RONNIE LANE & SLIM CHANCE - DEBRIS | Colouring The Past

 From COLOURING THE PAST

From the other day (17/11) in 1971, British rock band The FACES released their third album, A Nod's as Good as a Wink...To a Blind Horse, featuring one of RONNIE LANE's most poignant compositions, DEBRIS (Nov 17, 1971)

While Lane penned plenty of clever rock songs during his time with Small Faces and Faces, "Debris" stands out for its tender autobiographical lyrics and bittersweet melody. Chronicling Lane's childhood visits to his father at the Sunday junk market, the song reflects on working class life in post-war London. Beyond just a nostalgic stroll down memory lane, "Debris" captures the deep bond between a son and his hardworking father.

In the accompanying music video, we see Ronnie Lane and his post-Faces band Slim Chance performing the song in a 1974 concert for the BBC. Backed by acoustic guitar, slide guitar, and saxophone, Lane's weathered voice sings of going to the Debris, the local term for an improvised flea market "thrown together on the bleak streets of a city still bearing very visible scars of the WWII Blitz," as one writer put it. 

Lane sets the scene, reminiscing about hearing his father's footsteps at the door after a long morning sifting through the Debris, "sorting through the odds and ends" and "looking for a bargain." Even as a child, Lane seemed to grasp his father's endless labor amidst the rubble, singing "Now we both know you got no money." Yet the devotion shines through in the line, "Oh, you was my hero

How you are my good friend?"

Beyond the touching lyricism, the song has a wonderfully bittersweet melody that aligns with the reflective mood. With its lilting folk-rock finesse and saxophone colorings, "Debris" stands out as a highlight amidst the boozy British rock of Faces. Knowing Lane's background adds poignancy to the song's compassionate vignette of working class life in London.

Lane grew up in London's East End in an apartment so tiny he had to share a bed with his parents. His mother Elsie suffered from multiple sclerosis, while his father Stanley worked grueling hours as a truck driver. Despite the family's perpetual lack of money, Lane always spoke of his father in glowing terms, calling him "Happiness Stan" and a saint. In fact, the whimsical central character in the Small Faces concept album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake was inspired by Stan.

After finding success with the Small Faces, Lane certainly could have left his humble roots behind. But songs like "Debris" show that he never forgot where he came from. The nostalgia feels more like empathy than sentimentality. When Lane sings "Now, we both know you got no money," he is standing in solidarity with his father, not looking down on him. And in the line about wondering what Stan might have done without "me hanging around," Lane hints at his father's unrealized potential, rather than any burden.

Lane's soulful vision stands out in the earthier milieu of Faces and their contemporary British blues-rockers. The sensitivity and lyrical depth reveal Lane's pivotal role in propelling his bands beyond just good-time party music. His songwriting added shades of melancholy and reflection that gave classics like "Itchycoo Park" and "Ooh La La" their staying power.

Sadly, Lane's musical career was cut short when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the mid-1970s, the same disease that afflicted his mother. But he continued making music for as long as possible, right up until his death in 1997 at age 51. Near the end, close friends like Pete Townshend and Ronnie Wood helped provide for Lane's medical care, while Rod Stewart funded a research clinic at a U.S. hospital. This outpouring of support speaks volumes about the love Lane inspired from fellow musicians and fans.

While Lane's days as a star may have passed quickly, his songs carry on his artistic spirit. And tracks like "Debris" offer a window into the soul of this unforgettable artist. Like a faded photo album preserving memories of harder times, "Debris" will continue striking a chord with listeners whenever we need reminding of endurance, loyalty, and love.

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