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The Balcony Tab

by Paul Heaton


The Balcony - Paul Heaton from the album The Cross Eyed Rambler

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Intro -        

                        
As he taxes a draw on the 15th floor
                     
He can't help cursing his luck
                                    
Life could have dealt him such a different hand
                  
Maybe 2 across and 23 up

                          
But there ain't door on the 38th floor
                   
No shortcut out of this dump
                                  
The nearer high rise comes closer to the skies
                      
The temptation to actually jump


And it's sadder the leaving than left
                      
Sadder the going than gone

Saddest of all is the person bereft
       
Of the chance to jump off or walk on

Falling from ladder, landing on dagger
                       
A thousand and one ways to die
                         
Better the brave and the early to grave
                               
And damn those too frightned to try

As he awaits the last score on the 25th floor
He looks down at the madness below
It's always some Grimsby or Scunthorpe
Some place he ain't been or won't go

And as result comes in and his head goes down
Yet another week he's gonna be stuck
Where the betting slips rain like confetti
Let down, thrown out or screwed up

And it's sadder the leaving than left
Sadder the going than gone
Saddest of all is the person bereft
Of the chance to jump off or walk on
Falling from ladder, landing on dagger
A thousand and one ways to die
Better the brave and the early to grave 
And damn those too frightned to try


So we wish you good spaces in faraway places
                               
Good luck in the folk that you meet

Cause if you don't travel, the dust and the gravel
     
Will swallow you up from your feet
     
This song that we give, please carry it with
                           
To remind you we long your return
                    
Travel thee far and travel thee well
                               
And bring back every lesson you learn


*DannyInE*