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JINX

From a very early age
I felt that I was being used
By some devil
In an evil sickly game

It started before school
When I got in tow with Bill
He was poisoned
Then dumped outside the school

That went round and round my head
About the touching games we'd played
I felt guilty
Like it was my fault he was dead

Then I moved to renton road
I got in tow with Ian Low
He seemed to fill the gap
Bill's death had left

Our friendsip didn't last
He got run down by a car
Right outside gates
Of his front door

Then by the time that I was ten
This demon struck again
He took Kenny
And drowned him i a dam

Then it was Raymond Trotter
The pal that I was running after
When he slipped on ice
And a spike went through his chest

I ran up to some men
Who didn't believe what I was saying
so when the doctor came
Raymond was already dead

To bring things up to date
I've lost over twenty mates
So don't tell me
That my life isn't jinxed

So the mates that I hold dear
I have to stay well clear
For their safety

'Cause God knows who'll be next.
___________________________________

TO JOE

They call it confidential
When this guy walks round the ward
Are you hearing voices,
Do you still think that you're God

He then said to a friend of mine
"How are you today"
"I saw you when you first come in"
"The drink had you in a state"

Barrie was the next he seen
"How are you today"
"Is God still trying to kill you"
"Just because you're gay"

This wasn't said in private
But in front of the whole ward
Not by another patient
But by the nurse in charge

I know for sure that Barrie
Tried suicide after this
And the guy who had been drinking
Went straight back on the piss

This nurse didn't seem to bother
That these things were deeply personal
His answer was "So what"
"If you don't like it. Go to hell"

He had young Billy crying
When he talked about his mum
Saying "So what if she doesn't visit"
"She's only alchy scum"

This guy had been reported
at least a dozen times
But no-one ever bothered
He just kept doing the rounds

I heard recently that nurse had died
But I didn't give a toss
Because a ward without him in it
Is a much more caring place
_______________________________