The Ballad of Swansea Kingsway

A light hearted and affectionate recounting of the history the ever present roadworks in Swansea city centre. For more roadworks fun and possible ideal Christmas present see my Book "Making Wales Great Again". www.cambriaboo...

[@Blondejam]

Went down there this afternoon for the first time in about five years. Still a Bloody Shambles! Cracking track! Well done...

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks.

[@androbater9264]

I came to Swansea in 1983 to go to the University. They were digging Swansea up then and haven't stopped since. And the result of all of this is to end up where they started. I was once told by someone who had studied urban planning that students were brought to Swanseato be shown how not to do it. I didn't believe him at the time, 30+ years later I do.

[@Lahouel]

THIS MUST CHRISTMAS No1 IN WALES .. WE SHALL BLOODY MAKE SURE. IT IS GOING VIRAL. Please, share on all social media. We are a 1500 strong in our FB group. We are sharing it.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks. Much appreciated. Just glad I can spread a bit of festive cheer.

[@mrpoetman3146]

no chav its not its no 9000 idiot

[@chuckylicious19]

Looking forward to the song about the LC2 car park and the abundance of student accommodation.

[@notsogreatdictator]

I'm all about the roadworks. There may be a musical in the new year.

[@chuckylicious19]

notsogreatdictator Get it into the Grand!

[@notsogreatdictator]

@@chuckylicious19 That would be nice. A perfect panto turn.

[@xylophobe1]

Oh my, thank you so much - this made my day surfing KZbin on a drizzly winter afternoon. You cheered me up no end!

[@notsogreatdictator]

You're welcome. :-)

[@melanielloyd812]

Wonderful, made me laugh and so accurate too.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks. :-)

[@nyatime8641]

This song is actually legendary ahahahah

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thank you. By all means share as far and wide as possible. :-)

[@lindaevans4921]

Absolutely brilliant!!! Made my day! We should be playing this on loudspeakers on the Kingsway, forget the christmas carols.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Outside the Guild Hall like the Americans did with Noriaga.

[@elysiumgallerytv2776]

Fantastic!

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks. It's been a roller-coaster ride. If the roller-coaster was just stuck in a siding for twenty years wondering when they were going to finish the track.

[@simonmainwaring4413]

Awesome Mush

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thank you very much.

[@veilbreak5867]

Great song!...and video! All the shrubs the council planted in town have become a habitat for rats. In the summer they were jumping out of the bushes by tesco, running across the path looking for water.

[@notsogreatdictator]

At least it's not Special Brew.

[@veilbreak5867]

@@notsogreatdictator haha! Swansea rats prefer white lightening!

[@dylanfoulston662]

Lol i live 10mins away and i get all of this going to school for 3 yrs iv all ways seen this going to the quadrent

[@notsogreatdictator]

It's our contribution to the cultural heritage of the nation.

[@gregdesign]

Nice job

[@vanman7519]

I miss the old kingsway, was a regular hang out in the car

[@GshokMusicChannel]

I moved back home to Ireland from Swansea earlier this year... I never got to see them finish Kingsway :'(

[@notsogreatdictator]

I wouldn't worry. Nobody will ever see them finish the Kingsway.

[@MillywiggZ]

God damn, everyone who lives in Swansea is in this comment section.

[@notsogreatdictator]

I seem to have hit a nerve.

[@TakuCovers1]

Nah carmarthenshire

[@philjones6054]

I live in Swansea and I'm not in this comment section!!

[@paulconibearmusic]

nice one mun

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thank you. :-)

[@TakuCovers1]

Carmarthenshire representing

[@TakuCovers1]

So sad too see how much swansea center has died

[@notsogreatdictator]

It's still in ICU.

[@paulpreedy2375]

I hate students !!!!!!!!!

[@darthudd6721]

What's the point all the decent shops have given up and left the Kingsway.

[@notsogreatdictator]

There's a different plan. I don't think shops are what the Kingsway will be about from now on.

[@spencerj1413]

Class lol

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks.

[@sabrinaschneider117]

I can’t 😂😂😂😂

[@krogers5001]

And guess what Labour want your vote again ☺👎

[@harrysandhu2787]

wtf is this I just came here for uni

[@notsogreatdictator]

A lot of students never leave. They can't find their way out.

