"Up the Junction" was the third single released from Squeeze's second album, Cool for Cats. It is one of the band's most popular and well-remembered songs (especially in the UK), and reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart.

Up the Junction is a novel by Nell Dunn, first published in 1963. Lyricist Chris Difford said that the title phrase was lifted from the 1965 TV play version of the novel, directed by Ken Loach, and its subsequent 1968 movie remake. (see Up the Junction). Although the song is not derived, it includes several references to the drama:

Portrayal of daily life in Clapham / Battersea area (the song begins "I never thought it would happen with me and the girl from Clapham")
"Junction" refers to Clapham Junction
Colloquial working-class language
The subject of unplanned pregnancy and abortion (the TV play is one of the first UK portrayals of abortion; the song a decision to keep the baby, with the oblique couplet: "She said she'd seen a doctor, and nothing now can stop her")

The song is well known for its use of half-rhymes, such as "ready" and "telly" or "kitchen" and "missing".

The song appears in the 1982 film Brimstone and Treacle and is also on its soundtrack.

[edit] Cover Versions

"Up the Junction" has been covered by a number of artists:

Lawnmower Deth on their third album, Billy
The Decemberists during numerous live performances
Jim Bob on his Busker EP
Lily Allen for a Yahoo! Music performance
The View on their single "Superstar Tradesman"
Goldfinger for their Teen Beef split 7" with Reel Big Fish for Mojo Records
Travis on a number of occasions.

The song was also reworked by co-writer Difford on his 2006 acoustic album South East Side Story.

[edit] Track listing

"Up the Junction" (3:10)
"It's So Dirty" (3:10)

[edit] External links

Squeeze discography at Squeezenet

v • d • e Squeeze

Chris Difford • Glenn Tilbrook • John Bentley • Stephen Large • Simon Hanson Paul Gunn • Harry Kakoulli • Jools Holland • Gilson Lavis • Paul Carrack • Don Snow • Chris Holland • Keith Wilkinson • Andy Metcalfe • Matt Irving • Pete Thomas • Kevin Wilkinson • Ashley Soan • Hilaire Penda •

Management and Producers	Miles Copeland III • John Cale • John Wood • Roger Bechirian • Elvis Costello • Dave Edmunds • Nick Lowe • Phil McDonald • Laurie Latham • Eric "ET" Thorngren • Steve Forward • Tony Berg • Peter Smith

EPs	Packet of Three

Studio albums	Squeeze • Cool for Cats • Argybargy • East Side Story • Sweets from a Stranger • Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti • Babylon and On • Frank • Play • Some Fantastic Place • Ridiculous • Domino

Related articles	New Wave music • Difford & Tilbrook • A&M Records • Reprise Records • Ark 21 Records • IRS Records • Quixotic Records