After discussions on the forums, I wanted to sort of collate all my thoughts and ideas about John Cooper Clarke's 'Beasley Street' - and here seemed to be the best place!
I've read John Cooper Clarke poetry before, but very different in style. The main one I remember is 'I Wanna Be Yours' (http://www.cyberspike.com/clarke/yours.html) which has a totally different tone, so I was surprised to see him crop up as a protest poet.
I like this poem a lot; it's one I felt very drawn to when first listening to all of the poems at the start of this unit. It's cutting, witty and wry, detailing a run-down (probably council-owned) area and its inhabitants: a social commentary on the way people were forced to live in this awful deprived way. John Cooper Clarke lived in the Thatcher years: this is most likely based on real observation.
There is strong use of metre and rhythm; it feels like a song - and indeed works very well with the musical accompaniment as there are in some recordings. John Cooper Clarke delivers this poem aggressively and swiftly. Each verse (it is composed in 12 stanzas/verses) has the rhyme scheme ababcdcd, with the last line being the refrain of 'Beasley Street.' Mostly, the rhymes are full and powerful, although there are instances of half-rhyme (e.g. laughs/photographs). The rhyme really highlights the end words, allowing a vivid and dark picture of 'Beasley Street.' On the penultimate verse, there is use of internal rhyme ('easy, greasy, queasy,/ beastly Beasley Street) which has the effect of building intensity; the augmentative effect really hammers home the sense of unpleasantness, and the harsh, bitter tone of the whole poem/song.
John Cooper Clarke also uses alliteration to great effect. The alliterative 'p' sound in 'People turn to poison/ Quick as lager turns to piss' makes the speaker sound disdainful; the harshness of the consonant sound helps with this. Another example of alliteration is: 'When the yellow cats are yawning.' The long vowel sound of 'yawning' is really highlighted here, and it stands out because it slows the pace down in an otherwise fast-paced poem. This instance of alliteration perhaps indicate the never-ending mundanity of life on down-trodden 'Beasley street.' One further example of alliteration is: 'Rats all have rickets' - even the vermin in this place suffer. There are many more examples to be found; alliteration is a key device for imagery in Cooper Clarke's work here.
It's striking that that recordings even now muffle out the name of 'Keith Joseph'; I think this shows the power that poetry has as a vehicle for protest.
I didn't really understand the reference to the Fu Manchu moustache in the fifth verse? I'm hoping someone will come forward with a bright idea...
As pointed out by another student, there is a sort of film theme going on through it. On rereading I feel it adds to the poem - perhaps this is is so awful that it could only be a movie. Or, on the converse, that it's just going through the motions, here we go, another film. Possibly a reference to never feeling totally included and being a part of the community, as one is merely a spectator at a film. JCC is a spectator here, but perhaps the inhabitants of Beasley Street are too - there's no community spirit, no camaraderie.
I also noticed a shift from general 'Beasley Street' to 'number 16' but I'm not sure this has particular significance.
I've really enjoyed reading this poem, and reading other people's responses too; I wasn't alive during this period, so it's been interesting to hear people's personal experiences. I was particularly interested in the possible allusion to Sid Viscous from the Sex Pistols (I love the Sex Pistols!), in the line 'Eyes dead as vicious fish.' It was really great to be able to come on the main forum and read other people's responses; it helps me build up a more complete picture in my own mind.
I found a quote from the man himself about this poem:
“To me it’s a very patchy piece, some of it works better than others,” Clarke revealed, “Yet I think it’s the one the people seem to think is a very important piece. The reason why people probably hold Beasley Street in such affection is down to the Beasley Streets that we all know,” he continued. “The fully furnished dustbins that lurk in provincial northern towns or London outskirts. With almost Dickensian colour and flare.” (Jon Kutner (2014) 'Beasley Street (John Cooper Clarke)', accessed at http://www.jonkutner.com/beasley-street-john-cooper-clarke/ 16th November)
What great fun this has all been!