[@madz2425]

They started this construction just before I started my GCSEs... I’m finishing Uni next year...

[@notsogreatdictator]

Congratulations. I've got a painting of Swansea roadworks that's about 25 years old.

[@BamYazi]

@@notsogreatdictator I moved to Swansea in '89 - you could have released the song back then and it would be as pertinent as now :)

[@NUTTY-nw4ed]

Swansea uni?

[@BlackTeethMedia]

Cheers Mahdi. Thank you for your input. X

[@overmyhead12345]

I've managed to finish a BEng, MSc and a PhD at Swansea Uni and they still haven't finished re-remodeling Kingsway.

[@paulhyena5848]

Found this accidentally, i’m from Swansea lol.

[@cloroxbleach608]

Same lol, randomly came in my recommended

[@shajali5481]

Every single councillor and council executive should be put on trial for crimes of mass disruption......... Bastards

[@notsogreatdictator]

I'm not sure it's a crime but you have to wonder why not.

[@spen45]

Brilliant i laughed, the planners should all be lined up and have custard pies thrown at them. What a disaster, theres 14 sets of traffic lights from the Hafod to the Kingsway, all on red, any time of day or night. No matter if no traffic comes, they'll be on red. No cycle way.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Ah, the city of lights. Thanks. :-)

[@chrislongstay]

They seem incapable of setting up a traffic light correctly. We sit in our own fumes all the time in Swansea waiting at badly set traffic lights.

[@BamYazi]

They should make them do a conga line round the one way system

[@junemargaretcullen3940]

That's Swansea Council for you. Have not seen the finished job yet. 😂

[@notsogreatdictator]

Nostradamus predicted it apparently. Gave it five stars.

[@MOGGS1942]

Absolutely brilliant. Thanks for brightening my day. If only Sinatra were still alive to sing, and record, this new, improved, version of 'My Way'. The video clearly shows the insanity that has gripped Swansea Council, and it's Planning Dept., for more years than I care to remember. It's a commonly held belief that they have done more damage to Swansea down the years than Goering's Luftwaffe did back in the blitz. The project is coming to an end soon, but rest assured, the fools will be at it again within a few years, reversing everything that has been done, and creating yet more chaos and disorder in the centre of the ' beautiful, ugly Town'.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks for the "improved" tag. I'll have to put that on my CV.

[@elastronaute1198]

I bet even people in the council are having a good giggle at this and it's being shared around.

[@notsogreatdictator]

I couldn't possibly comment. :-)

[@MikeLeahy]

But have we really seen the end in sight? I thought I saw the light but it was the headlights of the ghosts of the bendy buses crashing towards me

[@notsogreatdictator]

Lol. I think I've had that dream as well. Perhaps we should have a roadworks theme park on the Kingsway to keep the magic alive.

[@TheGroundHopper]

In a town that feels like its being left behind the amount of money spent and time wasted on this is appalling

[@notsogreatdictator]

Once the roadworks become fully established as a tourist destination in their own right we'll be back in the game.

[@meijycakes]

this has been stuck in my head for the last week. absolutely genius *chefs kiss* uppa swans

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks. Glad you liked it. :-)

[@welshgit]

I'm glad you've recorded pictures of what it looks like - no doubt they'll be changing it all again in the new year.

[@notsogreatdictator]

To be honest, the wide open spaces of the Kingsway at the moment are a bit scary.

[@welshgit]

@@notsogreatdictator They should plant a bendy-bus there, to add to the "museum" you mention in another video!

[@notsogreatdictator]

@@welshgit Brilliant idea. They could put a hipster boutique cafe in it selling only lava bread related dishes.

[@welshgit]

@@notsogreatdictator You've scored a winner there. Could we maybe be a bit ambitious and go a bit further: the current great solution of theirs to deal with the terrible through-traffic problem is to halve the size of the Kingsway. Going by their logic, we could improve traffic problems even further by closing the Kingsway altogether... Hell, let's really sort it out and close Mansel Street too. Again, as part of your proposed traffic museum, they could make some sort of modern art thing out of the red-and-white blobs, and have a track of model cars navigating them in real time. It wouldn't need to cost much, as to accurately portray the traffic, they wouldn't have to move! OK, I definitely need to be in a mental home.... Or better still, I'll apply to be a Swansea road-planner!

