market stall, where the narrator observes an aging “sixties child” selling vintage postcards. The narrator brutally punctures the romantic myth of youth, noting the gray hair, the physical changes, and the static nature of living in a “nostalgia” trap.
The Myth of the “Good Old Days”: The track aggressively dismantles the cliché of “those were the days.” The narrator contrasts the idealized, smoky haze of 1960s memories with the harsh realities of that era—reminding the listener of the actual “wars and hate and broken glass,” expressing relief that the era is over.
The Commercialization of Culture: The narrative broadens into a sharp critique of modern gentrification. The narrator laments how the corporate world has forced the poor out, built “designer flats” on community sports fields, and turned Camden into a “ghetto for the rich.”
The Modern Paradox: The driving ironic chorus brings together modern “hippies and punks” who are wearing “designer shoes.” The song highlights how yesterday’s rebellion has been commodified into a high-priced fashion statement, inviting everyone to sing along to the “Camden Town Blues.”
Choosing this as the opening track for Some Folk is a great statement. It lets the listener know right away that the album isn’t just going to be traditional, soft folk; it has teeth.
The contrast between the aging hippie at the stall and the modern “punks in designer shoes” perfectly bridges the gap between generations, showing that both eras have fallen into the same trap of commercialized nostalgia. It feels very grounded, very London, and carries a fantastic rhythm.
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Camden Town 60’s Child lyrics
I saw you on that stall in Camden Town
You were selling postcards of the past
Your hair is grey and coloured brown
I guess inner beauty cannot last
You’re a sixties child
No longer running wild
Nostalgia’s made you fat
What d’ya think about that?
What d’ya think about that?
What d’ya think about that?
Ah come on ya hippies and punks in your designer shoes
Sing along to these Camden Town Blues
Been thinkin’ ’bout all the places I’ve been
And all those things I’ve seen
“Oh those were the days
Those were the days”
Your “those were the days”
All got lost in a smoky haze
Of wars and hate and broken glass
I’m so glad they didn’t last
Oh you sixties child
No longer running wild
Nostalgia’s made you fat
What d’ya think about that?
What d’ya think about that?
What d’ya think about that?
Ah come on ya hippies and punks in your designer shoes
Sing along to these Camden Town Blues
They’ve bought and forced the poor right outta town
They made it a ghetto for the rich
The new pubs all belt out the newest sounds
They’ve built designer flats on our sports pitch
You’re a sixties child
No longer running wild
Nostalgia’s made you fat
What d’ya think about that?
What d’ya think about that?
What d’ya think about that?
Ah come on ya hippies and punks in your designer shoes
Sing along to these Camden Town Blues
Ah come on ya hippies and punks in your designer shoes
Sing along to these Camden Town Blues
Ah come on ya hippies and punks in your designer shoes
Sing along to these Camden Town Blues
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Paul Robert Thomas PRS No. 497904008 (London)
PRS Tunecode: 027524VA * ISWC: T-340.970.478-1
Audiosparx Catalogue ID: 1423057 * ISRC: US5UL2651413
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You can check out Paul’s complete Music Discovery HERE that includes 53 of Paul’s albums, as well as 569 of Paul’s songs catogorized according to their music genre HERE and you can also read Paul’s Bio HERE
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Take a tour of Paul’s music site at www.paullyrics.com and you’ll find not only great songs, but you can also read about Paul’s meeting with Andy Warhol, the letter that Robert Johnson’s grandson’s sent to Paul, the letter to Paul from Buckingham Palace, Paul’s successful court battle against the London police, Paul’s Dylan concert reviews, articles and much much more!
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Paul is a member of the PRS (London) CAE 497904008
Join Paul on YouTube HERE and on Facebook HERE and on Bandcamp HERE
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You can contact Paul via email at paul@paullyrics.com
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