Football Poets

THE BADGE

¶ 1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 There are many tales, from many trails
by reds who’ve traveled far
of wine and dance, from Rome to France
where they’ve graced most every bar.

¶ 2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 As tales unfold from young and old
you hear the strangest things
but none more so, than the tales which flow
from a Dortmund bar last spring.

¶ 3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 The beer flowed, as we hit the road
on the eve before the game
our shouts and cheers, rolled back the years
all together once again.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Some fat, some small, some thin, some tall
we’re all now middle aged
but have burnt the oil, on foreign soil
since the Billy Shankly days.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Twas an awesome sight, on that brisky night
in the Dortmund market square
With the Alaves boys, we danced to the noise
of the Samba, everywhere.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 We’d sing and dance, and then advance
through glazoned weary eyes
our dwindling crew, was now but a few
we were dropping down like flies.

¶ 7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 I remember then, it was after ten
in a side street off the square
where a shimmering light, first caught my sight
and seemed to lure me there.

¶ 8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 The alley was dark, as a hound dog barked
and howled at a pale blue moon
then a breeze unfurled, and gently swirled
all the litter which was strewn.

¶ 9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 I stopped and paused, as I heard the roar
of laughter song and dance
as something said, inside my head
that I wasn’t here by chance.

¶ 10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 As I ventured down, I heard the sound
of a piano’s rag time tune
which rang out loud, midst the smokey clouds
from the doors of this saloon

¶ 11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 I rubbed my eyes, as I stepped inside
I was seeing things for sure
all the men wore hats, and silk cravats
like they did before the war.

¶ 12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 Then through the crowd, sat tall and proud
in the corner of the room
was a familiar bloke, in hat and cloak
who was very smartly groomed.

¶ 13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 He pulled a chair, then called me there
and I walked as though hypnotized
then down I sat, and began to chat
with this mysterious old guy.

¶ 14 Leave a comment on verse 14 0 Hello there lad, how is your dad
haven’t seen him for so long
and I aint seen you, since you were 2
back in 1961

¶ 15 Leave a comment on verse 15 0 His grace and charm, made me feel calm
as the beer and whisky flowed
I was mesmerized, and warmed inside
by the stories which he told.

¶ 16 Leave a comment on verse 16 0 I was worse for drink, so didn’t think
too much about what he’d said
and the piano played, and the bar room swayed
as we talked about the reds.

¶ 17 Leave a comment on verse 17 0 And then by chance, I happened to glance
at a badge upon his chest
it was worn and old, trimmed in gold
with an old style Liverpool crest.

¶ 18 Leave a comment on verse 18 0 He then revealed, this tiny shield
and placed it in my hand
“Thats yours he said, from a grand old red”
“pretty soon you’ll understand.”

¶ 19 Leave a comment on verse 19 0 I was so impressed by this little crest
looking down as I pinned it on
a voice wished me luck, but as I looked up
this mysterious man was gone.

¶ 20 Leave a comment on verse 20 0 Well I searched the place, for his friendly face
but the old man was nowhere in sight
So I drank up my ale, and picked up my tail
and decided to call it a night.

¶ 21 Leave a comment on verse 21 0 Next day I awoke full of whisky and smoke
then remembered the night before
thought it was a dream, till a little badge gleamed
from my shirt, on the back of the door.

¶ 22 Leave a comment on verse 22 0 So I hopped in the shower, and chilled for an hour
then set off to the square in the rain
all the kopites were soaked, as they partied and joked
and sang with the boys from Spain.

¶ 23 Leave a comment on verse 23 0 They thought I was mad, when I took all the lads
down the entry to show them the place
it was all boarded out, and said ‘Danger keep out’
Derelict, like the look on my face.

¶ 24 Leave a comment on verse 24 0 With strong German liquor, my memory soon flickered
and forgot all this mystery
then later that night, we went wild with delight
as the redmen made history.

¶ 25 Leave a comment on verse 25 0 We cashed in our marks, and danced in the dark
while the stars did a Jig in the sky
all the bars in the Town, watched the beer flow down
as the Liverpool boys drank them dry.

¶ 26 Leave a comment on verse 26 0 So the very next day, the 17th of may
I finally arrived back home
took the badge from my chest, to put with the rest
from Paris and Wembley and Rome.

¶ 27 Leave a comment on verse 27 0 I then heard a thump, which made me jump
so I quickly dashed upstairs
by the wardrobe door, all over the floor
there were photo’s everywhere.

¶ 28 Leave a comment on verse 28 0 I tidied them up, then happened to look
at a tattered old black and white
I stood and stared, and then I heard
the piano from the pub that night.

¶ 29 Leave a comment on verse 29 0 I sat on the bed and shook my head
breaking out in a stone cold sweat
as I realised the man, who’d shaken my hand
was the grandfather I’d never met.

¶ 30 Leave a comment on verse 30 0 My whole body shook, as I took one more look
to the sound of an echoing laugh
for the badge on my chest, was the same little crest
which he wore on this old photograph.

¶ 31 Leave a comment on verse 31 0 There are many tails from many trails
by reds who’ve traveled far
of wine and dance from Rome to France
where they’ve graced most every bar.

¶ 32 Leave a comment on verse 32 0 As tales unfold from young and old
you hear the strangest things
but none more so, than the ghostly glow
from a Dortmund bar last spring.