"From this window I've seen the whole world pass"

Just Who Is The 5 O'Clock Hero? probably tops no Jam fan's list as their favourite track. Musically it's a little awkward and overly self-referential - in places it's basically That's Entertainment but with a different tempo. Lyrically, though, it's more accomplished. For me, it's one of Weller's better lyrics to that point in this career, a lament for the working man, and a continuation of some themes first raised in Man in the Corner Shop. It's also heavily informed by his father's daily grind as a builder (before Weller Sr switched to being the band's manager).

Whilst not released as a single in the UK, ...Hero was released in various European countries - the sleeve of my Dutch version is pictured, right. A brace of otherwise unavailable (at that time) B-sides no doubt helped the single to number 8 in the UK chart on import sales alone. That's how big The Jam were in 1982.

Anyway, here's a brilliant live rendition for Danish TV, at a point in the band's career when Paul was already wondering about there being more to this old life than this...

Hello darlin' - I'm home again
Covered in shit and aches and pains
Too knackered to think so give me time to come round
Just gimme the living room beat to the TV sound

My hard earned dough goes in bills and the larder
And that Prince Philip tells us we gotta work harder!
It seems a constant struggle just to exist
Scrimping and saving and crossing off lists

From this window I've seen the whole world pass
From dawn to dusk I've heard the last laugh laughed
I've seen enough tears to wash away this street
I've heard wedding bells chime and a funeral march
When as one life finishes the other one starts

Alright then love so I'll be off now
It's back to the lunchbox and worker/management rows
There's gotta be more to this old life then this
Scrimping and saving and crossing off lists