Albion (song)

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"Albion"

Single by Babyshambles
from the album Down in Albion
Released	November 2005
Format	CD, 7"
Genre	Indie, Rock
Length	3:28
Label	Rough Trade
Producer(s)	Mick Jones
Chart positions
#8 (UK Singles Chart)
Babyshambles singles chronology
"Fuck Forever" (2005)	"Albion" (2005)	"Janie Jones" (2006)

Albion is a song by British band Babyshambles, first track on the third single released in relation to the 2005 album Down in Albion. It deals primarily with the concept of Albion, thought of as a mythical England, the landscape and life of which is referred to throughout the song. This idea was central to The Libertines and still is to Babyshambles. The song was the first acoustic song Babyshambles released. There was some controversy from The Libertines fans when it was released because it had been used by Doherty's old band in their live sets. It is always one of the highlights of Babyshambles live shows.

The song's lyrical quality is a reflection of its origin, a poem penned by Doherty when he was 16 (according to Babyshambles bass player Drew McConnell's remark in Nov.5th, 2005 NME track-by-track guide to Down in Albion, it was the first song Doherty wrote). The lyrics were praised on an episode of Newsnight Review, when critics were reviewing Babyshambles' debut album Down In Albion. The single version differs from the album cut, where the song proper is preceded by a minute-long noise (thought to incorporate the sound of a Hammond organ warming up).