The "World Turned Upside Down" was the first song that attracted my attention to Rosselson but then there were all those topical songs about important urban issues. He obviously had mentored with Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger. There was also a sense of humor in some of his topical songs, which provided them with more political punch. Here's an early example from the draft HOUSING SONG BOOK:

They're Going to Build a Motorway

The construction of a major expressway through older neighborhoods is another way that minorities and other lower income people have been displaced in our cities, and in cities all over the world. This song, by political singer-songwriter Leon Rosselson, was inspired by the devastation caused in the England town of Neasden by the construction of yet another motorway.

Words and music by Leon Rosselson © 1975
Recorded on That's Not the Way It's Got to Be, Acron CF 251

They're Going to Build a Motorway

Chorus:

They're going to build a motorway through my back garden;
No-one can explain how I came to be chosen;
They're going to build a motorway, they're ripping up the trees,
Soon the lorries will be lurching through my cabbages and peas.

Word came from the council, it was all about a plan,
Which I didn't understand but it sounded very grand:
They spoke of urban redevelopment and improving the environment,
They said to ease the traffic flow
A bit of my back yard would have to go;
Well, I don't know –
I suppose that those who've studied it must know best,
And I wouldn't want my vegetable patch to hold up progress. (CHO)

My brother lives in Lilac grove, it's just across the street;
I've not seen him for weeks, we always used to meet
And have a pint or two at the Old Dun Cow;
It's just a heap of rubble now;
The pawnshop's disappeared and so's
The barber's where we always used to go;
But I don't know –
Those noisy great machines are working non-stop,
And funny things are growing and it looks as if a bomb has dropped.

The bulldozers are closing in on my back garden;
No one can explain how I came to be chosen;
The bulldozers are closing in, they're ripped up all the trees;
Soon the lorries will be zooming through my cabbages and peas.

I don't go out much anymore, can't find my way around;
The wind nearly knocks me down,
There's tunnels underground
And just to get about from place to place,
Is like a steeplechase,
Day and night the traffic flows;
It's best to plug your ears and hold your nose;
But I suppose –
I'm better off than some, don't think I'm just sour,
And I'm grateful for the grandstand view I'm getting of the rush-hour.

They've built an eight-lane motorway through my back garden;
No one can explain how I came to be chosen;
They've build an eight-lane motorway, they've ripped up all the trees;
Now lorries zoom where once I grew my cabbages and peas.


Cheerily,
Charley Noble