The Last Tripper

[Jim Scott]

The Last Tripper

‘E’s drinking ‘imself to death, poor sod,
That’s ‘ow it affects some blokes.
‘E can’t see no future, an’ don’t know ‘is God
An’ ain’t got no bleedin’ folks.
‘E’s old an’ used. Tired. Confused.
‘E’s buggered, but can’t reason why.
The comp’ny don’t want ‘im. ‘E don’t want ‘imself.
‘E’s ‘azzard to shipping. E’s azzard to ealf.
So why don’t ‘e bleedin’ well die?
‘E’s still got ‘is natural will to survive
An’ that’s all what keeps ‘im alive.

‘E’s worked wiv the sea all is life, poor sod!
‘E started when they ‘ad sails.
‘E’s rounded Australia, fished off Cape Cod
An’ told us some marvelous tales
Of Oceans an’ wars. Sailors an’ shores
An’ ships. But that’s all in ‘is past.
‘E’s tellin’ ‘em now to the glass in ‘is ‘and
An’ shakin’ ‘is ‘ead like ‘e don’t understand.
Nigh fifty year under the mast.
An’ what’ll ‘e get for that life what is lost?
‘Is pension won’t cover that cost.

‘E’s cryin’ now in ‘is drink, poor sod!
The way that a baby would.
‘E’s catchin’ ‘is past in a wet paper wad,
But tears can’t do ‘im no good.
‘Coz time moves on, and ‘is ‘as gone,
An’ ‘e don’t seem to know where it went.
‘E can’t turn ‘is life back to where it began,
But ‘e wants to, an’ wants to believe that ‘e can
‘Coz e’s figured ‘is time’s about spent.
If ‘e’s lucky retirement won’t ‘and around
Before ‘e gets ‘eaven bound.

‘E’s drinkin’ ‘imself to death, Poor sod!
An’ maybe he’s doing it right.
‘E don’t look that bad an’ ‘e don’t look that odd.
It’s just a pathetic sight.
‘Is whiskey breath now stinks o’ death.
‘E’s killin’ a bit ev’ry day.
What ever the money ‘e’s managed to save
Should cover the cost of ‘is near empty grave
An’ the people what carts ‘im away.
An’ I wonder if ever a tear will be shed
When ‘e’s finally drunk ‘imself dead.

www.caridiangroup.com

[Keith at Tregenna]

Cannot thank you enough, have tried to pen a few, but not really my forte. Many of the MN things that I have been involved with have been both spearheaded and aided much by the words of Capt. Joe Earl: http://joesverse.simplesite.com/160596387

You are so welcome, will be in touch further, not had the time to see all that you have on the web etc, but will be doing so ASAP. K.