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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Guardian readers

Road to Nowhere: Guardian readers’ songs to sum up the UK election

Roy Orbison wearing sunglasses and playing guitar while singing into a microphone
Roy Orbison’s It’s Over: ‘the perfect anthem for the Tories.’ Photograph: David Redfern/Redferns

UK radio listeners have been picking classic songs to sum up their feelings about the general election campaign. We put the same question to Guardian readers, and here are some of their nominations.

It’s Over by Roy Orbison

I can’t believe is wasn’t mentioned already! From the lyrics, the last verse and chorus make this the perfect anthem for the Tories and everyone, however few, who still support them. “All the rainbows in the sky / Start to weep, then say goodbye / You won’t be seeing rainbows any more / Setting suns before they fall, echo to you that’s all that’s all / But you’ll see lonely sunset after all / It’s over / It’s over / It’s over / It’s over.” Derek, Scotland

It’s Over, It’s Over, It’s Over by Frank Sinatra

Ian, France

Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads

This is if we are unfortunate enough to vote in another Tory government. Really hope it doesn’t happen. Jeanette, medical secretary, New Mills

The Wheel by The Grateful Dead

It’s a song that rotates musically under a lyric that is soaked in futility, repetition and a desire for effort in a better direction: “The wheel is turning and you can’t slow down / You can’t let go and you can’t hold on / You can’t go back and you can’t stand still / If the thunder don’t get you then the lightning will / Won’t you try just a little bit harder / Couldn’t you try just a little bit more?” Chris, retired, Manchester

Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac

David, East Sussex

Star 69 by Fatboy Slim

“… They know what is what, but they don’t know what is what, they just strut. WTF? …” Mark, retired army colonel, Hay-on-Wye

Panic on the Streets of London by The Smiths

“Panic on the streets of London, panic on the streets of Birmingham …” Gabriela, accountancy assistant, Coventry

You Get What You Deserve by Big Star

Scott, London

For Once in my Life by Stevie Wonder

Living in Jeremy Wright’s Tory stronghold constituency for 29 years has been depressing politically as there seemed no way things would ever change. But last year we got ourselves a Lib Dem local councillor and we may just be able to unseat Wright. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. Julia, A-level examiner, Warwickshire

Ghost Town by The Specials

How can you look past The Specials with Ghost Town? I can’t believe how relevant that song still is some 40-plus years later. Maybe even more so. Antony, Tamworth

No Surprises by Radiohead

The debates have had no surprises, but mostly for these two lines: “Bring down the government / They don’t, they don’t speak for us.” Barry, Cornwall

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