[@notsogreatdictator]

@@welshgit Lol. I think Swansea should feature as a location in the next GTO.

[@craigj.davies1983]

I find Swansea so depressing I go to Port Talbot for my Holidays, even the Office pub is gone now.

[@notsogreatdictator]

I'm dying to see your Trip Advisor review of Port Talbot now. :-)

[@craigj.davies1983]

@@notsogreatdictator I will see what I can do.

[@DaryoushAbbasie]

One immigrant was asking me "how can I work in Kingsway road " I say WHY .he said it's work for life . Looks like never it's going to finish.

[@notsogreatdictator]

It's been going on since I can remember.

[@LilyRose-db6it]

I’m pissing myself 🤣 I live in Swansea and this is GOLD

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thank you. There's more to come.

[@kiaracollins7951]

Any one else from Swansea?

[@notsogreatdictator]

Me but I'm not sure that counts.

[@kiaracollins7951]

@@notsogreatdictator that's town

[@robbryant52]

Brilliant a true classic unlike swansea council who haven't a clue what's going on

[@mikecb39]

i moved to Swansea 20 years ago and driving through Swansea was no problem. they've made it a nightmare now, Jobs for the boys i guess! THEIR boys not ours, our boys are homeless begging on the streets because the council cant afford to spend money on housing?? of course you cant have enough housing for everyone because it would cause property prices to fall which is great for us but bad for them. To think some people actually believe the council exist to serve the people when in reality they are basically the mafia with suits and ties.

[@notsogreatdictator]

A bit harsh but it is a mess.

[@DrizzLs]

Very beauttifful. I cried 7 times !!!!!!!!

[@notsogreatdictator]

Poured my heart and soul into that one. :-)

[@griffspeed]

When i see the state on Swansea today................... I think it looked better after the Germans bombed it.!! lol.! Great Vid mate..

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks.

[@andrewpaddison2565]

All that money and it still looks awful.

[@notsogreatdictator]

We're nearly there.

[@jsk9756]

Ha ha I love all the comments on hear you’re all right it’s ridiculous what the council has done. My hubby in wheelchair we had to go all around to get to specsavers. And when we finally found the accessible pavement the big work lorry was blocking it.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Hopefully, one day it will all be usable.

[@rosedavies7202]

So funny and so true. Now they're nearly finished, we can look forward to the new ones about to take over Oystermouth Road :D

[@henparc]

I worked in the center in the early 70's. We had a lovely ring road, a beautiful gardens and the perfect two way Kingsway ended by two floral roundabouts. How easy to spends and waste millions of other people's money without being challenged.

[@leroybrown8705]

ITS ABOUT FUCKING TIME ....

[@dotty265]

Brilliant😀 Anybody who has had to suffer this debacle will appreciate how true this is. Well done mate.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks. It had to be done.

[@PabloDeGales]

I stayed at the Dragon hotel for two years one weekend (joke) the view was very disappointing. I definitely got the impression that some dark force was deliberately trying to undermine the great City of Swansea. I too think it is time for the City council Taffia be replaced by people who care!!

[@Georgia-th5uo]

The road works have been there since jesus was alive

[@notsogreatdictator]

And Moses went upon unto the mountain a saw a great distance and spake with great heart and sayeth to the gathered throng "I think I can see Swansea roadworks from here". And the people they do do the replying and sayeth unto him. "FFS when are they going to finish?"

[@dodlyful]

💕

[@karandoolan4240]

The shit show that is Swansea road works, how much money they wasted is a joke, don't get me started on what a travesty the traffic jams are. The original 2 roundabouts on the kingsway( one with the pedestrian under pass)worked ok, but trust the city council to fuck things up.

[@stephrichards4611]

The three way contra-flow has gone, the old oceana building is nearly finished but all the other buildings are falling apart lol

[@LogicRules]

Anyone fancy a Kings way cruise?? The good old days, racing up and down the road 100 times an hour. Lol. Crazy times. What a terrible mess, why we put up with the shambles that's is our local government. What a waste of out tax money. Then they have the cheek, not to collect my bloody rubbish. If only I had the balls to rebel.. :)

[@ivanbaker2264]

Bloomin brilliant, inspired me to think about writing one for my home town of Derby road works chaos. Never ending story may be the song to use.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Lol. Do it.

