Football Poets

AWAY ALONE WITH PALACE

¶ 1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 My mate called me frantically, via teephone,
telling me I’ll have to travel—–to City alone.

¶ 2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Gave me an excuse he’d just made up,
same as when we drew Millwall away in the cup.

¶ 3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Callaghan was prime minister, Slade and Sweet the bands,
and when you travelled away, you took your life into your hands.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 I went to football matches, minus any malice,
all I wanted to do was follow CRYSTAL PALACE.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 So on Saturday morning, I said goodbye to the wife,
hoping to return, with victory and my life.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 I exit the M6, the journey’s gone to plan,
and the first person I see, is a City fan.

¶ 7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 UP THE PALACE ! I bravely shout, at the lad who’s about nine,
and speed away up the road as he gives me the V-sign.

¶ 8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 I park a mile from the ground, to be on the side of caution,
but straightaway I’m the victim, of local mob extortion.

¶ 9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 “It’s 25 pence mate, so no one cuts your tyre,
and another 25 so your car don’t go on fire.

¶ 10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 In London he’d be told, to F-off and get lost,
but when you’re travelling away alone it’s all part of the cost.

¶ 11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 I looked around at the terraced street and thought of Coronation,
as I gave the little bastards their 50 pence donation.

¶ 12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 I notice jean clad city hoodlums, hanging out in pairs,
checking out the strangers with confrontational stares.

¶ 13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 Travelling away, one thing you were taught,
don’t wear no scarf if you ‘aint huge support.

¶ 14 Leave a comment on verse 14 0 It’s alright for the Chelsea’s, Uniteds’ and the Pool,
but to wear my Palace colours I’d be a bloody fool.

¶ 15 Leave a comment on verse 15 0 Still three hours to kick-off, I’ve got some time to kill,
maybe a couple of pints will help my nerves to chill.

¶ 16 Leave a comment on verse 16 0 I ask a friendly copper,——-where I can get, a peaceful drink,
and he rubs his chin in thoughtfulness and at his colleague gives a wink.

¶ 17 Leave a comment on verse 17 0 “Ooop the road lad, make a right, you’ll find a nice saloon,
it’s perfect for away fans, it’s called’ the Old Blue Moon’.”

¶ 18 Leave a comment on verse 18 0 Into the public house I go, it’s a mass of City blue,
and a hundred hostile faces thinking ” who the hell are you.”

¶ 19 Leave a comment on verse 19 0 Squeeze my way to the bar, afraid of being vocal,
one word out— of my mouth and they’d know I’m not a local.

¶ 20 Leave a comment on verse 20 0 I know a London accent, would be their excuse to start a fray,
oh how I wished I ‘d stayed at home and never went away.

¶ 21 Leave a comment on verse 21 0 The barman had an Irish face, and an Irish brogue that matched,
and when he asked me what I wanted, a cunning plan I hatched.

¶ 22 Leave a comment on verse 22 0 ” Oil have a point o guinness” I asked in an Irish twang,
and I stood my ground till half past two, when last orders rang.

¶ 23 Leave a comment on verse 23 0 “He’s just some paddy who’s got lost, I heard a patron say,
as any attention on me seemed to go away.

¶ 24 Leave a comment on verse 24 0 The pub was getting noisy, as of their hero’s they did sing,
of Colin Bell and Rodney and Tueart upon the wing.

¶ 25 Leave a comment on verse 25 0 They sang they hated Forest and Man United too,
these were the rougher element of the City crew.

¶ 26 Leave a comment on verse 26 0 It was nearly time for kick-off——- and as I walked out of the bar,
I was grabbed by a City bruiser, whose face it bore a scar.

¶ 27 Leave a comment on verse 27 0 ” Hey you Irish bastard.Don’t come in here no more,
and this is for the Birmingham bombs” as he knocked me to the floor.

¶ 28 Leave a comment on verse 28 0 I decide my safest action, is to make a fast retreat,
and I find myself by the ground on a place called Kippax Street.

¶ 29 Leave a comment on verse 29 0 Then in my utter confusion,——I did something I didn’t intend,
I entered the first turnstile, into the City end.

¶ 30 Leave a comment on verse 30 0 The game kicked off, with ” COME ON CITY” echoing in my ear,
as I stood their frozen in my spot, to terrified to cheer.

¶ 31 Leave a comment on verse 31 0 City scored before the break, and the Kippax end went wild,
and I clapped my hands politely and very falsely smiled.

¶ 32 Leave a comment on verse 32 0 Then in the final minute, Don Rogers made a break,
and he left a trail of City players chasing in his wake.

¶ 33 Leave a comment on verse 33 0 He rounded big Joe Corrigan and tapped it in to score,
and in the City end I could contain my joy no more.

¶ 34 Leave a comment on verse 34 0 I jumped up and down, joyfully punching air,
I was signing my death warrant but I didn’t really care.

¶ 35 Leave a comment on verse 35 0 A thousand fingers pointed, chanting my head would be kicked in,
for I was a cockney in the City end—-and that was a mortal sin.

¶ 36 Leave a comment on verse 36 0 They surged down the terraces, telling me my destination,
even letting me know the form of transportation.

¶ 37 Leave a comment on verse 37 0 I took a couple of blows, as they moved in for the kill,
but then thank God I was rescued, by a handful of ‘old bill’.

¶ 38 Leave a comment on verse 38 0 They took me by the arms and led me from the ground,
and escorted me through the back streets, until my car was found.

¶ 39 Leave a comment on verse 39 0 I slumped into the seat, of my faithful morris minor,
and looking in the mirrror, saw I had a whopping shiner.

¶ 40 Leave a comment on verse 40 0 Once on the motorway, I let out a mighty sigh,
as I looked back at Manchester, where I thought I’d die.

¶ 41 Leave a comment on verse 41 0 It was just after midnight, when I got to face the wife,
“for God sakes John, what have you done, why don’t you get a life.

¶ 42 Leave a comment on verse 42 0 So for a week I grovelled and took care of her needs,
and two weeks after City I was driving up to Leeds.