Bleeding hearts reach out across
An all time void in time and space
Then throw their final hand in and
Retire with the minimum grace
Take a train through the rain down the mainline
Fun city and a home in the sunshine
Is just a lifeline away

The old infirm and young at heart
Tread carefully down gravel paths
While the young insane and sick in mind
Try to take their own lives just to save a little time
Take a train through the rain down the mainline
Fun city and a home in the sunshine
Is just a lifeline away
An olde tyme band in a cabaret
It's just a lifeline away

Through the vein to the brain down the mainline
Fun city a home in the sunshine
Is just a lifeline away...

words and music Eric Goulden (MCPS / Copyright Control)

I always thought of Eastbourne when I wrote this. It's the beautiful south and there's a big unemployment problem. The main industry on the south coast is care homes for the elderly. There's not much for young people. Just a bit further along the coast in Newhaven where I was born there's a fairly serious smack problem. Don't know if that goes for Eastbourne but back in 1984 when I wrote the song it was very shabby - quite hopeless looking.
The best thing about the record is Norman Watt Roy's bass line. It's a good song - I should re-record it.