[@thoughtlessanimations8895]

I live in swansea its the best city in wales

[@notsogreatdictator]

It absolutely is.

[@sylviahoyland229]

Loved this, thank you!

[@notsogreatdictator]

You're welcome. Let's hope I don't have to do another one next year. And the year after.

[@LukeT390]

The roads in Swansea in general are a fucking nightmare! Great song BTW 👍

[@ChrisBaileyMusic]

Do you work on the trains? That singing conductor?

[@notsogreatdictator]

No. And thanks for calling it singing.

[@ChrisBaileyMusic]

@@notsogreatdictator you're welcome! You should take the swansea train some times and see if you get the TfW singing conductor. You and him could do a ballad of Kingsway duet 😁😁

[@recordiautirgras9377]

Fabulous! Love, love, love this! Very well-written and very witty. Well done!

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thank you very much.

[@PureSCFCVlogs]

Classic Swansea!

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks. Glad you liked it.

[@kieranthomas8558]

Well if you find this funny.. You must be hell of a laugh... Not

[@notsogreatdictator]

I never laugh. It is for the week of mind, body and spirit. Laughter is what got us into this mess in the first place.

[@kieranthomas8558]

Salty

[@notsogreatdictator]

@@kieranthomas8558 That seems perfectly reasonable.

[@sianbevan8786]

Omg gorsinion is coverd in roadworks so its hard to get to get to school in the mornin 😠

[@notsogreatdictator]

It's our national sport. If it ever becomes an Olympic event we'll be sorted.

[@sianbevan8786]

@@notsogreatdictator yea i agree lol😂 thx for subscribing to my channel 😀

[@notsogreatdictator]

@@sianbevan8786 You're welcome.

[@Khumry]

thats funny they did the same in newport and the companies went bust as well

[@Orcdie22]

Why change it ? Was lovely when I passed my test in the 80's ....could do 2 laps in 45 seconds in my xr2 ......😎

[@michaeltyreman-wilde6849]

Brilliant and true and two decades of it too. Well done, excellent!

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks. If only it was two decades.

[@michaeltyreman-wilde6849]

@@notsogreatdictator Aint that true

[@andrewlloyd4354]

Great sentiment, but boyo, you are tone deaf!! Cardiff will make you famous!

[@notsogreatdictator]

I'll have you know I've trained with the best. Milli Vanilli, that one off of Atomic Kitten, all the greats.

[@keithjones6659]

Outstanding...

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks. :-)

[@55555bozena]

BRILLIANT xxxxx

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thank you.

[@Niamhcotts]

Cardiff get everything it's one of the best citys in the UK and what do we get? Shrubs.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Don't be dissing our shrubbery. It's listed.

[@PhilipEnglandYT]

Just love it.... fantastic.... shared it on my Facebook and Twitter - nice work I must say

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thank you. It had to be done.

[@TonyStark-vd6mu]

When I did Uni, the roadworks existed. Fast forward 5 years. Bendy bus gone. Roadworks remained to party 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@notsogreatdictator]

They are a unique cultural phenomenon.

[@krionellaka.thatguy7711]

I looked up Swansea once. Only one time, on google. Why did google think it was ok to recommend me this? I mean it's a banger but still

[@notsogreatdictator]

It's one of the tags. I'm thinking maybe I should have put election as a tag.

[@sugarfoot1956]

This is brilliant. Xmas number 1 - lovely picture of the kingsway roundabout when there was a palm tree in the middle😂

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks.

[@realrelaxcollection]

Oh Dew ... "Im cowin fillin up yer like innit" ... what a truly wonderful and sensitive ballad in tribute to one of the truly great pieces of classical (nay iconic) connectivity infrastructure in our truly great country of Cymru !!! Not sure I can cope with the overwhelming emotion of it all ... I am going to have to have a lie down for about four days now.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Lol. the-eye.wales/swansea-city-centre-road-works-granted-unesco-world-heritage-status/

[@realrelaxcollection]

@@notsogreatdictator .. how wonderful and well deserved eh .. ha ha

[@voiceofwalescorrespondent6356]

IF ONLY IT WERE MADE UP...

