Sam Carter

On a november day in an east end cafe

There’s a fight kicking off to the right of me

‘Well I’ve half a mind to hurt you’ he cries

‘But I don’t want the world and his wife to see’

And he’s dragged that girl outside

With his arms around her

There’s a yellow sign

Where they found her

‘Cos there was some other man she’d hit on

Now she’s barely alive

What a secret to try and sit on

One you know you shouldn’t have to hide

It’s a year to the day since they put him away

He’s down for a ten-stretch at best

And she goes every week just to hear her lover speak

But there’s the one thing he can’t get off his chest

And then she forced his hand

Showed him a letter

She said ‘I hope you sent my love

When you met her’

‘Cos there was some other girl he’d hit on

Yeah he’s as guilty as sin

What a secret to try and sit on

When you’ve nothing you can keep it in

And if ever they meet when he’s back on the street

Who knows if the cafe will still be there

And will she still believe in that sinner’s reprieve

That in love as in war that all is fair?

If all he’s on is his best behaviour

And she’s holding her tongue

They can clear up the bad blood later

For now they’ll sit and watch it run

For now they’ll sit and watch it run