Songtext Child of the flatlands Maximo Park

Child of the flatlands

I was a child of the Flatlands
Industrial turrets
Were our fairytale castles
Cylindrical towers
Loom over wild horses
Not far from the prefabs and the trains

I was too shy to cause a scene
Wasn't I?
Life was delayed 'til age 19
I won't lie

The bright lights appeared
The libraries are closing down, now
Where will the old folks go
When they feel all alone?

New houses
Stretching out the town
Increasing its diameter
Walk-in wardrobes full of gowns
In bedrooms with dreams yet to be slept through

I saw it from a hillside
It put life in perspective
Nearby a river gurgles
Running rough-shot out of bounds
The libraries are closing down, now
Where will the random folks go
When they feel alone?

The horses bolting
The islands revolting
In a bottle they swirl
The old world is clinging to the coattail
I can't help craving
For the river banks we walked along when we were young
I can't help craning
My neck, to see where the chimneys end

Nature always wins
Makes itself known
Nature always wins
I never thought of myself as reckless
Maybe what I think of myself is
Not that important

Nature always wins
Makes itself known
Nature always wins

The libraries are closing down now
Where will the children go
When they feel all alone?
The horses bolting
The islands revolting
I can't help craving
For the river banks we walked along when we were young
I can't help craning
My neck, to see where the chimneys end

Can't help craving
I can't help the craving