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Hard as Nails

from On Every Street Corner by Paul Gill

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about

A true tale of homelessness. On average, the long term homeless only live to their forties.
The tune is that of 'Rosemary Lane'.

lyrics

I'll tell you a tale as did happen to me
When into a life on the streets I had strayed
Where I begged and I slept and I played on my pipe
Where the wind's hard as nails and the pavement like ice

As I played on that tune they call 'Lark on the Strand'
At the top end of Dove Street near the Hackney cab stand
He stumbled towards me and sat down behind
And I played him a waltz as the people passed by

He talked for a while in a rambling way
And he seemed drunk or drugged and I hoped he'd not stay
He soon fell asleep to the sweet 'Northern Lass'
On that cold city street in the wind's icy blast

I played 'Haste to the Wedding' and Tenpenny Bit'
And many besides which I now do forget
Til a passerby pointed and another one said
'I'll call for an ambulance', fearing him dead

Well a crowd gathered round and the medics arrived
He'd gone blue in the face, he'd no life in his eyes
I blamed myself bitterly, hoped he'd not died
Where the wind's hard as nails and the pavement's like ice

The ambulance left and the crowd went on home
If I had one to go to I'd gladly the same
But alone with my guilt and my grief I did cry
And there in that doorway I spent the long night

At the police station next morning I tried
And next at the hospital I did inquire
But they could not tell me if he'd lived or had not
For I was no relation and his name I knew not

Now I'm still to be found on the streets day and night
Its a hard way to be, its a bitch of a life
And I beg, and I sleep, and I play on my pipe
where the wind's hard as nails, people's judgement like ice

credits

from On Every Street Corner, released June 1, 2003
Words- P. Gill Music- trad.
Arranged- P. Gill, J. Hamilton & J. O'Leary

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Paul Gill England, UK

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