Boatman
They got pushed
And they shoved it
got lost
And they loved it
and found themselves livin
Off the Holloway Road
In a squat of six rooms
Ten strong to a loo
They raced and they chased
And laid down and loved
In the rusty mist
Of last Monday’s baked beans
Last night’s empties
Roach ends
And wild impossible dreams
Lambs willingly to the slaughter
Rats and peacocks
Amongst these stood the Boatman
First time away from home
He came here to be alone
He played a mean guitar
From the Blues to Christy Moore
And pump his bass all night
Till morn
And still make time for more
Jazes all I want to do is make music
He’d roar across the room
And belt into another tune
But then the Boatman met a lady
the dragon in disguise
Who drained away his colour
And pinned up his eyes
While he went chasin’ after her
With shades to hide his lies
Now all the music left his voice
As it crawls to you
From afar
We must get together
For a jam
Some day man
Ah shit I just sold my guitar
Today I heard he passed away
In a toilet in Kings Cross
Head down they found him
As he knelt
Hand still clutching
The works and the belt
Shooting stars die quick
Boatman
Kings Cross via Limerick
