My Gen X Playlist: Build – The Housemartins

I was looking through captured videos from our Ring camera and was surprised to see a coyote snooping around. Coyote sightings are becoming more common these days. It still blows me away when I see one. It just seems out of place in the suburbs. But I suppose we have to learn to coexist.

When we first moved in, we noticed a lot of cute bunny rabbits hopping around. I’d randomly leave a few carrots out here and there. Recently we’ve noticed the absence of these furry creatures. I can only imagine why.

A new neighbor knocked on our door asking if we happened to see their missing cat. She let it out one day and hadn’t seen it for days. I didn’t have the heart to tell her what I suspect happened. She posted missing cat signs in the neighborhood. I hope I’m wrong and someone saw her signs and found her kitty.

A friend was walking her dog when a car drove erratically towards her honking its horn. Apparently, a coyote was behind her, stalking her. Lucky for my friend, the driver saw what was happening and scared the coyote away before it was too late.

There are a few open lots nearby that are scheduled for new development. When I go for walks, I sometimes peer over the chain link fence and see an occasional coyote. I’ve also heard a pack howl at night in the field over the fence. That was a little chilling. As soon as development begins, we’ll probably see displaced coyotes in our neighborhood. My wife isn’t too thrilled by the thought. Yeah, I can see her point. But I, on the other hand, am excited for the build. I like the thought of expansion and more amenities nearby. I’m hoping they open a coffee house within walking distance. That would be perfect even if I have to avoid a few coyotes along the way.

The Housemartins released Build in 1987. It’s a socially conscious song about the downsides of continuous expansion.

The Housemartins, known for their socially conscious lyrics, use ‘Build’ to critique the modern obsession with progress and expansion at the expense of community and stability. . . It’s a call to reflect on what is being lost in the name of development and to question whether the new additions to our environment truly make it a better place to live.

Lyricslayer

Well, if you put it that way… I selfishly just wanted a fresh cup of coffee within walking distance. I don’t mean to put a cramp in the coyotes’ style. Maybe I should just continue making coffee at home.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Clambering men in big bad boots
Dug up my den, dug up my roots
Treated us like plasticine town
They built us up and knocked us down

From Meccano to Legoland
Here they come with a brick in their hand
Men with heads filled up with sand
It's build

It's build a house where we can stay
Add a new bit every day
It's build a road for us to cross
Build us lots and lots and lots and lots and lots

Whistling men in yellow vans
They came and drew us diagrams
Showed us how it all worked it out
And wrote it down in case of doubt

Slow, slow and quick, quick, quick
It's wall to wall and brick to brick
They work so fast, it makes you sick
It's build

It's build a house where we can stay
Add a new bit every day
It's build a road for us to cross
Build us lots and lots and lots and lots and lots

Oh, it's build
It's build
It's build

Down with sticks and up with bricks
In with boots and up with roots
It's in with suits and new recruits
It's build

It's build a house where we can stay
Add a new bit every day
It's build a road for us to cross
Build us lots and lots and lots and lots

It's build a house where we can stay
Add a new bit every day
It's build a road for us to cross
Build us lots and lots and lots and lots and lots