Eddy Grant
Electric Avenue
"Electric Avenue" is from Grant's 1982 album Killer on the Rampage, written in response to what is also known as the Brixton uprising. The disturbances took place in the mostly African-Caribbean community in the south London neighborhood due to growing tensions from high unemployment, poor housing, and high crime rates, and tensions with the police. Tensions were further stoked by rumors of young Black men being treated unfairly by the police. Around 300 officers and 65 members of the public were injured, over the three-day riots, in what has become one of the city's worst modern-day disorders. "Just before leaving England, I'd watched the Brixton riots unfold on television," the now 72-year-old wrote. "I'd seen the Notting Hill riots starting a few years previously. I wrote down: 'Now in the street there is violence,' and the song just flowed from there. I had been talking to politicians and people at a high level about the lack of opportunity for Black people, and I knew what was brewing." [Verse 1] Now in the street, there is violence And a lots of work to be done No place to hang out the washin' And I can't blame all on the sun, oh no [Verse 2] Workin' so hard like a soldier Can't afford a thing on TV Deep in my heart, I abhor ya Can't get food for the kid, good God [Verse 3] Who is to blame in one country? Never can get to the one Dealin' in multiplication And they still can't feed everyone, oh no