When I get my head together, I'll write a love letter, send it in the first class post. This ain't a time for subtlety, I'll tell you confidentially, you're the one I love the most. Remember the day we met: I was so fixed on you. Get us together, figure out what to do, when I say there's a special lady, you can have no doubt - you're the woman I'm talkin' about. Don't accuse me of running away, you know I mean it when I say I just want to treat you right. When we're apart, I miss ya, let me paint you the picture: when we're near, all I do is smile. When I'm bragging to the boys about a girl I'd like to get to know and I'm saving up my coins for two tickets to the picture show, when I say there's a special lady, you can have no doubt - you're that woman I'm talkin' about. When I sing my songs all night, read dusty books by candlelight, I just can't take my rest. I've got a fine bottle of wine I'd like to share with you sometime don't say you'd rather be someplace else When my mind gets a-wandering, nobody can hold me down, when I'm working at the factory like a slave by the hour I'm thinking of my true love, you can have no doubt - you're the woman I'm talkin' about.

Take me to the river and I'll jump right in. Pass me some of that engine grease to mix with my gin. I'll get stuck in the middle given half a chance but if you ain't interested, why'd you take me to the dance? Making eyes at the deputy's wife, I nearly lost one for my trouble. I saw the flash of his pig-iron - I'm still waiting for the thunder. On the corner of Bedlam and Squalor, I missed my calling as a circus clown but if you see me laughing the lights're about to go out. A classic fool, whose wisdom blooms on the thorns of humiliation, the poisonous truth, I've got to be careful of the council I keep - it can be hard to tell the beggars from the thieves. I've played every juke joint across the land, I'll fall down on my knees, raise up my right hand: I see a life of struggle in every grain of sand. I've learnt to do the rumba, I can surely twist and shout but if you see me laughing I'm ready for another round. Sitting on a milk crate, threadbare necktie around my throat. I hold court with the rats, chewing on a pigeon bone. I can pack into a matchbox almost everything I own and anywhere I lay my head I call my home. Ha. I heave and tow that dotted line, feel that cat of nine tails across my hide. Put my head through a noose to save a little time. I'll cross my heart, hope I don't get caught in a lie. I know there's a stage for me in the bright lights of the city. I'll be drinking pink champagne, none of that bootleg whisky. From the ivory tower of Riches and Glamor, I'll blow kisses to the crowd and if you see me laughing, I've got it all figured out!

Don't you mind people grinning in your face. Don't you mind people grinning in your face. Don't you bear this in mind: your true friend is hard to find. Don't you mind people grinning in your face. Your mother may talk about you, your sisters and your brothers too. No matter how you're tryin' to live, they're gonna talk about you still. So don't you bear this in mind: you're true friend is hard to find. Don't you mind people grinning in your face. They'll jump you up and down. they're gonna spin you 'round and 'round but as soon as your back is turned they're gonna put you in the ground. So don't you bear this in mind: you're true friend is hard to find. Don't you mind people grinning in your face. Don't you mind people grinning in your face. Don't you mind people grinning in your face. Don't you bear this in mind: you're true friend is hard to find. Don't you mind people grinning in your face

It starts with bad directions and a sleight of hand when you end up singing with the Cable street band. In the tenement sweatshop artists chew the bit and I queue up ready to punch my ticket. Loretta at the honky tonk casts her spell and I stamp my boot heel to the stories she tells. No cure for The Blues, it's a terminal sickness, it'll kill you if you ever stop punching your ticket. I'd rather not explain myself, I drink to forget. Let me die in my footsteps, a poem under my breath. Your troubles can give you strength or stab you to the hilt - you'll regret it if you never punch your ticket. In the candlelight, I try and relax. If I'm caught I'll only give my name and rank, when the pigs with tin shields raid the barroom vigil where, in the witching hour, I punch my ticket. Well, You bring the medicine, I've got the gold. Darlin', sugar and spice can be bought and sold. You've got to play the game or place a winning bet everybody's got an itch, everybody's got to punch their ticket. When Marvin died, the band drew a big crowd but it was mere hours, after the tears and the flowers that, with faces soaked in pilfered guilt, we were back at The Gritseller's to punch our tickets. Papa Cedric has an endless supply of poison and a little black book for his phonebooth appointments, his out-patients keep neat subscriptions, for a price he can punch any kind of ticket. You bring the medicine, I've got the gold. Darlin', sugar and spice can be bought and sold. you've got to play the game or place a winning bet everybody's got an itch, everybody's got to punch their ticket. A grammar school natural with a slick city career, Fat Rat Albert hits the town in ladies' underwear. He knows the corner for his particular kink his wife thinks it's the fishing trips that punch his ticket. The doctor told the mystic, "You've got a feeble heart." The mystic asked, "How'd you know?" Doctor said, "I read your chart." The mystic prays, fearing punishment for his sins, receives atonement by punching that ticket. You bring the medicine, I've got the gold. Darlin', sugar and spice can be bought and sold. You've got to play the game or place a winning bet everybody's got an itch, everybody's got to punch their ticket.

I used to shine by boots and salute the flag. Now I'm singing The Blues, my cap in my hand. I holler on the corner all day and I wonder how much more I can take. My kin folk forgot me. I never asked for much. But there's nothin' I do that makes me easy to love. My best gal done forgotten my name and I wonder how much more I can take. I'm quick on the draw, I've got an agile mind. The bell tolled another round, I never asked for a fight: just a malted milk and I'll be on my way. I wonder how much more I can take. I've never crossed anyone, I've never wronged on purpose. I've never known a hard time but apparently I deserve it. I've never asked a favour but I've still got debts to pay and I wonder how much more I can take. I've been thinking of war just across the horizon. The short rope around my neck is only bound to tighten the farther from home I may stray and I wonder how much more I can take. When they set me on the gallows, help me with that fall but my will ain't broken. Mama taught me to stand tall and look that sheriff straight in the face. I wonder how much more I can take.