Midnight on the Murder Mile

(Holy smoke, a land sakes alive, I never thought this could happen to me)
Uh-huh, yeah, uh-huh, yeah, uh-huh, yeah, uh-huh, yeah

[Verse 1]
It was midnight on the murder mile, Wilson Pickett's finest hour
I was walking towards the flashing smile of the Crystal Palace Tower
Past the big old church where the hands of God were stuck on lucky 7
And the bells inside were limbering up for a sawn-off shotgun wedding
From the gas board to the fire brigade, there's a dozen GPO's
An all night chicken takeaway which was finger-lickin' closed
As I passed the wonder of good old Woolworths, my travel card expired
It was midnight on the murder mile, okay, let's riot!
In the avenues and alleyways I took a short-cut to the throat
I was stitched up by the boys brigade and I was beaten to a pulp
I was marinated, regurgitated and served up as a cold meat
And as they shoved me in the blender I remembered as Daddy told me:

[Chorus]
"If the concrete and the clay beneath your feet don't get you, son
The avenues and alleyways are gonna do it just for fun
They'll suck you in and spit you out and leave your family lonely
The telephones on sticks will tell you, 999 calls only"

[Bridge]
But it's too late to call the fire brigade, an ambulance or the cops
I need the father, son and holy coast guard
Operator! Operator!

[Verse 2]
Long distance, information, get me Jesus on the line
I need communion, confirmation and absolution for my crimes
I need a character witness, Jesus, I think I'm about to die
I saw my whole life pass before me when the night bus passed me by
It was three o'clock on the murder mile when I came to my senses
And my only death wish was that I had a sock full of fifty pences
A public execution that the whole neighbourhood could watch
Or just a phone box, a phone box, my kingdom for a phone box

[Chorus]
"If the concrete and the clay beneath your feet don't get you, son
The avenues and alleyways are gonna do it just for fun
When they've sucked you in and spat you out and left your family lonely
The telephones on sticks will tell you, 999 calls only"