Lively Lyrics - Singles - Lonnie Donegan

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 mail vans 

Lively! just means Scarper boys 

To all the different gangs 

Chorus: 

Lively, lively, the night is going fast 

Lively, lively, we both got murky pasts 

Lively, lively, don't leave that bloke untied 

Cause' if you did it's a penny to a quid that we both end up inside! 

Solo 1 

We broke into a spinster's house 

While she was knelt in prayer 

She was praying for a man 

what sort she didn't care 

We had to dive beneath the bed 

The dust fair made us sneeze 

"Cor, that was quick!" the old girl cried 

And jumped up off her knees! 

Repeat Chorus 

Solo 2 

Now we rehearsed for days and days 

A smash an 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 found Id grabbed our brick! 

[spoken] 

Oh lively, lively... 

Here... 

I sung this song once at a policemen's dance 

But I was only singing for coppers 

Oooo what a gagster 

Whilst on the run once from the law I rushed into a church 

I mixed with lots of people just to confuse the search 

I've found meself right up the front, the best place I could hide 

I had a fright when some bloke said "Got the ring? Here comes the bride!" 

Whoops! 

Chorus 

Solo 3 

The shop steward of our union was up before the judge 

Who sentenced him to 18 months, our steward lodged a grudge 

The maximum is twelve Mlud*, the judge replied What rot! 

You always wanted time and half and that's just what you've got!" 

*(Mlud = Abbreviation of My Lord) 

Lively, lively, the night is going fast 

Lively, lively, we both got murky pasts 

Lively, lively, don't leave that bloke untied 

Or if you did it's a penny to a quid 

Oh Gawd Blimey, here comes Hymie 

La, La, twopence* on your jar 

(Different Voice) Rosin on the bow and here we go! 

(yet another voice) Good luck then snapper, here comes the coppers! 

(Lonnie again) Ive had some beer, if we run in here 

We both end up insiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide! 

*twopence pronounced tupence 

The price you would get for taking clean Glass Jam Jars back to the shop along with most types of glass bottles.