I've seen snakes and ships and girlfriends' names
And daggers dripping with red.
I've seen dancing girls and death's head skulls
And tombstones of those who are dead.
I've seen Mickey Mouse and Yogi Bear and mermaids sitting on rocks,
And ladies in their underwear, tattooed on Scousers and Jocks.
Some are so bad they must have been pissed
And some have the spelling all wrong.
Some were started in old London Town and finished off in Hong Kong.
They're on arms and legs and shoulders and chests
And some where the sun doesn't shine.
Sailors like anchors and favourite ports
And the flag of the Blue Funnel line.
In Rio once I saw a tattoo, surely the worst of all time,
A row of dots across his neck with, 'Cut along dotted line'.
Tigers and dragons and spiders' webs,
I've even seen Desperate Dan
And one poor soul displayed on his back an intricate map of Japan.
Some must ask as the years go by if that picture was worth all the pain.
There would be very few would have that tattoo
If they had their time over again.
I've sat beside some mates of mine as the needle ravaged their skin
But I'm happy to say there was never a time
I was tempted to ever join in.

David Partridge