All those green shield stamps
I opened my eyes to the future
And I slowly took a glance
Dad took a job in Birmingham
And Ed, Vic and me, we went to school
Jackie Paddle and Mick McManus
all those Green Shield stamps
Your wicker swimming down
Ride our bikes, up and down Whitney Lane
Mr. Wilkes, he was our foremaster
And Steve and I were in P .B.
Captain Johns and Charles Hamilton
They wrote the books I love to read
to all the friends of my youth
Yes, I know, I know, I know
Life has drifted us apart
But those days will always stay
those green shield stamps
When Sidney Carter came to school
and sang Lord of the Dance
Things were turning on their heels
When I first heard Jeepster,
Soon I was listening to T -Rex
Maud the Hoople, David Bowie,
When Radio 1 was still 247,
Top of the Pops followed every craze
How I loved those glam rock days
I watched the hours every time
I thought that some of them
would become good friends
You're still working for the Gospel.
Did you inherit your parents'
I hope you're still playing the drums
Probably managing a bank somewhere
Well, I hope you're having fun
To all the friends of my youth
But I'm here and I'm thinking of you
Close your eyes, just for a second
And slowly, whisper thanks
All those green shield stamps
And for pomp and circumstance
Got together a band or two
What else were we gonna do?
and I'm still happy to be with you.