Poetic Justice first appeared as a studio recording released on the Breathe recording released in 1994. It was one of the songs that formed the backbone of the live sets when Mike Peters and The Poets of Justice made their live debut in July 1992. A version of the song was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London in September 1992 but this was not released until 1997. Poetic Justice was one of the songs selected to be re-recorded by Mike Peters for the start of the 40th Anniversary celebrations with an acoustic version appearing on the Time 1981-2021 released as a prelude to the History Repeating anniversary set of songs
1994 Breathe album recording
Running length 4:40
Written by Mike Peters & Jules Jones
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Voice, Acoustic Guitar
Field Marshall Slug – Lead Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Backing Vocals
Jules Jones Peters – Piano, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Owen Thomas – Drums, Percussion, Programming, Backing Vocals
Brychan Llŷr – Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
Emyr Penlan – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
John Williams – Keyboards
Ian Fowler – 1st Violin
Celia Goodwin – 2nd Violin
Rob Shepley – Viola
Gethyn Jones – Cello
Strings Arranged by Emyr Rees, Jules Jones & Michael Peters
Recorded at Sain Studios, Caernarfon, Wales
Produced by Michael Peters
Mixed by Risteard O’Moanaigh and Field Marshall Slug
Engineered by Gethyn Jones
Mastered by Nilesh Patel at The Exchange
Alternative studio recordings
Abbey Road Sessions, Breathe The Acoustic Sessions, Time 1981-2021 Acoustic
(v) 1995 – Mike Peters – Breathe The Acoustic Session
Running length 4.11
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Amplified Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Tambourine and Backing Vox
Produced by Michael Peters
Recorded in Wales Summer 1994
(v) 1997– Mike Peters and the Poets of Justice – Abbey Road Sessions Recorded live 7.9.1992
Running length 4:42
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Voice, Acoustic Guitar
Ethan Johns – Electric Guitar
Jules Jones Peters – Piano, Hammond Organ & Backing Vocals
David Watkins-Clarke – Bass Guitar & Backing Vocals
Martyn Barker – Drums
Steve Bell – Percussion
Produced by Michael Peters
Engineered by Mike Jaratt
Assistant Engineering by Darren Godwin
Mixed by Andy Taylor
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England on 7.9.1992 – Afternoon session
2020 – Mike Peters – Time 1981-2021
Running length 2:21
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Voice, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Produced by Mike Peters
Recorded & Mixed by Mark Warden
Engineered by Aled Hughes at Sain Recordiau Cyf
Studio Assistance by Andy Labrow
Album appearances and discography of studio recordings
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
(All Images right click to open larger in new window)
1994 : Mike Peters – Breathe
Released on CD and Vinyl by
1994 original recording
(v) 1995 : Mike Peters – Breathe The Acoustic Sessions
Released on CD by The Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C001
Summer 1994 Wales acoustic recording
(v) 1997 : Mike Peters and The Poets Of Justice – Abbey Road Sessions recorded Live 7.9.1992
Released on CD by Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C003
1992 Abbey Road Non audience session recording
Officially released live recordings – Audio
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)
24th August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 3:24
Performed by Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released in 2003 on Alarmstock Volume 5 – The Dirt And The Glory
29th August 2004. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 3:11
Performed by Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released in 2004 on Alarmstock 2 Volume 5 – Yesterday As If It Was Today
6th August 2005. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England
Running Length 4:52
Performed by Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III Volume 1 London – Set 2 Scattered Across This Land
Lyrics – Breathe album version
What on earth is this world a comin’ to
What on earth is going down
What on earth is happening to us
Is everything I feel poetic justice
What happened to our better world a comin’
What happened to our brave new vision
What happened to our dreams of the future
Is everything I see poetic justice
Can you hear it on the ghetto
The spray cans speak
In confession whispered to a priest
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
(What you gonna do now)
What you gonna do now everything’s changing
(What you gonna say now)
What you gonna say now it’s all over
(Where you gonna hide)
Where you gonna hide now the storm’s broken
Is every word I write poetic justice
Is this the Armageddon?
Or the apocalypse?
Revenge for the Judas kiss?
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic Poetic Justice
Poetic Poetic Poetic Justice
Poetic Poetic Poetic Justice
Poetic Poetic Poetic Justice
Poetic Poetic Poetic Justice
Poetic Poetic Poetic Justice
Poetic Poetic Poetic Justice
Lyrics – Abbey Road Session 7.9.1992 version
What on earth is this world a comin’ to
What on earth is a going down
What on earth is happening to us
Is everything I feel poetic justice
What happened to our better world a comin’
What happened to our brave new visions
What happened to our dreams of the future
Is everything I see poetic justice
I hear it on the ghetto
Hear it on the street
In confession whispered to a priest
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
What you gonna do now everything’s changing
What you gonna say now it’s all over
Where you gonna hide now the storm’s broken
Is every word I write poetic justice
Is this the Armageddon?
Or the apocalypse?
Revenge for the Judas kiss?
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
It’s written inside my mind
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
woohoo woohooo woohooo woohooo
Poetic Justice
it’s every word I write
Poetic justice
woohooo woohooo woohooo
Poetic Justice
It’s every word I write
Lyrics – Time 1981-2021 version
What on earth is this world a comin’ to
What on earth is going down
What on earth is happening to us
Is everything I feel poetic justice
What happened to our better world a comin’
What happened to our brave new vision
What happened to our dream of the future
Is everything I see poetic justice
Can you hear it in the ghetto
The spray cans speak
In confession whispered to a priest
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
What you gonna do now everything’s changing
What you gonna say now it’s all over
Where you gonna hide now the storm’s broken
Is every word I write poetic justice
Is this the Armageddon?
Or the apocalypse?
Revenge for the Judas kiss?
Poetic justice
Written across my heart
Written inside my mind
Poetic justice
Poetic justice
Visual & Audio Sources Video x 1
Click on image for video
5th January 2021 : Video premiere of – Poetic Justice for the of Time 1981-2021 release
This video for Poetic Justice was filmed and directed by Andy Labrow at Sain Studios, North Wales, as Mike Peters recorded songs with powerful spoken word insights into Alarm History
(Page updated 22/03/2023)