Beer and the Bible - Bagatelle

On the day he arrived with a light in his eyes

He’d says all his farewells and all his goodbyes

And he knew he’d find work, he was good with his hands

And the money was good too in this foreign land

On the first night he met with a few big hard men

Put his hand in his pocket again and again

I’ll replace it tomorrow, and all will be right

And he put down the hard stuff, went out to the night

And he’s walking all day, just looking for leads

As the light in the tunnel, it slowly recedes

And he’s back to the pub, only all roads reveals

Back to the beer and the Bible

In the cold light of day, in the concreate and steel

His sense of security started to reel

And realisation it was worse than he thought

Pours over his head like old tea from a pot

And he knows them by heart, the signs and the jeers

«No men wanted;

Bugger off;

No vacancies here»

Because there’s plenty of work if you’re first in the line

And there isn’t a thousand before you

And he’s walking all day, just looking for leads

As the light in the tunnel, it slowly recedes

And he’s back to the pub, only all roads reveals

Back to the beer and the Bible

So he lowers his sights, «I'd do anything at all!

To hell with the trail and the straight narrow walls

Sure a hunt wouldn’t hurt, for a month, maybe more

Will you give me a job, you lousy old hoor!»

And he’s walking all day, just looking for leads

As the light in the tunnel, it slowly recedes

And he’s back to the pub, only all roads reveals

Back to the beer and the Bible

Its a long time since he heard the waves on the shore

Near the place that he came from a long time before

So he drinks, and he prays, and can’t understand

Why they don’t need his skills here in this foreign land

So he’s walking all day, just looking for leads

As the light in the tunnel, it slowly recedes

And he’s back to the pub, only all roads reveals

Back to the beer and the Bible

Yes, he’s walking all day, just looking for leads

As the light in the tunnel, it slowly recedes

And he’s back to the pub, only all roads reveals

Back to the beer and the Bible

Back to the beer and the Bible…

He’s gone back to the beer and the Bible…