Song Search

Lively!

by Lonnie Donegan

on Rock Island Line - The Singles Anthology (1985), Talking Guitar Blues (2000), The Polygon / Nixa / Pye Anthology (2014)

Now, "lively" is a funny word
It means a lot of things
But to the burglar people
An urgent call it brings

Cause' when they breakin' open safes
Or nailin' up old vans
Lively just means
Scarper boys to all the different gangs

Lively, lively, the night is going fast
Lively, lively, we both got murky pasts
Lively, lively, don't leave that block untied
Cause' if you did it's a penny to a quip that we both end up inside!

We broke into a spinster's house
While she was known in prayer
She was praying for a men
What for? she didn't care

We had to dive beneath the bed
The dust pan there made us sneeze
"Oh, that was quick!" the old girl cried
And jumped up to her knees!

Lively, lively, the night is going fast
Lively, lively, we both got murky pasts
Lively, lively, don't leave this block untied
Cause' if you did it's a penny to a quid that we both end up inside!

Now we rehearsed for days and days
A smash 'n' grab to do
"You throw the brick" one bloke said
"And I'll leave the grab to you"

The brick went through the window
"Now grab! - they cried - "And quick!"
It wasn't till we got away I've found I grabbed that brick!

spoken:
Oh lively, lively... Yeah...
I sang this song once at a policemen' dance
But I wasn't singing for coppers
...Was a gangster

While once I've run form the law I ran into a church
I mixed with lots of people just to confuse the search
I've found meself right at the front, the best place I could hide
I had a fright when some bloke's said "Got ring? Here comes the bride!"
Ooops!

Lively, lively, the night is going fast
Lively, lively, we both got murky pasts
Lively, lively, don't leave this block untied
Cause' if you did it's a penny to a quip that we both end up inside!

The shop steward of our union, was up before the judge
Who sent his name to 18 months asked if you lodged a grudge
The maximum is twelve, me lord, the judge replied: "what rots?!
You always wanted time in a half and that's just what you've got!"

Lively, lively, the night is going fast
Lively, lively, we both got murky pasts
Lively, lively, don't leave that block untied
Cause' if you did it's a penny to a quid

I go blimey, it come ... (?)
(Different band member) Oh, Lord, ...!
(Another band member)... and here we go!
(Yet another voice)... here comes the copper!
(Lonnie again) I want some beer and if you are near
We both end up insiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide!