Thirty pounds but it don't work
So now I'm stuck with it
Tuesday night just spent some more
It only made me feel like shit
Past the shops in present fear
The past has all been shot
Think you've been here all too long
The shops I like have all gone
Dusty books piling high
Cobbled box of 45s
Pubs where Irish wheeze and hack
Rotten floorboards, I want them back

Been in this shithole all my life
Everyday somehow to strive
Just another slow bus ride
"Can't you see the funny side?"

Is this the simple life
Is this the only life
Is this the city life
Is this the joke of life
Should I go out tonight
Should I stay inside
Should I stay and fight
Or turn out the lights?

Scottish tourists forgot the chorus
Went up to t'stage and did it for us
Went around the world, the wrong way round
Bought all the singles that I wanted
Sold them all for beer
Could've gotten wine
Talked about the old days all the bloody time

Is this the simple life
Is this the only life
Is this the joke of life
Is this the city life
Should I go out tonight
Should I stay inside
Should I stay and fight
Or should I turn out the lights?

And the punk got fucked by the curse of junk
And the punk got fucked by his bad luck
And the punk got fucked by the curse of junk
And the punk got fucked by his bad luck

I raise my arms, drawn to the lights of the city
This is somewhere cold, dirty
This is somewhere full of beauty
Took me to the sight of broken lies
lies that have broke are crueler spoke
Need the story to have some glory
Or just to keep alive a memory

Is this the simple life
Is this the only life
Is this the joke of life
Is this the city life
Should I go out tonight
Should I stay inside
Should I stay and fight
Or should I turn out the lights?

You read a book about Stuart Christie
Went to Spain to change our history
So he said, and so he fell
He's a lighthouse in your heart
And someone soon will start a spark
Somewhere soon the streets will brew
The spectacle can't beat us all
Put on your shoes, pennies not pounds
Looking for something they ain't found
And sing:

Is this the simple life
Is this the only life
Should I stay and fight, go out tonight
Should I turn out the lights
Turn out the lights
Should I stay and fight?
Should I stay and fight?

And the punk got fucked by his bad luck
And the punk got fucked by the curse of junk
And the punk got fucked by his bad luck
And the punk got fucked by his bad luck

Is this the simple life
Is the only life
Should I stay and fight
Should I go out tonight
Should I go out tonight
Or should I stay and fight
Should I go out tonight
Or turn out the lights?

Should I stay and fight?
Or go out tonight?
Or just turn out the lights?