Street Urchin Shuffle

Street Urchin Shuffle

The street

Is all he knows

The cold, familiar pavement

The stench

Is all he knows,

Sewage and smog from the factories

He's learned to live
By a set of rules
A code to live by
And a creed to die with

But on those rare occasions
When you can look up to the stars
He gazes up and hopes for
A better life
A cleaner life
A liveable life

But the carriages taunt him,
Parents he mourns them,
Pockets tempt him
He might just let them,
There is no escape,
For this
is the Street Urchin Shuffle

Threads

Always dirty, they're falling apart

Boots

Always muddy, they're falling apart

Skin,

Always sooty, it's falling apart

Bobbies breaking down the back door,
Better hurry,
Grab yours boots and your body,
Get a move on sonny,
No one's going to help you,
Unless you got the money,

But you haven't a penny,
In the world
Oh not a penny,
Never a penny

But if you did,
Oh if you did,
Why you'd make use of it,
Oh you would
Oh you should
Oh you could

But the carriages taunt him,
Parents he mourns them,
Pockets tempt him,
He might just let them,
There is no escape,
For this is the Street Urchin Shuffle

Run for your life boy,
Better hurry,
Spring for your life boy,
I can hear your tummy,
Don't let go now boy,
They're not far behind

But you haven't a hope,
In the world,
Oh how could you,
How could you?

Your stomach growls,
Like an orchestra of desperation,
Heard in the outskirts,
The sound of London is hungry
Calling out for some food,
Food, glorious gruel

Gruel!

But the carriages taunt him,
Parents he mourns them,
Pockets they tempt him
He might just let them,
There is no escape,
For this is the Street Urchin Shuffle

But you haven't a penny,
In the world
Oh not a penny,
Never a penny

But if you did,
Oh if you did,
How you'd make use of it,
Oh you would
Oh you should
Oh you could

Fight,

You're running out,

Strength,

Not much longer

Hope,

It's dying out

But if one day you should make it,
By some pip copperfield bullshit,
A shot at glory,
Opportunity calls,
Take your riches, take your dressings,
But you will never be one of them
A gentlemen!

You've learned to live
By a set of rules
A code to live by
And a creed to die with

You're a lowlife,
You're a servant, slave, chimney sweeper
You're the scourge, beggar, rough sleeper

You're the street urchin,
And this
is your shuffle