2016
Hooray, Hooray, It’s Johnny’s Birthday (“Yesterday, actually.” – Ed.)
HBD, JCC
John Cooper Clarke, the suited cutie, the never-say-die versifier, is a hero and inspiration to us here, and Paul Hamilton marks Clarkey’s latest birthday in appropriate fashion.
MEA COOPER
No biz like showbiz, nothing like a dame
Run out of his walk-in wardrobe, exclaiming, “Every suit’s the same!”
‘Cooper’ is a pendant, hanging resplendent from the middle of his name
Game, Johnny Clarke
3-D visionary, shaded stereo, monotonal drone
Muscle memory throbbing ‘neath skin and Gandhian bone
A bankrupt’s poor company but a schizophrenic’s never alone
Phone Johnny Clarke
Comedy, poetry, that rare hotchpotch
His style guru directed Walter Matthau in ‘Kotch’
Spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch
Has got Johnny Clarke
Toe-to-napper dapper, the chap of purest cheek
From Manning’s town to Canning Town, his wit’s a blitzing streak
A one-man band playing one-night stands, no “He’s here all week”
Seek Johnny Clarke
Gun at his temple, world at this feet
But no show anywhere is considered complete
Until some throwback sad-sack calls out for ‘Beasley Street’
Sweet Johnny Clarke
Cultural references shorn of their blubber
There lies the rubber, Tony Gubba, ‘Son Of Flubber’
Moving off-stage, still on-form, gin-downer, ciggie-stubber
Hubba hubba, Johnny Clarke
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