You Won't Find Me on Benefits Street
The Young'Uns Lyrics
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A knock came at me door,
A Lancie lad who′s smiling suit,
I'd never seen before.
He said we′re making a TV show,
For people who have nout.
So I gave him tea and biscuits,
Aye'n then, I threw him out
I said,
I may be down,
But I'm not beat.
And you won′t find me on Benefit Street
For me grandad he made iron,
Me father he made steel.
There may be nout for me to make,
But that don′t change how I feel.
For me grandad built this town,
And me father walked these streets.
So if I fall on the pavement,
Why, I'll get back on my feet
Cos I may be down,
But I′m not beat,
And you wont find me on Benefit Street
Me grandad fought the fascists,
And me father fought for a job.
So I'll fight anyone,
Who tries to stigmatise and fob
For me grandad laid these roads,
And me father made these cars.
So if I lie in the gutter,
I′ll be gazing at the stars
Cos I may be down,
But I'm not beat,
And you wont find me on Benefit Street
Cos I may be down,
But I′m not beat,
And you wont find me on Benefit Street
The Young'Uns' song You Won't Find Me on Benefits Street is an uplifting and defiant response to the negative stereotypes often associated with those receiving government benefits. The song begins with the singer being approached by a TV producer wanting to feature him on a show about people with nothing. Despite the temptation, the singer refuses and proclaims that while he may be struggling, he is not defeated and will not be defined by his circumstances or by a television show.
The song goes on to highlight the hard work and determination of the singer's family, specifically his grandfather who fought the fascist regimes of WWII, and his father who worked in the steel industry. The singer acknowledges that there may not be work for him in his hometown, but he remains proud of his family's contributions to the community and refuses to succumb to the stigmatization of those on government benefits. He ends the song by defiantly stating that he may be down, but he is not beaten and will not be found on Benefits Street.
Overall, the song celebrates the resilience and strength of those who may be struggling financially, but who refuse to be defined by their circumstances. It encourages listeners to recognize the humanity and dignity of those who may be on government benefits, rather than buying into negative stereotypes.
Line by Line Meaning
One dreary Monday mornin,
On a bleak Monday morning,
A knock came at me door,
Someone knocked on my door,
A Lancie lad who′s smiling suit,
A man from Lancashire in a suit with a smile,
I'd never seen before.
I had never met before.
He said we′re making a TV show,
He said they were creating a TV program,
For people who have nout.
For people who have nothing.
So I gave him tea and biscuits,
So, I offered him tea and biscuits,
Aye'n then, I threw him out
And then I sent him away.
I said,
I stated,
I may be down,
I may have fallen on hard times,
But I'm not beat.
But I am not defeated.
And you won′t find me on Benefit Street
I refuse to be on a TV show that stigmatizes people who receive government assistance.
For me grandad he made iron,
My grandfather worked in iron production,
Me father he made steel.
My father worked in steel production.
There may be nout for me to make,
There may not be anything for me to produce.
But that don′t change how I feel.
But that does not affect how I think about myself or my family's heritage.
For me grandad built this town,
My grandfather helped build this town,
And me father walked these streets.
My father grew up on these streets.
So if I fall on the pavement,
So if I stumble or fail,
Why, I'll get back on my feet
I will bounce back and persevere.
Cos I may be down,
Because I may be struggling,
But I′m not beat,
But I am not defeated,
And you wont find me on Benefit Street
And I will not be used as a spectacle on a TV show that reinforces stereotypes about people receiving government assistance.
Me grandad fought the fascists,
My grandfather fought against fascists,
And me father fought for a job.
And my father fought to have a job.
So I'll fight anyone,
So I will stand up to anyone,
Who tries to stigmatise and fob
Who attempts to stigmatize and deceive.
For me grandad laid these roads,
My grandfather helped build these roads,
And me father made these cars.
My father helped manufacture these cars.
So if I lie in the gutter,
So if I am down and out,
I′ll be gazing at the stars
I will still hold on to hope and look up at the stars.
Cos I may be down,
Because I may be struggling,
But I'm not beat,
But I am not defeated,
And you wont find me on Benefit Street
And I will not consent to being a part of a TV show that unfairly presents people receiving government assistance.
Cos I may be down,
Because I may be struggling,
But I′m not beat,
But I am not defeated,
And you wont find me on Benefit Street
And I refuse to be portrayed in a negative light on a show that perpetuates stereotypes about people receiving assistance from the government.
Writer(s): Michael Thomas Hughes, Sean Michael Cooney, David Andrew Eagle
Contributed by Layla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.