Forever Young: The Ska Collection

It's just gone noon
Half past monsoon
On the banks of the river Nile
Here comes the boat
Only half-afloat
Oarsman grins a toothless smile
Only just one more
To this desolate shore
Last boat along the river Nile
Doesn't seem to care
No more wind in his hair
As he reaches his last half mile
The oar snaps in his hand
Before he reaches dry land
But the sound doesn't deafen his smile
Just pokes at wet sand
With an oar in his hand
Floats off down the river Nile
Floats off down the river Nile

(All aboard, night boat to Cairo!)

(Night boat to Cairo!)

You're looking and listening and hoping that things are changing for the better
You're trying to see if what you're teaching is the truth, sir
You're looking and listening and hoping that things will change for better
Don't wanna preach or teach the blues to you now brother

I just left Victoria Gardens
And walked through Cardboard City land
A burnt out star was asking
How would I like to shake his hand

I walked on in no hurry (hurry, hurry, hurry)
And wondered where did we go wrong

Looking, listening, hoping that things are changing for the better
Don't wanna preach or teach the blues to you now brother

I walked on in no hurry (hurry, hurry, hurry)
And wondered where did we go wrong

Looking, listening, hoping that things are changing for the better
(Only time can tell) don't wanna preach or teach the blues to you now brother

It's a bloody fine situation
That we find ourselves in
He said something I couldn't mention here
And we laughed with him again

I walked on in no hurry (hurry hurry hurry)
And wondered where did we go wrong

Looking, listening, hoping that things are changing for the better
And trying to see if what you're teaching is the truth, sir

She said it's for the good of us all (of us all, of us all)

Looking, listening, hoping that things are changing for the better
Don't wanna preach or teach the blues to you now brother

I'm not so sure (sure, sure, sure)

And now it is early evening
I look across grey Leicester Square
A large and silent crowd were walking
Said they had every right to be there

Looking, listening, hoping that things are changing for the better
(Said they had every right to be there)
And trying to see if what you're teaching is the truth, sir
(Said they had every right to the square)

Looking, listening, hoping that things are changing for the better
(You get what you don't want) [righ to be there]
Don't wanna preach or teach the blues to you now brother
(You want what you don't get) [right to be there]

Looking, listening, hoping that things are changing for the better
(You have what you don't need) [right to the square]
And trying to see if what you're teaching is the truth, sir
(You need what you don't have) [right to be there]

Summer in London, watery sunshine
A place in the city where I can go sometimes
To get on a red bus and go anywhere
See all the sights and not pay the fare

Summer in London

Chip on your shoulder, chips in your mouth
Can you see the old lady with tickets to tout
Getting the tourists into their traps
Taking their money, the shirts off their backs

Summer in London

To get in a taxi and go anywhere
Jump out at the park and not pay the fare
Watch Speakers Corner, listen to their talk
Eating their ice creams, going for a walk

Summer in London, the weather man said
Waking up late got to get out of bed
So much to do got to go everywhere
A day on the town and not pay the fair

Riots in London

City! [Repeat x3]

He is just a boy in the city
Dressed the same he's uniformly pretty
He knows it's the time
He can read the signs
He can really change
In the city

The best dressed boy in town he thinks it's funny
Half a dozen jobs makes his money
He is just a boy in the city
Friday night propels Walter Mitty
It's about time
He can read the signs
A night on the town
In the city

Monday is a work day
Tuesday's much the same
Wednesday comes and goes away
Thursday's back again

Friday night is Sunday in the morning
Monday brings the weekend's final yawning
Now it's about time
He has crossed the line
He is miles away
In the city

City! [Repeat x5]

Now it's about time
He can read the signs
He can really change
It is on his mind
He has crossed the line
He has gone once more
From the city

Hey you, don't watch that
Watch this!
This is the heavy heavy monster sound
The nuttiest sound around
So if you've come in off the street
And you're beginning to feel the heat
Well listen buster
You better start to move your feet
To the rockinest, rock-steady beat
Of madness
One step beyond!