The Rumjacks - Big man down lyrics

They in their black battalion go
Fit to weep, dressed to kill
To the chapel on the hill
Through the wind and the blistering snow
They in their black battalion go
Fit to weep, dressed to kill
To the chapel on the hill
Through the wind and the blistering snow
Unafraid, undisguised
To put pennies in his eyes
The twist of a grin, the whiskers on his chin
Hide the teeth of a giant, broken
Yellow and defiant
His bones lay crossed, he'll no be back
He arrived in screaming pink
Now he'll leave in silent black
Cheer up ye lousy cadgers, I'll no be missed
I've given ye all the day off work
& leave to hit the piss
So tart me up in finery & put me to the flame
Don't plant me in the ground tho'
For fear I'll grow again!
I know each & every line
On your chiselled ugly faces
Every red & bloated inch from
Noses down to laces
Your nervous ticks, your treats & tricks
Your secrets & your lies
Oh if you could only see yourself
Through these old hollow eyes
You'd surely die!
Oh it's farewell for now my lovelies
Goodbye to your taunts & your charms
To stout hearted fellows with
Tunes for the burning
To waltzing in sweet Lassies arms
I'm off on the blood red rattler
With these villainous slappers & clowns
With the coughing, the wheezing
The farting & sneezing
Malevolent ghosts & their hounds
As a choking cloud he rose
To suffocate the lamp
The air was growing damp
Oily black the river flowed
The plough-beasts went blind
Fruit hung rotten on the vine
The holy ones prepare a sacrificial virgin
The need for sinners to repent
Was ne'er before so urgent
The tired & lame are goners
Strong men have soiled their breeks
All the roads are cut & it's
Been pissing down for weeks!