The Priest

[Verse 1: Maxine Peake]
I'm on my way to the Salvation Army, see if I can get something to eat
I'm skinned and I don't know a soul
On the street where the Sally Army is, I'm approached by two guys
"Do you wanna buy any gear?" I'm asked
"What sort of gear?"
"Skag, smack man"
"Nah, no thanks, it's not my thing"
"What about crack then?"
"Nah, not my thing either," I reply
"Spice?" "No"
"What about a drink then, eh?"
"Nah," I reply, "I'm not drinking at the minute, got stuff to sort"
"What? Are you a fucking vicar?"
Laughing, they make their way onwards
Leaving me to scrounge a bit of breakfast at the Sally Army
The following day, I'm on my way to another place that provides food for homeless people
I come across the samе two guys
They see me, and one says to thе other, "Watch out, it's the priest"
They stand in a prayer stance
I look 'round, there is no priest

[Verse 2: Maxine Peake]
"Alright, priest," One of the guys says to me as I make it to the doorway of the free food place
They're talking to me
"Alright," I reply
I made my way to the door in full realisation that I've been on the streets of this city for four days
And I'd already been tagged
Maybe had a street name, "Priest"
Sleeping rough is a dangerous thing
People spend nights awake
Me?
Well, I try not to worry too much about it
Someone grabs me at night and kills me to death, maybe not a bad thing
Not that I would welcome it
I just don't want to think about it too much
Guy comes along to where we're sleeping
He's a fucking visitor
He's about twenty-five, thirty years old from Coatbridge, and he's well refreshed
His mates have ditched him
He's missed his train home and he wants to talk
I wanna sleep
Gonna be a long night

[Chorus: Maxine Peake]
"Watch out, it's the priest"
I've been on the streets of this city
And I don't know a soul
"Watch out, it's the priest"

[Verse 3: Maxine Peake]
"Alright there, pal, what you doing here? Try to sleep?"
"I've missed my train and my pals have all fucked off, and I've got nowhere, okay?"
"You homeless then?" He asks
"Yep"
"You look out of it," he says
"You kitted up?"
"No, I'm just very tired and it's after two in the morning"
"I had a bit of coke earlier on"
"Oh, for fuck's sake"
It's gonna be a long night

[Chorus: Maxine Peake]
"Watch out, it's the priest"
I've been on the streets in this city
And I don't know a soul