I would not go, for that had been the plan
I looked at her straight in the eye and said:
Even just one more night, I want to stay
But you must use your time; for that’s the worst
A woman on the threshold there like you
And let’s be quicker with the things we say
We had not thought that you were so far through.
And then desire rose and choked my words.
BALLAD OF THE FAITHLESS WOMEN
1
You want a woman, son, so you can say, “she’s mine”
That’s never going to happen here of course
Either you’ve got the big mouth of a swine
Or else you’ve got the penis of a horse
There’s always women who’d kick up a fuss
Don’t go for them: they’re really not worth much.
2
Lie to her, no one’s got a bigger prick
And when you sit together, son, be canny
Keep a firm grip on your axe, or else some dick
Will stick a pillow underneath her fanny.
There’s women who’d resist, shout out and such
Don’t go for them: they’re really not worth much.
3
Stick a knife in the bedpost when you go to rest
And don’t go out unless you really must
And if you do, then take her too, that’s best
Or else some other bloke will grab her breast.
There’s women who’ll give way to any touch
Don’t go for them: they’re really not worth much.
4
Don’t use her too hard—it’s no joke
Or else you’ll sleep too deep, that can be bad
If you’re too sleepy for a smoke
She may run off to someone else’s pad.
There’s women might respect your sleep, keep watch
Don’t go for them: they’re really not worth much.
THE SONG OF SURABAYA-JOHNNY
1
I was young, God, I was just sixteen
You came up from Burma in the night
And you said I should be your woman
You would always be treating me right.
I asked what you did for a living
And you said as you looked straight at me
You’d a job or something with the railroad
And you’d nothing to do with the sea.
You talked a lot, Johnny
A lot of lies, Johnny
From the very first day, Johnny, you were nothing
but a cheat
I hate you so, Johnny
As you stand there grinning, Johnny
Take that pipe out of your mouth, you rat.
Surabaya-Johnny, why must you be such a cad?
Surabaya-Johnny, oh God and I love you so bad.
Surabaya-Johnny, ah why should I be sad?
You have no heart, Johnny, and I love you so bad.
2
At first it was always Sundays
If I just went along with it all
But it didn’t last more than a fortnight
And the house of cards began to fall.
We were up and down through the Punjab
From the hills and right down to the sea:
When I look at myself in the mirror
I look like I’m forty-three.