Old Jack's Charms

It was in the tattoo parlour

Where he engraved their names

Words a winding round his shoulders

Reminders now he's older



In the magic of the parlour

Down his arm unwinds a story

Love and hate and mum and dad

In flames of hope and glory



A mermaid and a schooner

Tells us he was once at sea

A heart pierced by an arrow

Tells us once more in love was he

And a dragon spitting fire

He's forgotten what that's for

But tattooed on his mind

Is a reminder of the war



He gave up tattooing lovers

Where no room for any others

A line through every sweetheart

With another etched below

In every port a stormy girl

They loved him and they loved him so

Each one for all to see adorned

With cupids and with bows



A mermaid and a schooner

Tells us he was once at sea

A heart pierced by an arrow

Tells us once more in love was he

And a dragon spitting fire

He's forgotten what that's for

But tattooed on his mind is a reminder of war



In the magic of the parlour

Swapping laughter swapping stories

Where the words are often hard

And the air is always blue

He remembers all his mates from then

He lost a couple maybe ten

Their headstone on his forearm as a crucifix tattoo



Now he leans upon the bar

With a mysterious air

And the ladies gather round

To view his decorated arms

He'll tell them of each scroll and line

And other scars not so fine

And they always want to see

A little more of old jacks charms



A mermaid and a schooner ...




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