Often, nothing captures reality better than the art used to imitate or parody it.
So when all the hurly burly is done, and the controversy around HS2 has come to the end of the line, these words by Stoke-on-Trent poet Nick Degg will continue to resonate in many quarters.
He wrote the poem The Great Northern Powerhouse a few years ago for an audience in Yorkshire, but believes it links perfectly to how many in the North and Midlands view the recent decision to scrap HS2 Phase Two, how other flagship projects have been promised and the bouncebackability of the area.
Nick said: “I wrote this because I was performing in front of an audience in Beverley, West Yorkshire, and wanted something that would resonate with them.
“But I look at it now, six years on, and it is almost as if it was put together looking through a crystal ball and talking about the situation now with HS2. So it’s worth reminding people about it.”
Read Nick’s poem below, or view the video of him reading it. (Warning: it contains some strong language towards the end).
The Great Northern Powerhouse
The Great Northern Powerhouse is coming
Or so we are told,
When they have finished Crossrail of course,
Then there’ll be Crossrail 2
and Crossrail 3
Battersea Power Station
Chelsea Waterfront
Royal London Hospitals
The Scalpal
The Spire
The Thames Tideway tunnel
Phase 1 of HS2
and the Heathrow expansion
But yeah, the Great Northern Powerhouse is coming
Oooh, the Great Northern Powerhouse is coming,
It will be just like the olden days,
A Mill on every corner
A Corner Shop in every parlour
Fishing fleets in every harbour
Trains for Donny, Steel for Scunny
and Yorkshire men will have so much money
They’ll have to wear two flat caps,
And the cobbled streets will be paved in Gold,
Or so we’re told
The Great Northern Powerhouse is coming is it?
I’ve seen the plans..
8 new lamp posts for Liverpool
A Bus shelter for Sheffield
Widnes gets a new Wheelbarrow
And the old one goes to Driffield
Newcastle gets 5 tins of Bridge Paint
to cover the rusty bits
And Manchester, oh Manchester
a new front door for the Ritz
Yes, the Great Northern Power House is coming….
Ahhh, F*** off London..
The North is already Great
But we know that if we want some power,
It’ll be a long
long
long
long wait
