HOTEL JERICHO
The last time I saw Sparrow
He was leaning on his barrow
Where he sold the spud and marrow
And the sprout of ill repute.
He was tall and tanned and well advised,
His ego too was over-sized,
And I looked on in wonder
At the brightness of his suit.
For he would swagger to and fro
En route to Hotel Jericho.
The last time I saw Norman
He was working as a storeman
And a part-time western law man
Of the Wyatt Earp brigade.
He was dressed in rags and tatters,
Versed in all the legal matters,
And the natives came to watch him
As he strolled the esplanade.
For thus he strolled, both thus and so
En route to Hotel Jericho.
The last time I saw Wheeler
He was training as a Peeler
And making quite a mealer (meal of)
Doing press-ups for the boys.
They were standing round in motley knots,
Like leopards who were changing spots,
You couldn’t see or hear or think because of all the noise.
The blighters come, the blighters go
En route to Hotel Jericho.
The last time I, well, never mind
I’m leaving all those lads behind
They really are the common kind
And quite below my style.
I’m selling up my stocks and shares,
The dogs I’ve trained for baiting bears,
My bingo halls and wax museums on the Golden Mile.
It’s hi de hi and ho de ho
I’m buying Hotel Jericho.