Class act 5: Eve of destruction

The last of my August collection of "Class acts". This song and video neatly sums up so much that was disturbing to young people in the 1960s. We really did believe that the world could end with little more than a four minute warning. We looked at the US and saw the racism in Alabama, the hypocrasy of being able to fight (from 18) but not able to vote until 21.

Barry McGuire pick up this raw anger that many of us feel today.

But there is a positive. People concerned about injustice as teenagers go on to work to right that injustice, one of the reasons why I have spent my life in the labour and trades union movement.

As to whether we were on the "eve of destruction" I remember hearing a powerful sermon by Billy Graham at Earl's Court London in 1966. He did not believe that there would be a nuclear anialation. He couldn't see it as part of God's plan to destroy all that He had created.

Class act 4: The streets of London

Regular readers will know that I don't post in August. However this year I'm putting up a series of "songs from the sixties" that pick up the theme of social class. This is the sort of music I used to listen to as a teenager.

In 1968 "swinging London" was at its height. Boy did we party! Then Ralph Mctell comes along and reminds us that admidst all this affluence and flamboyance there some who had no share, and no say.

Class act 3: Substitute

Regular readers will know that I don't post in August. However this year I'm putting up a series of "songs from the sixties" that pick up the theme of social class. They are the sort of music I used to listen to as a teenager.

If you were a working class teenager in  1960s Hackney The Who simply summed it all up with their declaration "I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth".

Class act 2: Where do you go to my lovely?

Regular readers will know that I don't post in August. However this year I'm putting up a series of "songs from the sixties" that pick up the theme of social class. This is the sort of music I used to listen to as a teenager.

Peter Sarstelt picks up the story of two urchins in the post war slums of Naples. One becomes a top model the other a singer and philosopher. They live in two different worlds. I had a similar experience and know exactly where the writer is coming from. One of my friends went on to do wonderful things and seemed determined to distance themself from our Hackney roots.

Class act 1: I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night

Regular readers will know that I don't post in August. However this year I'm putting up a series of "songs from the sixties" that pick up the theme of social class. This is the sort of music I used to listen to as a teenager.

First up is Joe Hill, this version by Paul Robeson, but the most famous version in the sixties was from Joan Baez. Joe Hill was a union organiser who was framed on a murder charge.