McKennedy's Club

Smoke parted 'cross the jazz club floor
As Jo McKennedy stepped through the door
Dressed in scarlet, not a hair out of place
The room fell silent as she took to the stage

Tommy Connolly sat alone at the bar
His fingers were drumming out the beat of his heart
Alone and lonely, sinking Dixie Belle gin
His steely gaze was hiding panic within

Enlisted, Tommy's shipping out the very next day
The music soothing his uncomfortable wait
He turned and his heart soared as their eyes met
He didn't want to walk away with this one regret

Tommy stood up as the final notes died
Applause was still ringing as Jo reached his side
Each found their soulmate, talking into the night
Making plans for the after and promised to write

Jo read Tommy's letter every Friday at twelve
He told of stories dodging bullets and shells
Until the week came when no more letters arrived
Barely living, tortured for life

When Tommy Connolly returned home from the war
Jo didn't recognise her man anymore
A shadow of the person that he'd been
Scarred mind and body, torn to extremes

Propped in the corner of McKennedy's Club
Jo cast her eye over the soldier she loved
He barely moved, his gaze was fixed at the wall
Until the day came Tom relinquished it all

Devastated, Jo McKennedy wept
At the long white table where her man lay to rest
So cold and fair, from pain was finally freed
The day she went down to St. James Infirmary