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Hoover Factory Lyrics
Five miles out of London on the Western Avenue
Must have been a wonder when it was brand new
Talkin' 'bout the splendour of the Hoover factory
I know that you'd agree if you had seen it too
It's not a matter of life or death
But what is, what is ?
It doesn't matter if I take another breath
Who cares ? Who cares ?
Green for go, green for action
From Park Royal to North Acton
Past scrolls and inscriptions like those of the Egyptian age
And one of these days the Hoover factory
Is gonna be all the rage in those fashionable pages
Five miles out of London on the Western Avenue
Must have been a wonder when it was brand new
Talkin' 'bout the splendour of the Hoover factory
I know that you'd agree if you had seen it too
It's not a matter of life or death
But what is, what is ?
It doesn't matter if I take another breath
Who cares ? Who cares ?
Must have been a wonder when it was brand new
Talkin' 'bout the splendour of the Hoover factory
I know that you'd agree if you had seen it too
It's not a matter of life or death
But what is, what is ?
It doesn't matter if I take another breath
Who cares ? Who cares ?
Green for go, green for action
From Park Royal to North Acton
Past scrolls and inscriptions like those of the Egyptian age
And one of these days the Hoover factory
Is gonna be all the rage in those fashionable pages
Must have been a wonder when it was brand new
Talkin' 'bout the splendour of the Hoover factory
I know that you'd agree if you had seen it too
It's not a matter of life or death
But what is, what is ?
It doesn't matter if I take another breath
Who cares ? Who cares ?
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The Hoover factory on the A40 Western Avenue out of London (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Building) has an iconic Art Deco facade, and there was a serious danger that it would be demolished after Hoover moved their production lines out (late '70s?). There was a campaign to get the building "listed" as being of special architectural merit, and I believe Costello wrote this song in support of that campaign.
As vittoriovampire says, it's now a Tesco supermarket, but the essence of the building remains, perhaps in no small part thanks to Elvis Costello.
The renamed the Hoover Building looks more wonderful than ever now. The Tesco supermarket is discretely at the rear (with art deco features extending into its car park). The glorious road side frontage has been refreshed and now conceals luxury flats which would be ‘…all the rage in those fashionable pages…’ If only Elvis Costello had been around to sing about, and perhaps save the equally wonderful Firestone Tyre factory up the road… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firestone_Tyre_Factory?wprov=sfti1#
I used to pass this building often. It was derelict ofr years. It's a Tesco supermarket now. Tragic!