Down In The Tube Station At The Midnight

Jam

The distant echo -


of faraway voices boarding faraway trains


To take them home to


the ones that they love and who love them forever


The glazed, dirty steps - repeat my own and reflect my thoughts


Cold and uninviting, partially naked


Except for toffee wrapers and this morning's paper


Mr. Jones got run down


Headlines of death and sorrow - they tell of tomorrow


Madmen on the rampage


And I'm down in the tube station at midnight


I fumble for change - and pull out the Queen


Smiling, beguiling


I put in the money and pull out a plum


Behind me


Whispers in the shadows - gruff blazing voices


Hating, waiting


"Hey boy" they shout - "have you got any money?"


And I said - "I've a little money and a take away curry,


I'm on my way home to my wife.


She'll be lining up the cutlery,


You know she's expecting me


Polishing the glasses and pulling out the cork"


And I'm down in the tube station at midnight





I first felt a fist, and then a kick


I could now smell their breath


They smelt of pubs and Wormwood Scrubs


And too many right wing meetings


My life swam around me


It took a look and drowned me in its own existence


The smell of brown leather


It blended in with the weather


It filled my eyes, ears, nose and mouth


It blocked all my senses


Couldn't see, hear, speak any longer


And I'm down in the tube station at midnight


I said I was down in the tube station at midnight





The last thing that I saw


As I lay there on the floor


Was "Jesus Saves" painted by an atheist nutter


And a British Rail poster read "Have an Awayday - a cheap holiday -


Do it today!"


I glanced back on my life


And thought about my wife


'Cause they took the keys - and she'll think it's me


And I'm down in the tube station at midnight


The wine will be flat and the curry's gone cold


I'm down in the tube station at midnight


Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight