[Verse 1]
Once we forged the world with steel and coal
Manufacturing made Britain whole
But the factories closed, the mines went dark
Finance took the place where industry sparked
London grew while the North declined
Two nations in one state we'd find
[Chorus]
British disease, deindustrialization
Trading production for financialization
North falls behind while the South takes flight
Productivity stagnant, something's not right
The old empire's shadow, Brexit's call
When the center can't hold, the margins fall
[Verse 2]
Manchester to Liverpool they cry
"Investment flows to London, why?"
The North-South divide cuts like a knife
Different worlds, a different life
Westminster listens to the City's voice
While forgotten towns have little choice
[Chorus]
British disease, deindustrialization
Trading production for financialization
North falls behind while the South takes flight
Productivity stagnant, something's not right
The old empire's shadow, Brexit's call
When the center can't hold, the margins fall
[Bridge]
Banks grew bigger, wages stayed low
Skills erosion, innovation slow
Europe's rules felt like chains to break
Brexit seemed the chance they'd take
But structural problems run too deep
For simple solutions we can keep
[Verse 3]
Now the pound is weak, the growth is small
Productivity gains have hit a wall
Years of underinvestment show
In the numbers that refuse to grow
Geography and history collide
In this realm that's still divided
[Chorus]
British disease, deindustrialization
Trading production for financialization
North falls behind while the South takes flight
Productivity stagnant, something's not right
The old empire's shadow, Brexit's call
When the center can't hold, the margins fall
[Outro]
From workshop of the world to something less
The realist sees this structural mess
Understanding how we reached this place
Is the first step in the healing race