The Bells of London

Well most us were born in our grandfathers houses
With nought to our names but the clothes on our back
And deep in the hearth the coal fire rouses
To bite sullen winters that steal through the cracks
We fell on the hard times as humans oft' do
In an unfeeling world that cares not for you
Selling on streets living morning to morning
We strove to survive and paid dear to scrape through

Four pence for lodgings for water and bread
Four pence for shelter for lock and for bed
Four pence for safety the price on our head
'Mongst the pealing bells of our London

These women they wandered down alleys alone
Sleeping in stairways with naught to call home
Penny for tankards to warm them 'till morning
To fight away fear and chase chill off their bones

Mots on the street all ripe for the picking
Fresh from the workhouse they'll fall on their knees
Baggage in bunkhouses weak from the working
We'll strip 'em then tip 'em and do as we please

Four pence for lodgings for water and bread
Four pence for shelter for lock and for bed
Four pence for safety the price on our head
'Mongst the pealing bells of our London

Forgotten I lie now 'neath frigid cracked earth
Where the grass o'erhead marks the many with me
We two rest near the memorial gardens
Where the red tulips splash 'neath the bending green tree
One stone has been stolen one stone was replaced
O'er our rested bodies our history erased
But ne'er to forget our truth must be faced
And we stand to contest all our memories disgraced

Four pence for lodgings for water and bread
Four pence for shelter for lock and for bed
Four pence for safety the price on our head
'Mongst the pealing bells of our London
'Mongst the pealing bells of our London
'Mongst the pealing bells
'Mongst the pealing bells
Of our London