"To jeer on Green Goddesses, local dignitaries and Labour Councillors
Always in touch by way of the community organ
We were about to be orphaned"
is that it's a reference to the 'Winter of Discontent' of 1978/79 in Britain. Practically all the public services went on strike. It ended in a General Election in which Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party came to power. Those of a left-wing leaning would claim she tore the heart out of many communities in Britain. For me this section is a childhood reminiscence of that period.
The 'Green Goddesses' were old fire engines used by the Army. They covered for the normal fire service when they were on strike as in this period, hence the Green Goddesses on the streets.
The Labour Councillors were local Government representatives of the ruling coalition, being jeered because of the state the country was in.
'We were about to be orphaned' refers to the coming of Thatcher.
My interpretation of this bit:
"To jeer on Green Goddesses, local dignitaries and Labour Councillors Always in touch by way of the community organ We were about to be orphaned"
is that it's a reference to the 'Winter of Discontent' of 1978/79 in Britain. Practically all the public services went on strike. It ended in a General Election in which Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party came to power. Those of a left-wing leaning would claim she tore the heart out of many communities in Britain. For me this section is a childhood reminiscence of that period.
The 'Green Goddesses' were old fire engines used by the Army. They covered for the normal fire service when they were on strike as in this period, hence the Green Goddesses on the streets. The Labour Councillors were local Government representatives of the ruling coalition, being jeered because of the state the country was in. 'We were about to be orphaned' refers to the coming of Thatcher.