Intro (Klashnekoff)

I remember walking the street yeah,
and being a kid and people used to look at you and smile
that whole phase of just like, yeah…
People were just way more open in regards to speaking to each other
and a bit more, just way more, it seemed more…
yeah it seemed much more pleasant back then, you nah mean?
In terms of the way people interact with each other…
yeah, coming back to Hackney and just seeing all the new builds, Et Cetera
and um, just seeing all these people, you know,
quote, unquote middle class people, walking around really happy,
do you know what I’m saying? It was, quite of a shock,
it was a bit of a shock…
It was a madness as well, the energy, and when you…
as you’re entering in the park as a young youth and just that..
That energy of the people, do you know what I mean?
Was amazing.



Verse One

I came a long way from Nightingale, Downs Park and Narroway,
Lea bridge, I used to go skating on a Saturday,
PJ Records, new releases so I checked em,
Wired For Sound was just a couple yards, a couple seconds away,
the number seventy-three was Stokey bound from Victoria,
Sunny Delight was California,
the prefix was 9-8-6 and 9-8-5
and 5-3-3, that’s how you got me on the line
and I tried to keep a look out for who I’d see,
Going in and out the borough on the 253,
or the 106, I used to go check Stixx,
Chicago Bulls, San Antonio, the New York Knicks,
we used to wear the jerseys and share soda when we thirsty,
for no backwash, whoever paid would be the first B,
memories of nursery at five years old
and it’s the only place that I call home, you know?



Chorus

They say I’m way too grown to represent postcodes,
but it’s part of my history,
from the memories of old to the people I know
and everything that this place taught me,
I’ve been around the world, but I gotta return to the place of my history,
from the memories of old to the people I know
and everything that this place taught me,
they say it ain’t where you’re from, it’s where you’re at,
but this place is my history,
from the memories of old to the people I know
and everything that this place taught me,
Hackney, Hackney, Hackney.




Verse Two

(Yo), I came a long way from Chatsworth, Shacklewell and Evering,
fights in the school and I’m hyped on adrenaline,
staying out late after class was forbidden,
then my Brother got bitten by a Dog up in Wigan,
going through the alley by the church where they’re born again,
I used to get Well Street mixed up with Morning Lane
E5, E8, E9, N16,
older kids are luring younger kids into a quick scheme,
we didn’t need crime for danger to feel real,
take a bicycle with no brakes down to Spring Hill,
then you’d see what time it is, this ain’t a joke,
so we had to learn to grow a thick skin to be surviving this,
just like performers at the 291 club,
I’m never on the stairs of an estate when it stunk of weed and urine,
cos I’d break out, now let the vocal and the beat play out, no doubt.



Chorus



Outro (Klashnekoff)

Memories of Hackney man! Growing up in the Hood,
you get me? Just… just innocent and um,
the vibe, do know what I mean?
There was definitely a vibe in the air when I was young of just…
You know, it’s that community spirit, that vibe of just…
Everyone knows everyone, do know what I’m saying?
And everyone’s watching everyone, you know,
as in Parents watching Children, Et Cetera
and you’d have to worry about your neighbours telling your Mum,
Do you know what I’m saying? If you got in trouble or what-not,
Or if you done something wrong or what-not,
Um, Hackney Man! Just so many memories...