Genesis - The Battle of Epping Forest lyrics

Along the Forest Road
There's hundreds of cars – luxury cars
Each has got it's load of convertible bars
Cutlery cars – superscars!
For today is the day when they sort it out
Sort it out
'Cause they disagree on a gangland boundary
They disagree on a gangland boundary

There's Willy Wright and his boys
– one helluva noise, that's Billy's boys!
With fully-fashioned bugs
That's Little John's thugs
The Barking Slugs – supersmugs!
For today is the day when they sort it out
Sort it out
Yes, these Christian soldiers fight
To protect the poor
East end heroes got to score in

The Battle of Epping Forest
Yes, it's the Battle of Epping Forest
Right outside your door
And you ain't seen nothing like it
No, you ain't seen nothing like it
Not since the Civil War

Coming over the hill are the boys of Bill
And Johnny's lads stand very still
With the thumpire's shout
They all start to clout – there's
No guns in this gentleman's bout
Georgie moves in on the outside left
With a chain flying 'round his head
And Harold Demure, from Art Literature
Nips up the nearest tree
(Here come the cavalry)

Amidst the battle roar
Accountants keep the score: 10-4
They've never been alone
After getting a radiophone
The bluebells are ringing for Sweetmeal Sam
Real ham handing out bread and jam
Just like any picnic
Picnic – Picnic – Picnic

It's 5 to 4 on William Wright he
Made his pile on Derby night
When Billy was a kid, walking the streets
The other kids hid – so they did!
And now, after working hard
In security trade, he's got it made
The shops that need aid are
Those that haven't paid
"I'll do my double-show quick!"

Said Mick the Prick, fresh out the nick
"I sell cheap holiday the
Minute they leave and
A visit I pay – does it pay!"
And his friend, Liquid Len by name of Wine
Women & Wandsworth fame
Said "I'm breaking the legs of the
Bastard that got me framed!
I'm breaking the legs of the
Bastard that got me framed!" got me framed

They called me the Reverend when
I entered the Church unstained
My employers have changed
But the name has remained

It all began when I went on a tour
Hoping to find some furniture
Followed a sign saying "Beautiful Chest"
It led to a lady who showed me her best
She was taken by surprise when
I quickly closed my eyes
So she rang the bell and quick as hel

Bob the Nob came out on his job
To see what the trouble was
"Louise, is the Reverend hard to please?"
"You're telling me!"
"Perhaps, sir, if it's not too late
We could interest you in
Our old-fashioned Staffordshire plate?"

"Oh no, not me, I'm a man of repute"
But the Devil caught hold of my soul
And a voice called out "Shoot!"
To save my steeple, I visited people
For this I'd gone when I met Little John
His name came, I understood
When the judge said, "You are a robbing hood"
He told me of his strange foundation
Conceived in sight of the Woodstock nation
He'd had to hide his reputation
When poor, it was salvation from door to door
But now, with a pin-up guru every week
It was Love
Peace & Truth Incorporated for all who seek

He employed me as a karma ma-mechanic
With overall charms
His hands were then fit to receive
Receive alms

That's why we're in the
Battle of Epping Forest
Yes, it's the Battle of Epping Forest
Right outside your door
We guard your souls for peanuts
And we guard your shops and houses
For just a little more, just a little more

In with a left hook is
The Bethnal Green Butcher
But he's countered on the right
By Mick's chain-gang fight
And Liquid Len with his smashed bottle men
Is lobbing Bob the Nob across the gob
With his kisser in a mess
Bob seems under stress
But Jones the Jug hit's Len right in the mug
And Harold Demure, who's still not quite sure
Fires acorns from out of his sling
(Here come the cavalry)

Up, up above the crowd
Inside their Silver Cloud, done proud
The bold and brazen brass
Seen darkly through the glass
The butler's got jam on his Rolls
Roy doles out the lot
With tea from a silver pot
Just like any picnic
Picnic – Picnic – Picnic

Along the Forest Road
It's the end of the day
And the Clouds roll away
Each has got it's load – they'll
Come out for the count
At the break-in of day
When the limos return for their final review
It's all through
All they can see is the morning goo

"There's no-one left alive – must be a draw"
So the Blackcap Barons toss a
Coin to settle the score