"Up the Junction" was the third single released from Squeeze's second album, “Cool for Cats” in 1979.  Written by band members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, it remains one of the band's most popular and well-remembered songs (especially in the UK); where it reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart.  It is quite notable for not having a chorus and the title is not introduced until the last line of the song.

“Up the Junction” is also the name of a collection of short stories by Nell Dunn, first published in 1963.  Lyricist Chris Difford said that the title phrase was lifted from the 1965 TV play version of the work, directed by Ken Loach, and the subsequent 1968 movie version.  The film had a soundtrack by Manfred Mann, and a song by them, also called “Up the Junction”.    

Chris Difford wrote the lyrics in New Orleans while Squeeze were on tour.  Difford passed the lyrics to Glenn Tilbrook who then wrote the music.  Difford has been quoted as saying that he took the lead from Roxy Music's "Virginia Plain," in which the title also appeared only at the end.

Glenn Tilbrook has said that the music was partly inspired by the Bob Dylan song "Positively 4th Street", and the lack of a chorus or lyrical repetition.

Chris Difford recalled the story of the song to Uncut Magazine: "We were in New Orleans on our second US tour, and we didn't have much money, so we had to stay 15 miles outside town," he said.  "We were young, and we wanted to go to the French Quarter, but we had to sit there and do our laundry, feeling homesick."

"The lyrics just popped into my head, influenced by watching TV Plays and kitchen sink dramas," Difford continued.  "It was written in one sitting, sometimes you just put the pen to paper and it's done”.  

All the above brings us to the phrase. “Up the Junction” which is British slang for being screwed or as in the American phrase, 'Up the creek without a paddle', which is ultimately the theme of the song.

In the late 70’s music videos were trendy in Europe prior to catching on in the United States.  So, the London based band filmed their video for the song in a house where John Lennon used to live.  It has been noted that the video features a young actress, Michelle Collins, prior to her embarking on a prolific (most notably soap opera based) acting career.

Various Sources