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| | Selling England By The Pound |
 | | The first part of the verse alludes to the famous "it's not over till the fat lady sings" aphorism, and also shifts the centre of metaphor from England to the States, unless the saloon mentioned refers to the saloon bars that were a feature of English public houses of the time. |
 | | In a bizarre reflection of the sense of small closely-knit community based around the extended family that was a cornerstone of industrial and rural England, the East End boasted a comprehensive network of gangland groups, who were more often than not territorially based, and familial in nature. |
 | | Their main concerns were racketeering, protection money, the maintenance and "welfare" of prostitutes, etc. A bit like the Mafia with cheaper suits and less garlic, if you will. |
| www.donaghue.karoo.net /music/reviews/selling_england.html (1968 words) |
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