I've been thinking about thay=t idea of the broken token in reverse, and here's a song I just wrote as a result:

THE TOKEN REVERSED

The moon it was hidden,
And the night it was still
As a tired weary figure,
Trudged over the hill.
And he came to a window,
"Are you wakin', my dear"
And a voice came like thunder
"We'll have none of that here!"
Be off now, young stranger,
I swear I've never seen yer,
Do not think about stayin' ere
So you'd best cut and run.
You're dancin' with danger
I've a brick and I'll brain yer
I've got you in range here,
And me hand's on me gun.

Oh Nancy, my bonny,
Can't you se that it's me
Your handsome young Johnny
Who is home from the sea.
Now I've tried you and tested you
And you passed very well
But now I am wet right through
And it's raining like hell.
Give over your jokin',

this rain's got me chokin'
can't you see that I'm soakin,
I'm wet to the skin.
Take a look at this token,
you can see that it's broken
so would you just open
and let me come in.

Oh Johnny, be easy now,
I've bad news and good,
For I'm not your lady-o,
That's quite understood.
She's married, is Nancy-o,
She's wed to the squire,
But laddie, I fancy you,
So come in by the fire.
Give over your jokin',
this rain's got you chokin'
I can see that you're soakin,
You're wet to the skin.
Forget that ould token,
Sure, the bloody thing's broken,
so just wait while I open
and I'll let you come in.

But Johnny he stood solemnly,
And he cried out "Oh No -,
If Nancy's been false to me,
Back to sea I will go."
Oh Johnny, says Nancy,
Two can play at that game
And what's sauce for the gander
For the goose is the same.
Let's be done with the jokin',
this rain's got you chokin'
I can see that you're soakin,
You're wet to the skin.
Let's just mend the old token, And join what was broken
so just wait while I open
and I'll let you come in.

Kevin McGrath May 19th 2000