Mighbrow: Cardinal Cap Alley

Here are three photos of that original Miracle Mile line up.
The top shot (featuring drummer Phil Sand's nostrils) was taken in Cardinal Cap Alley, one of the oldest remaining lanes in London, venue of a famous, long gone brothel. It's on the south bank, not far from Clink Street where the old prison gave it's name to 'clink'. We had no concerns back then; happy, unfettered days; we were going to own the world. After rehearsals we'd invariably end up at The Anchor pub on the edge of the Thames and look out across the water towards St Pauls, taking in the majesty of The City, awe inspiring even then to the upstart philistines that I'm sure we were...
The history of the area is amazing; the old bear pits are nearby as is the Globe theatre and Southwark Cathedral. There's a great food market (Borough Market) that draws me back there often, and that's where the second photo was taken. Everything I'm wearing was borrowed; I had no style to call my own, and they were hard times. And in those times (late 80s) we used 'Prime Time' rehearsal studios on Clink Street; the 3rd shot is taken by the steps of that studio. 


I remember both Steve and I being taken with the name 'Cardinal Cap Alley'; we were both always on the lookout for a good song title. 
Steve recently sent me these shots with the suggestion that we finally write that song. 
I hope that we do, but I have to admit that I'd already done it; it remains unreleased but it sits under dust somewhere within Marcus's mixing desk. Here are the lyrics (no poem then). You can probably tell from the mitre that it came out as a bit of a sea shanty/drinking song. I'll hold it back for when I do that national tour of dodgy coastal pubs...

This isn't, by the way, a declaration to Steve that I got there first; more a declaration of love for old times and old mates. 
Time does wear things smooth but some edges (thankfully) remain; we are never truly released from the past...

Cardinal Cap Alley 

I took me down to the river

I took me away from the games

On the southbank I headed eastward

And tried to remember some names

From Westminster down past the eye boys

Towards Borough market I made

Some things you cannot deny boys

Memories that can never fade, oh

Memories that can never fade

Bear Pits and Bull Rings

Bankside to Clink

We’ll meet at the Anchor for the finishing drink

Raise to the boatmen and the Winchester Geese

And a past that would never release them

A past that would never release

Here’s where they took the picture

That’s already starting to fade

Here with our backs to the wall boys

Here where our names would be made

Here where the ghosts light the fires

Up by the Cardinal’s Hat

History’s rewritten by liars

What could be fairer than that boys?

What could be fairer than that?

Bear Pits and Bull Rings

From Bankside to Clink

Meet at the Anchor for the finishing drink

Raise to the boatmen and the Winchester Geese

And a past that will never release us

A past that will never release

Last night I dreamt of my father

Last night I dreamt of the sea

Last night I dreamt of an island

With nobody on it but me

So I took me down to the river

Then I took me down to the sea

The past is an indian giver

No-one knows better than me boys

No-one knows better than me