Ragworm

Chipped and bitten dolls heads in a basket up for sale

The loneliness of markets drag a shadow like a whale

These are hard times given

But if hard times win, you're begging in hell

Your dad could hide a bottle in an eyelid, in a shell

Your mother makes a dish nobody's mother makes as well

These are dark times risen

But if dark times win, you're wishing in hell

Oh, we've seen it all before

Boys on the cove selling worms to the boats coming ashore

Dogs out in the rubbish that the cat's already delved

Your brother turns his muscles to the sound of factory bells

All gods forbidden

You buy your peace on 99 shelves

The schools are cold and violent, and the television's loud

Every park is cemetery, holes and muddy mounds

This is our great island

And now good people shutting it down

Oh, they've seen it all before

Boys on the cove selling worms to the boats

Boys on the cove selling worms to the boats

Boys on the cove selling worms to the boats coming ashore

Oh, you've seen it all before

Boys on the cove selling worms to the boats

Girls at the hearth knitting words, and breaking oaths

Man stripping cars singing songs from the road

And rats in the bars licking coke from the hose

There's a crash overboard and a wink for the host

Boys open-armed selling worms to the boats coming ashore