LYRIC FOR SALE

By Bernard Morris

(verse 1)
There he goes again Marvin the Mudlark
Searching in the mud of the wet bank
Scavenging the foreshore until the dark
River sewage in a stenchy stank
Clinging rags stiffened with crusty dry mud
Filthy boy in need of a good clean
For his health the conditions are no good
That he has to do this is obscene

(chorus)
Marvin sweet boy Marvin we all feel for you we do
Please be careful and don’t let the tide
Wash your young and precious life away Marvin sweet boy
I feel for you Marvin deep inside

(verse 2)
In the thick sludge wading up to his waist
In the open sewer full of shit
With a look of despair on his sad face
To the horror there is no limit

(chorus)
Marvin sweet boy Marvin we all feel for you we do
Please be careful and don’t let the tide
Wash your young and precious life away Marvin sweet boy
I feel for you Marvin deep inside

(bridge)
Listen to the church bells ringing by the River Thames
Tolling for the boys who swept away
Silent casualties of poverty hunger and shame
For all those sweet boys let us all pray

(verse 3)
Working barefoot in the winter causes
Severe chilblains on his tender feet
The poor boy he works harder than horses
And he hasn’t had a thing to eat
In the winter the boy he gets frostbite
Blisters on his fingers and his toes
Working all day right through until midnight
Thick stinky silt clinging to his clothes

(chorus)
Marvin sweet boy Marvin we all feel for you we do
Please be careful and don’t let the tide
Wash your young and precious life away Marvin sweet boy
I feel for you Marvin deep inside