Quadrophenia // Quadrophobia

Mods and Rockers in sixties, post war London, and their similarities and differences

 

 

 

♬Quadrophenia♬

 

He’s a mod alright, standing six-feet

Tall, sharp suit, parka, downtown London East

Whistling in tune to Swinging London’s beat

A smarmy, cocky git to say the least

But a smile, pure and youthful, even sweet

As he rides along on his cluttering beast

Through many a groggy, post-war street

Waiting for the rush the pills will release

Heading for the place where the teens meet

With  no respect for the wartime deceased

It’s all about the ecstasy beneath the sheets

Feeling the rush and the pleasure increase

A scooter, the Beatles, a mini-skirt pleat

With disgust for parents, authority, the police

Because it’s only you who can fully complete

Your world and find love, joy, inner-peace

While dancing in tune to Swinging London’s beat

 

♬Quadrophobia♬

 

It’s not just the gel in the hair

Or his beloved motorbike ride

It’s that quietly defiant flair

That resides in the eyes

It’s not the leather he wears

but the burning inside

Lit up by post-war despair

Our England can't hide

And that devil-may-care

Attitude others despise

 As gasoline stench hits the air

There’s no need for goodbyes

As our boy unwittingly prepares

For a possible drug-fuelled demise

Heading to his mate’s sodding lair

With all his supplies

Because it’s not the leather he wears

But the burning inside 

Reviews

[JohnL]

I have just written a long review on your poem 'He's a Rebel' suggesting all sorts of things and now I look at these and find you seem to have done much of what I had in mind. Believe me Emily, these are better poems. They are smoother, and refer to a period in modern history which I knew very well. I never went in for scooters though - I always had big powerful bikes that went fast and far. I suppose I needed the power because I'm six foot four and would have looked daft on a scooter. Do you see what I mean about rhyming alternate lines? It works very well in these poems. This double poem is experimental too and has worked superbly.

'As he rides along on his cluttering beast
Through many a groggy, post-war street'

A brilliant couplet - I can see the bristling mirrors and masts clearly in my memory and your reference to 'post-war' encapsulates the spirit of the times. Although there is a sadness in the philosophy of those days, the nostalgia of the era haunts me in these wonderful verses. Thank you and Well Done!

[Gary H]

For some reason I was unable to leave a comment on your 'He's a Rebel' poem that I did enjoy enormously.

Rather like this as well especially since I have just bought the DVD of Quadrophenia and have many Who albums.

I think the Quadrophobia part maybe could have a bit more Rockers influence. I'd have to go searching for info but I just feel there's something missing. Good idea though to compare and contrast. At the end of the day, they were all human beings even if they didn't consider each other to be.

[Liam]

A bit tricky, but overall I loved it. Bit of a strange thing to write a poem about (not that I'm complaining though, it was great), where were you influenced? Nice.