Elvis Costello - The Night Before Larry Was Stretched Lyrics
The night before larry was stretchedOh, the night before larry was stretchedWell the boys they all paid him a visitA bit in their sacks too they fetchedFor they sweated their duds till they ris itFor larry was always the ladWhen a boy was condemned to the squeezerWould fence all the duds that he hadFor to help his poor friend to a sneezer---- and warm his ol gob fore he diedWell the boys they came crowding in fastAnd they threw all their stools round about himSix glims round his trap-case was placedFor he couldnt be well-waked without themWhen one of them asked, could he dieWithout having duly repented?Said larry, thats all in me eyeAnd first by the clergy invented----for to get a fat bit for themselvesOh and Ill be cut up like a pie:And me nob from me body be parted.Youre in the wrong box, then, says i,For blast me if theyre so hard-heartedA chalk on the back of your neckIs all that jack catch dares to give youThen mind not such trifles affectOh why should the likes of them grieve you? ----and now boys, come tip us the deck.Well the cards being called for they playedUntil larry found one of them cheatedA point in his napper was madeFor the boy hed been easily heatedOh, hold me the hokey, you thief!Ill scuttle your knob with me dodle!You cheat me because Im in griefAh, but soon Ill demolish your noddle----and leave you your claret to drinkThen the clergy came in with his bookAnd he spoke him so smooth and so civilLarry tipped him kill-sour lookAnd he pitched his big wig to the devilThen sighing he threw back his headFor to get a sweet drop of the bottleAnd dutiful sighing he said,Oh the hempt twill be soon round me throttle----and choke me poor windpipe to death.Oh then sure its the best way to dieOh the dead are no better the livingFor now when the gallows is highOur journey is shorter to heaven.But what harasses larry the mostAnd makes his soul poor melancholyIs he thinks of the time when his ghostIt will come in a sheet to sweet molly----oh sure, itll kill her aliveSo moving, these last words he spokeWe all vented our tears in a showerFor me own part I thought me heart brokeFor to see him cut down like a flowerOn his travels we watched him next dayThe throttler I thought I could kill himBut larry not one word did sayNor change did he come to king william----and then did his color grow white.When he came to the old dublin chitHe was tucked up so neat and so prettyThe rumbler jugged off from his feetAnd he died with his face to the cityHe kicked too, but that was all prideFor soon you might see twas all overSoon after the noose was untiedIn darkness we waked him in clover----and sent him to take his ground sweatOh, the night before larry was stretchedWell the boys they all paid him a visitA bit in their sacks too they fetchedFor they sweated their duds till they ris itFor larry was always the ladWhen a boy was condemned to the squeezerWould fence all the duds that he hadFor to help his poor friend to a sneezer----and warm his ol gob fore he died--and warm his ol gob fore he died
