Lift Of The Latch © 2008 Beryl Dyson

A hard-working chap for most of my life
I served my King and Country in strife
And now on my own in a cottage I dwell
I cook and I sew and I keep myself well.

Chorus: Dum diddley do dah diddley dum dunk
I drink when I’m sober and sing when I’m drunk!

I visit my local if I’ve enough cash
Only need enough money for the lift of the latch,
The boys in the pub, dressed in khaki and blue,
Shout ‘Here comes old Charlie – hey, cheer us up do!’

Chorus

Landlord! Fill his glass right to the top
Your local brewery does make a good drop,
He’ll soon be singing, more glasses you’ll fill
And happy you’ll be with the ring of the till.

Chorus

As a bottle of ale is bought for my fun,
Mildly I call, ‘Leave the top on that one!’
Songs that I sing I learned in the trench
The young ones join in by adding some French!

Chorus

They say they’re ‘peace-keepers’, for what I don’t know,
Could go off tomorrow to a place in the snow,
To a country of sunshine, burning and hot,
I don’t envy them – I’ve no wish to get shot!

Chorus

Full bottles, the landlord for Charlie did stash,
For the ‘lift of the latch’ Charles won’t need any cash.
The singing long over, troops back in their bunks,
Charlie does sing and he’s not one of the drunks!

Chorus