Times Change

I know every New Order song has some meaning, so where the Hell is Port-Royal town? And what is it's significance to Barney?

http://www.co.caroline.va.us/portroyal.html

I don't think it was that Port Royal he was referring to. I seem to recall it was about a Caribbean community that was destroyed by either a volcano or an earthquake.

Just found it - it was Port Royal, part of Jamaica, that was destroyed by a tsunami in June 1692.

"It was Tuesday, June 7,1692, when the earthquake struck. Given the superstition of the day, that seemed strange and unearthly. The town sank beneath the sea, and it is still there today. It is a great tourist attraction. Yet examined from the science of today, with our detailed knowledge of geology, the town did not move. It was swallowed up by sand, according to George, R. Clark of Kansas State University. It was the underwater reverse of Pompeii after the volcano.

Port Royal, touted by town boosters as "the richest and wickedest city in the New World," was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It certainly was in the wrong place. Located at the very end of a sandy spit 16 kilometres (10 miles) long, the town was designed for sinking. In this way it is Richmond's sister city.

Two thousand lives were lost after the Port Royal earthquake. The earthquake may have occurred some time ago, but it took place in only a short period of time -- six minutes. The buildings did not collapse and fall over, as usually happens during an earthquake on solid land. In Port Royal, the buildings went straight down."

Originally posted by Benny's Cobweb EYES-UH !!! I don't think it was that Port Royal he was referring to. I seem to recall it was about a Caribbean community that was destroyed by either a volcano or an earthquake. Just found it - it was Port Royal, part of Jamaica, that was destroyed by a tsunami in June 1692."It was Tuesday, June 7,1692, when the earthquake struck. Given the superstition of the day, that seemed strange and unearthly. The town sank beneath the sea, and it is still there today. It is a great tourist attraction. Yet examined from the science of today, with our detailed knowledge of geology, the town did not move. It was swallowed up by sand, according to George, R. Clark of Kansas State University. It was the underwater reverse of Pompeii after the volcano. Port Royal, touted by town boosters as "the richest and wickedest city in the New World," was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It certainly was in the wrong place. Located at the very end of a sandy spit 16 kilometres (10 miles) long, the town was designed for sinking. In this way it is Richmond's sister city. Two thousand lives were lost after the Port Royal earthquake. The earthquake may have occurred some time ago, but it took place in only a short period of time -- six minutes. The buildings did not collapse and fall over, as usually happens during an earthquake on solid land. In Port Royal, the buildings went straight down."

well done that man! i just put the link for the first 1 i found. another mystery solved...

Hmmmm...

"It was June 7th 1692 When an earthquake struck for me and you"

Nah, doesn't really work. Wrong song too...

Benny, you're right, Barney was talking about Port Royal, Jamaica and not Port Royal, US of A. However, the song has nothing to do with the volcano disaster, but rather with a riot that took place in the 18th or 19th century (don't remember exactly, too early in the morning for that!). As this riot had racial connotations, the song also refers to the famous LA riots, hence the ironic "Times change" title. As we all know, they DON'T...