We were young

Slot machines in the basement, and
old men drinking at the bar,
a coin box telephone on the wall
beside the toilets. Everything dowdy,
paper beer mats on the tables,
and people smoking everywhere.
This was the 70's and no one really cared
what you wore, or where you lived,
or how you were getting home tonight.
Half a lager and lime, or a pint of cider,
or maybe a rum and black. And we'd
play fight our way up the street to the bus,
and stop at the chipper for a portion of chips
to share between us all. And no one cared
or thought about the future, there was no future,
this was life, and we were young, and life was good.