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It was midnight on the murder mile |
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Wilson Pickett's finest hour |
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I was walking towards the flashing smile |
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of the Crystal Palace Tower |
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past the big old church where the hands of God |
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were stuck on lucky 7 |
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And the bells inside were limbering up |
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for a sawn-off shotgun wedding |
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From the gas board to the fire brigade |
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there's a dozen GPO's, |
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an all night chicken takeaway |
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which was finger lickin' closed |
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As I passed the wonder of good old Woolworths |
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my travel card expired |
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It was midnight on the murder mile |
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O.K. let's riot |
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In the avenues and alleyways |
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I took a short-cut to the throat |
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I was stitched up by the boys brigade |
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and I was beaten to a pulp |
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I was marinaded, regurgitated |
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and served up as a cold meat |
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And as they shoved me in the blender |
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I remembered as daddy told me, |
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If the concrete and the clay beneath your feet |
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Don't get you son |
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The avenues and alleyways are gonna do it |
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Just for fun |
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They'll suck you in and spit you out |
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And leave your family lonely |
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The telephones on sticks will tell you |
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999 calls only |
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But it's too late to call the fire brigade |
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an ambulance or the cops |
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I need the father, son and holy coast guard |
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OPERATOR! |
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Long distance, information get me Jesus on the line |
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I need communion, confirmation and absolution for my crimes |
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I need a character witness Jesus I think I'm about to die |
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I saw my whole life pass before me when the night bus passed me by |
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It was 3 O'clock on the murder mile |
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when I came to my senses |
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And my only death wish was that I had |
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a sockful of fifty pences, |
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a public execution that the whole neighbourhood could watch |
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Or just a phone box, a phone box, my kingdom for a phone box |
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If the concrete and the clay beneath your feet |
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Don't get you son |
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The avenues and alleyways are gonna do it |
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Just for fun |
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When they've sucked you in and spat you out |
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And left your family lonely |
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The telephones on sticks will tell you |
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999 calls only |