The funny old man just turned up one day He opened his case so the music could play All the sounds you could hear would come from ‘the thing’ And the funny old man would then start to sing.
‘The thing’ was a squeezebox, and yet a trombone There were certainly strings, and in parts, xylophone Yet I’m sure that I remember a small kettle drum And if you got too close it started to hum.
His life was right there in that battered old brown case Each place that he went, the old thing had it’s place He was a street entertainer, of some note I might add And people gave generously to the clever old lad.
He would suddenly appear as if like a wisp When he spoke, which was rare, he had a slight lisp The case would be opened and out came ‘the thing’ And to it’s accompaniment the old man would sing.
O what a great voice, it soared like a rocket And every man’s hand went straight to his pocket Then suddenly, he lowered his voice in a verse And ladies gave money from out of their purse.
To other street artists this wasn’t such fun They consorted to see what ought to be done They thought if they made him look really quite bad That would be the end of the crafty old lad.
There are things you can do in the swell of a crowd Things, if you’re honest, about which you’re not proud They slipped him a ‘Mickey’, and he lost voice control But ‘the thing’ saved the day with a fine barcarole.
He carried on for years till he got really old His voice now much quieter and a little less controlled One day he announced that he would soon retire But he’d do one last show in a hope to inspire
The day of the show was so sunny and bright Folks had strung bunting, it was such a good sight A buzz of excitement as they wait for the man Then suddenly he’s there and the whole thing began.
He sang all the old songs and the people all cheered The competition too, who had usually jeered It soon became clear though, that the old man was ill When he came to the last song the audience was still.
He finished with a new song to the ahs and the sighs So many who were listening had tears in their eyes Then with a rueful smile on his own tear-stained face He just disappeared, and likewise, his case.