The Old Alarm Clock lyrics

When first I came to London

In the year of 39

The city looked so wonderful,

And the girls were so divine

But the coppers got suspicious,

And they soon gave me the knock

I was charged with being the owner

Of an old alarm clock

Well, next morning down by Marlborough Street,

I caused no little stir

The I.R.A were busy

And a telephone did burr

Says the judge I'm going to charge you,

With the possession of this machine.

And I'm also going to charge you,

With the wearing of the Green

Well, says I to him, your honour,

If you give me half a chance

I'll show you how me small machine

Can make the peelers dance

Well, it ticks away politely,

'Til you get an awful shock

And it ticks away the gelignite,

On me old alarm clock

O the judge says listen here my man

And I'll tell you of our plan

For you and all your countrymen

I do not give a damn

Well, the only time you'll take is mine,

Ten years in Dartmoor dock

And you can count it by the ticking,

Of your old alarm clock.

Now, this lonely Dartmoor City

Would put many in the jigs

The cell it isn't pretty

And it isn't very big

Sure long ago I'd have left the place,

If I had only got,

Ah! me couple of sticks of gelignite

And me old alarm clock

• Artist:The Dubliners