Destination Bradford by Benjamin Dunn
When I first came to Bradford in 1829, the canal was an open sewer, with disease and squalor on the rise
When I first came to Bradford in 1839, I opened up in textiles, and waited for the railways to arrive
When I first came to Bradford in 1849, there was a high degree of Germans, selling Worsteds, yarns and twine
When I first came to Bradford in 1859, the whole place was a boom town and I was doing fine
When I first came to Bradford in 1869 I set up as a merchant, with making money on my mind
When I first came to Bradford in 1879, there were mills on every corner with chimneys belching soot and grime
When I first came to Bradford in 1889, I set up as a tailor sewing suits with Ephraim Klein
When I first came to Bradford in 1899 I played my Tingleary organ and my monkey danced with Rothenstein
When I first came to Bradford in 1899, I lived among my Landsmen we would Daven daily prayers at Number 25
When first came to Bradford in 1909, I drove a Jowett Motor Car, folk stared in awe, at my gleaming pride
When I came back to Bradford in 1919, I’d left my soul in Flanders trenches, where I’d fought the last 5 years
When I first came to Bradford in 1929, I had just beans and spuds for dinner, living on the breadline
When I first came to Bradford in 1939, I’d left my mum and dad in Berlin, not knowing 6 million would die.
When I first came to Bradford in 1949, I’d been fighting for the Empire, to live and work here was a gift from Waheguru, just divine!
When I first came to Bradford in 1959, there was many hostile faces. Man, I missed the Caribbean sunshine!
When I first came to Bradford in 1969, there was the pungent smell of the Punjab and curry on my mind
When I first came to Bradford in 1979, I put away my turban and punk rock became my life
When I came back to Bradford in 1989, there were people raving in car-parks, smoking weed and doing lines
When I first came to Bradford in 1999, I opened up a Pound-shop, and the cash register never ceased to chime
When I first came to Bradford in 2009, I opened a Polish Deli, I made a fortune selling pickles in salty brine.
When I come back to Bradford, I see another side, the history is majestic and I feel that Bradford Pride
© Copyright 2013 Benjamin Dunn