[@pinklemonade6597]

I dont think I've seen swansea kingsway without roadworks somewhere in a very long time.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Or anywhere else in the city centre.

[@adamweston4152]

I live close to Swansea in Bridgend and the council has started building cycle paths on the coychurh roundabout that's costing 2.2 million bucks and I'm a cyclist and I am flabbergasted why they are needed in the first place,a totally dumb and wasteful project and if wasting that much isn't bad enough I have just found out that Bridgend council has given the city of Cardiff 11million pounds to boost Cardiff when Bridgend town centre is a ghost town and going down the pan daily.people in high places eh!?*"#

[@notsogreatdictator]

Our is not to reason why.

[@taff2wales]

Very good!

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thank you very much.

[@stevenic6643]

you want to live in neath....

[@notsogreatdictator]

That sounds like a threat.

[@alunrichards8239]

Ha,the Kingsway 🤗 good memories back in the day.If you couldn't pick up a "bint" in the townsman,jump in your car,we did drink and drive in them days(stupid I know😱) anyhow,go up and down coasting good old Kingsway, bliss.just love this video.

[@nigelc.williams4802]

The Heads of the Valley road deserves similar treatment. Excellent.

[@notsogreatdictator]

That's a whole different league. I think they're building a Star gate up there.

[@sarahdermody6665]

LOVE IT!! they built a roundabout where one had once been 🤣

[@notsogreatdictator]

, Thank you. They actually did.

[@ioooan]

Epic

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks Ronald. :-)

[@jrspiritcommunicator7611]

This is absolute genius!

[@ojsimps701]

So if I come out of the potters wheel I still should look both ways right? B4 crossing the road to the kebab shop!

[@notsogreatdictator]

Don't let your guard down. That's exactly what they expect.

[@kanedevvo5824]

i would mate.. people will be driving on the pavements before long😂

[@MichaelThomas-lg7us]

Never thought the lyrics "3 way contra flow" would make me laugh so hard a bit of pee came out. Sign of old age?? Started the remodelling when I was in short trousers!! Christmas No 1 gotta be.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks. I toiled over it with the thought of at least a Grammy on the horizon.

[@MichaelThomas-lg7us]

@@notsogreatdictator reckon dawnus said same for a RIBA gold prize!

[@MichaelThomas-lg7us]

Very funny, and liked the comic mis-singing, genius.

[@notsogreatdictator]

@@MichaelThomas-lg7us Lol. If only. That's me at the top of my game.

[@xoch9372]

Which Swansea even is this 😐

[@notsogreatdictator]

Swansea, Wales.

[@emilybevan2969]

I’m not disappointed after watching this

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thank you. Not disappointing was what I was going for. :-)

[@jirdcon]

I live on the Kingsway. Let that sink in.

[@notsogreatdictator]

You sir deserve a medal.

[@carelessrappide]

Brilliant! I used to live in Swansea back in 1975

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thanks. Did you move because of the roadworks?

[@carelessrappide]

@@notsogreatdictator HAHAHA No, LOL change of circumstances

[@alanjones1570]

Rob Stewart! Another fine example of a labour leader.

[@davej2011]

🤣🤣

[@aaronthom5420]

Being a proud member of the yjb community, im happy this was in my recommendations for tonight 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@notsogreatdictator]

I'm happy you're happy. What's the yjb community?

[@aaronthom5420]

Coys

[@aaronthom5420]

@@notsogreatdictator its people who support the swans

[@notsogreatdictator]

@@aaronthom5420 Ah, thanks.

[@nathanjones2320]

Pure and beautiful artistry

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thank you. It's been making a lot of people cry. ;-)

[@SwansAwayDays]

Brilliant ahah

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thank you. :-)

[@tonyevans2966]

Very clever and funny.

[@notsogreatdictator]

Thank you, glad you liked it.

[@yilunwu8964]

Who can tell me the name of this song? (original)

[@notsogreatdictator]

Is that a question or are you throwing it out to others as a bit of a game?

[@shauneeyy]

This is the original, the one we all needed in our lives

[@notsogreatdictator]

@@shauneeyy Tru dat. ;-)

[@LilyRose-db6it]

I did it my way