The Dubliners - The Old Alarm Clock lyrics

When first I came to London in the year of 39
The city looked so wonderful and
The girls were so divine
But the coppers got suspicious and they
Soon gave me the knock
I was charged with being the owner
Of an old alarm clock

Well, next morning down by Marlborough Street
I caused no little stir
The IRA were busy and a telephone did burr
Says the judge, "I'm going to charge you
With the possession of this machine
And I'm also going to charge you
With the wearing of the Green"

Now, says I to him, "Your honour
If you give me half a chance
I'll show you how me small machine
Can make the peelers dance
It ticks away politely till you
Get an awful shock
And it ticks away the gelignite
Of me old alarm clock"

Said the judge, "Now, listen here
Listen here, my man
And I'll tell you of a plan
For you and all your countrymen I
Do not give a damn
The only time you'll take is mine:
Ten years in Dartmoor dock
And you can count it by the
Ticking of your old alarm clock

Now, this lonely Dartmoor city would
Put many in the jigs the cell
It isn't pretty and it isn't very big
Sure, I'd long ago have left the
Place if I had only got
Ah, me couple of sticks of gelignite
And me old alarm clock