Intro : (x4)
I'm a maker of ballads righ t pretty
I write them right here in th e street
You can buy them all over th e city
Yours for a penny a sheet
I'm a word pecker out of th e printers
Out of the dens of Gi n lane
I'll write up a scene on a counter
Con fessions and sins in th e mai n, boys
Con fessions and sins in th e main
Then you'll find me in Madam e Ge neva's
Keeping the demons a t bay
There's nothing like gin fo r drowning th em in
But they'll always be back on a hangin g day
On a hanging day
They come rattling over th e cobbles
They sit on their coffins o f black
Some are struck dumb, som e gabble
Top- heavy on brandy o r sack
The pews are all full of fin e fellows
And the hawker has set up he r shop
As they're turning them off at th e gallows
She'll be selling right under th e dro p, boys
Selling right under th e drop
Then you'll find me in Madam e Ge neva's
Keeping the demons a t bay
There's nothing like gin fo r drowning th em in
But they'll always be back on a hangin g day
On a hanging day