Old Jack`s Charms

<br>It was in the tattoo parlour<br>Where he engraved their names<br>Words a winding round his shoulders<br>Reminders now he`s older <br><br>In the magic of the parlour<br>Down his arm unwinds a story<br>Love and hate and Mum and Dad<br>In flames of hope and glory<br><br>A mermaid and a schooner<br>Tells us he was once at sea<br>A heart pierced by an arrow<br>Tells us once more in love was he<br>And a dragon spitting fire<br>He`s forgotten what that`s for<br>But tattooed on his mind<br>Is a reminder of the war<br><br>He gave up tattooing lovers<br>Where no room for any others<br>A line through every sweetheart<br>With another etched below<br>In every port a stormy girl<br>They loved him and they loved him so<br>Each one for all to see adorned<br>With Cupids and with bows<br><br>A mermaid and a schooner<br>Tells us he was once at sea<br>A heart pierced by an arrow<br>Tells us once more in love was he<br>and a dragon spitting fire<br>He`s forgotten what that`s for<br>But tattooed on his mind is a reminder of war<br><br>In the magic of the parlour<br>Swapping laughter swapping stories<br>Where the words are often hard<br>And the air is always blue<br>He remembers all his mates from then<br>He lost a couple maybe ten<br>Their headstone on his forearm as a crucifix tattoo<br><br>Now he leans upon the bar<br>With a mysterious air<br>And the ladies gather round<br>To view his decorated arms<br>He`ll tell them of each scroll and line<br>And other scars not so fine<br>And they always want to see<br>A little more of Old Jacks Charms<br><br>A mermaid and a schooner ...