Billy's Shirts - Lyrics

[Mat Redfern]

Hello ;D

I'm currently trying to compile the definitive James lyrics list and have doubts over the lyrics i have to Billy's Shirts. If anyone disagrees with what i have can they let me have their version, it would be greatly appreciated. Here's my version...



Shirts on fire, shirt on fire

Billy's dream boat stills as the house alights
Sailors come from miles for a drink and a fight
But the harbour thrills pull back from the light
To the belly of a boat in a hammer try tight

Holler, holler, holler….
Pleasures of the night
Seaman's delight
Holler, holler, holler….
Pleasures of the night
What a sight

Oh no, the organ plays by itself
It doesn't need the grinder's help
And the monkey, and the monkey stow away to sea
Back to his wife and a nest in the trees

Billy's brother plays bass in a band called Man
He fancies himself as a travelling ham
Strutting and fretting the myth to fame
In a torn t-shirt he'll carve his name

Holler, holler, holler….
Pleasures of the night
What a sight

Oh no, the organ plays by itself
It doesn't need the grinder's help
And the monkey, and the monkey stow away to sea
Back to his wife and a nest in the trees
Looking for adventure and some mystery
He doesn't need the grinder and he doesn't want me
Stripped off his suit
So, oaaah, oh let the poor beast be
Oh, let the poor beast be
Oaah, oaah

The man said, "Ho ho wee, this is too hot for me"
Billy's shirt's on fire in the night
He said, "Ho wee this is too hot to see"
Billy's shirt's on fire in the night



Cheers

Mat

[BlackHole]

Billy's dream boat stills as the house alights
Sailors come from miles for a drink and a fight
But the harbour thrills pull back from the light
To the belly of a boat in a hammer try tight

I believe it's actually "to the belly of a boat in a hammer shark attack".

[Mat Redfern]

Hi

thanks for replying, i copied the lyrics from One Of The Three and then modified them, he has "to the belly of a boat in a hammer shark attack" but if you listen to the track there is no way Tim sings "Shark Attack", although i agree it makes far more sense than "Try Tight"

I picked up "Try Tight" from a lyrics web-site after some in depth searching. Personally after listening to the line MANY MANY times, i'm still none the wiser. Does anyone else have an opinion on this?

Cheers

Mat

[cat]

Definitely not "shark attack." To me, it sounds like "try tight," though that line doesn't make any sense to me.

[bobbyperu2]

Always had trouble with that line

Think the first word may be hammock instead of hammer. Perhaps "to the belly of the boat in a hammock tied tight" doesn't make a great deal of sense i know but thats what it sounds like to me.

It's one of the few early James songs i don't have on a live tape, which sometimes helps with picking up lyrics. Was it ever played live?