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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
GUEST,annemc Wanted: Songs for alcoholics! (220* d) Lyr Add: THE REEL OF THE FLICKERING LIGHT (Moore) 27 Nov 04


As mentioned in a thread above - the hallucinations of an alcoholic. Song by Christie Moore.

THE REEL OF THE FLICKERING LIGHT

As I was walkin' home one evenin'--
I know this takes some believin'--
I met a group of creatures
With the strangest lookin' features:
A poor old dog with a worm and a weed,
And a fine old pigeon, yes indeed.
Daddy Longlegs jumped up sprightly
And danced a reel of the flickering light.

CHORUS: Oh, round we go, heel to the toe.
Daddy Longlegs jumped up sprightly,
And danced in the reel of the flickering light.

On his thin and wispy spindles,
He was deft and he was nimble.
His eyes were scientific,
And his dancin' was terrific.
The rats and the worms they made a din,
And the nettles in the corner took it in.
"Oh, God!" says I. "Tonight's the night.
We'll dance to the reel in the flickering light." CHORUS

Then he looked at me directly
With a gaze that could dissect me,
And he asked me in a whisper,
"Have you got any sisters?"
"Good God Almighty!" says I to him.
"What sort of a man do you think I am?
I've only one and she's not your type.
She wouldn't dance a reel in the flickering light." CHORUS

Says he, "Does she come from another planet?
Does she have a bee in her bonnet?
Does she do her daily duties?
You never know we might be suited."
And the rats and the worms began to laugh
And some of them started shufflin' off.
"We're going to have some fun tonight
Gettin' ready for the reel in the flickering light." CHORUS

I could see he had no scruples
When I looked into his pupils.
They were purple or magenta
Like a statue during Lent.
I said, "I'll get her right away."
"Good man," says he. "Now don't delay.
We're goin' to have some fun tonight."
Then he flipped his legs in the flickering light. CHORUS

Then up stepped a red carnation
And they gave her an ovation.
She was warm and enchantin'
As she slowly started dancin',
And the bright auld pigeon peeled his eye,
And the nettles and the weeds began to sigh.
Daddy Longlegs said, "My, oh my!
Are we ready for the reel in the flickering light?" CHORUS

She was gentle, she was charmin',
And I heard him call her Darlin'.
He was graceful as a whisper
On his delicate legs of silver,
And the rats and the worms were still as mice,
And the poor auld pigeon said, "That's nice:
A shimmering veil of a lovely bride."
And they danced to the reel in the flickering light. CHORUS (x2)


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