Night Boat To Cairo - Madness

A fella told me This here road leads to Cairo I've got to get me a ride I've got to go back Go back to my children I got to see my little my bride I've been traveling Gone a long long time Don't know what I'll find Scared of what I'll find But I just got to see them again Hey thanks for stopping Are you headed down to Cairo I wrecked my Lincoln in St. Joe Well to little old Cairo No special reason Look up some folks I used to know Me I traveled some Had my share of fun Now that's the life a man can live Sure I've played the loss But who minds the cause You've got to take more than you give Hey you got another cigar Son I sure like this car Oh from your daddy as a gift Say on second thought There's gifts I haven't bought Just drop me here Thanks for the lift Yes I've traveled some Yes I've been a bum Never have a dime for gin I left to make my way For here I can't stay To see my children poor as sin I know this road It leads straight into Cairo Twenty two miles straight ahead I can't I can't walk down this road to Cairo They're better thinking I'm dead I've been traveling Gone a long long time Dunno what I'll find Scared of what I'd find I just can't Just can't walk down this road

Received a letter just the other day Don't seem they wanna know you no more They've laid it down given you their score Within the first two lines it bluntly read You're not to come see us no more Keep away from our door Don't come around here no more What on earth did you do that for? Our aunt she don't wanna know she says What will the neighbours think they'll think We don't that's what they'll think we don't But I will 'cos i know they think I don't Our uncle he don't wanna know He says we are a disgrace To the human race He says how can you show your face When you're a disgrace to the human race They've made a commitment You're an embarrassment Yes an embarrassment A living endorsement The intention that you have booked Was an intention that was overlooked They say stay away Don't want you home today Keep away from our door Don't come round here no more Our dad don't wanna know he says This is serious matter Too late to reconsider No one's gonna wanna know ya Our mum she don't wanna know she says I'm feeling twice as old she says Thought she had her head on her shoulder 'Cos I'm feeling twice as older I'm feeling twice as older You're an embarrassment

I say, oh, misery Shame and scandal in the family Oh, misery Shame and scandal in the family Down in Trinidad there was a family With much confusion, as you will see A mama, and a papa, and a boy who was grown He wanted to marry and have a wife of his own He found a girl, she suited him nice He went to his father to ask his advice His father said, "Son, I have to say no The girl is your sister, but your mama don't know" Oh, misery Shame and scandal in the family I say, oh, misery Shame and scandal in the family Then a week went by and the summer came down Soon the best girl on the island he found He went to his papa to make it a date His papa shook his head and to this he did say "You can't marry that girl, I have to say no 'Cause the girl is your sister, but your mama don't know" Oh, misery Shame and scandal in the family I say, oh, misery It's shame and scandal in the family He went to his mama, he covered his head He told his mum what his father had said His mother, she laughed, she said, "Go man, go Your daddy ain't your daddy, but your daddy don't know" Oh, misery It's shame and scandal in the family Oh, misery Shame and scandal in the family I say, oh, misery Shame and scandal in the family I say, oh, misery Shame and scandal in the family

Spy the little whizzkid, yeah she's streets ahead On top of the daybreak and the last one to bed Keeps her gizmo under her pillow Little dust devil whipping up a storm Paving the way for dropouts She's equanimous to the norm Come early evening, well she's banging off the ceiling And I said, "Come down, I am missing you If these little fingers could paint you into my picture" I said, "Come down, I am missing you If these little fingers could draw you into my picture" Holds the toilet seat around her neck Writes the landlord out another open cheque Come the daybreak, well she's a self-made And I said, "Come down, I am missing you If these little fingers could paint you into my picture" And I said, "Come down, I am missing you If these little fingers could draw you into my picture" They surely would And I said, "Come down, I am missing you If these little fingers could paint you into my picture" And I said, "Come down, I am missing you If these little fingers could draw you into my picture" I said, "Come down, I am missing you If these little fingers could paint you into my picture" I said, "Come down, I am missing you If these little fingers could draw you into my picture" They surely would