1981
| Tune: | Original |
| Lyrics: | The Specials |
| Composer: | The Specials |
As a verbal topography of deindustrialisation, ‘Ghost Town’ mapped the desolation of inner-city Britain in the early period of Thatcherism. It protested that there were no jobs and nowhere to go, leading to ‘people getting angry’. Famously reaching No.1 in the charts as riots spread across the UK, the mix of reggae rhythm and punk critique ensured the song became the soundtrack for a summer of discontent. The multi-racial nature of the band only added to its pertinence.
| Cause: | Anti-capitalist |
| Theme: | Overview/England | Impact of Change | Political Process |
| Addressed to: | General Public |
| Target of Protest: | Elected Representatives |
| Proposal/Solution: | State Investment |