Battersea Boys

[Verse 1]
Our parents would treat us with carrots and sticks
Just two alcoholics up to their old tricks
Mum played piano and loved Gracie Fields
She would have been famous but we dragged at her heels

[Verse 2]
Our dad was a big man unshaven and strong
He loved to hear Gracie as she sang her song
The pub on a Sunday is where she would sing
And we’d play outside ’til the last bell would ring

[Chorus]
My brother was gifted he had a great voice
Not like the other young Battersea Boys

[Verse 3]
He knew every opera and sang in thе street
With Sally’s Army he’d play tambourine
My dad could not take it hе called him a p**f
For singing Puccini so misunderstood

[Verse 4]
When he was fourteen my brother was sent
To the Salvation Army to live with his friends
My mum hit the bottle as her son left home
Stood in our bedroom and cried all alone

[Chorus]
My brother was gifted he had a great voice
Not like the other young Battersea Boys

[Bridge]
He studied his music and we kept in touch
We still have that old stream of brotherly love
He sings for his supper, still wants to be
A voice on the big stage with his own CD

[Verse 5]
Our parents are long gone cold in the ground
I served time in prison but they weren’t a-round
I love my sweet brother his voice makes me cry
We sing for forgiveness as time passes us by

[Chorus]
My brother was gifted he had a great voice
Not like the other young Battersea Boys
My brother was gifted he had a great voice
Not like the other young Battersea Boys

[Outro]
Not like the other young Battersea Boys