Fill your boots with
Vermouth
While the Captain's away
I have left my home
Winter Birds have flown
All my friends have grown
Gone on their merry way

Me and Dylan
We were walking into town
Wind had been blowing hard
Had finally settled down
Left a lot of things undone
Like trinkets in my room
So many things half finished
That I'll have to finish soon

All is lost nothing's gained
All my labours are in vain
What have I now
But sweat on my brow
Parade's passing through town
Confetti falling down
The marching band play
'Till the ending of the day

Me and Marie
We were walking through the town
We sat in some mucky pub
On a snickleway we found
Left a lot of things unsaid
Since I spoke to you in June
So many things half finished
That I'll have to finish soon

Night is asking me 
Where you might be
I have no answers there
You could be anywhere
It's the season of change
Why do I feel so strange
Can't shake this off
Haven't I given enough

Me and Ric 
We were walking out of town
He had been toiling hard
Since the moon'd been driven down
Sang a song about a bride
Who was left by her groom
So many songs half sung 
That I'll have to finish soon

Here's the link to a live recording, courtesy of Marie Clarke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga3eS3ePebM

Fill Your Boots

I swept the sweat of the leading man
I've taken jeers from disillusioned fans
My grubby face was never washed in lights
Never saw the pretty sights
I never climbed that ladder high

The curtain cries for my shuffling shoes
An ambling tragedy well and true
My music is the creaking floor
Nothing more, nothing more
I'll write my scenes by moonlight

I'm the lonely stage sweeper
This broom in my hand
This grave just can't get any deeper
For the life of an old brigand
There's a feast of fame and fortune
I'd really like to take a bite
But I'll be sweeping up 
Rose petals tonight 

I never got a front row seat
My dressing room's the blue side street
I've got this box full of ticket stubs
And old tattered satin gloves
And one old Shakespeare costume

My bedroom is made of props
There's masks and glitter and tabletops 
And come morning I've to go away
Come back for the matinee
Then the final, final act

I'm the lonely stage sweeper
This broom in my hand
This grave just can't get any deeper
For the life of an old brigand
There's a feast of fame and fortune
I'd really like to take a bite
But I'll be sweeping up 
Rose petals tonight 

So next time you're at the theatre
Big names to see
Next time you're at the theatre
Spare a thought for the old stage sweeper




The Stage Sweeper

Mister Mister can't you see
They've got a pack of dogs on me
Up on your feet now Breadcrumb Boy
Cover you trail use every ploy

For they're coming and they're coming
Over the hills and through the trees
They're marching and they're drumming
Shooting at the breeze

Now Gravedigger in a dead man's coat
Dig me out of this world of ghosts 
Take up your paper and pen in hand
Write me out of this besieged land 

For they're coming and they're coming
Over the hills and through the trees
They're marching and they're drumming
Shooting at the breeze

Light a fire, send up smoke
Throw fat on the flames and give it a stoke
Mister Mister can't you see
They've got a pack of dogs  on me


Send Up Smoke

Fill Your Boots (Band)

Liquorice Sticks EP

Svengali Is No More

Hour Of The Domino

Captain Ahab is a track from Long Lost Tom's homemade EP: Ahab Ahab.

Bandcamp: https://longlosttom.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LongLostTom/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain Ahab I’ve seen him
Goin’ after that whale
When his spear from the mainline goes skimmin’
Great Caesar I’ve seen him
It’s to him I hail
When the light in the west it is dimmin’

You’ve only to ask them and they’ll tell you their tale
As strong as any wind that set a ship to sail

That knight I’ve seen him 
Goin’ after that grail
When the wine in his own glass is brimmin’
Great mountains I’ve crossed them
In the distance they grow pale
Great rivers their streams are bringin’

You’ve only to ask them and they’ll tell you their tale
As strong as any wind that set a ship to sail

My father I’ve seen him
Goin’ hammer and nail
When the seam in the coalface is grinnin’
That fog I’ve seen it comin’ over the Dales
When the bells of the evening are ringin’

You’ve only to ask them and they’ll tell you their tale
As strong as any wind that set a ship to sail

The wind it is howlin’
And I’m afraid it might bite
It’s got its back up against the wall
And it’s schemin’
The gates of the city
Have got traitors heads up on spikes
And the words of their book have lost their meaning

Great statues I’ve seen ‘em 
Leaning crooked and frail
Onto to their foundations they are clingin’
Merry faces I’ve seen ‘em
Swiggin’ the ale
Into the night they go singin’

You’ve only to ask them and they’ll tell you their tale
As strong as any wind that set a ship to sail

Captain Ahab

Belly of the Beast is a song from Long Lost Tom's homemade EP Ahab Ahab.

Bandcamp: https://longlosttom.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LongLostTom/

Richard Smith - Drums & Percussion
Thomas Smith - Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Accordion, Vocals 
-------------------------------------------------------------
In the belly of the beast
Thirteen-hundred fathoms deep
Three long days now without sleep
And the air is getting thin
Jonah can you swim?

In the stomach of the whale
Trapped here in a rib cage jail
Take your pen and write this tale
For the light is getting dim
Jonah can you swim?

Jonah can you get the message out?
Jonah do you think we'll win this bout?
Jonah, I'm Thomas
And I am full of doubt

In the black guts of the brute
Stinking rags and rotten boots
Three bags full of pirate loot
But I have no cause to grin
Jonah can you swim?

Jonah mumbles in his sleep
Of all the puddings he'd like to eat
Breaks every vow he swore to keep
As he stretches out his limbs
Jonah can you swim?

Jonah can you get the message out?
Jonah do you think we'll win this bout?
Jonah, I'm Thomas
And I am full of doubt

I was just out fishing
I never expected to be out on this expedition 
Me I was just out for a swim
I don't even pretend to know him
Oh but what a mess that we are in
Jonah can you swim?

Echoes rumble down below
Voices come and voices go
They seep into this bleak grotto 
And their melody is grim
Jonah can you swim?

Jonah can you get the message out?
Jonah do you think we'll win this bout?
Jonah, I'm Thomas
And I am full of doubt