Thanks, Ake, all good here and hope same with you. I read all the posts above but couldn't make head nor tail of the meaning .... if there was one.
'Spruce' meaning tidy, irrespective of spelling, didn't make sense and none of my dictionaries cast any further light.
I thought, therefore, to go straight to the horse 's mouth and, as it transpires, Ronnie can't see any hidden meaning. As I said to Ronnie, using the word in the line still doesn't make any hidden or prosaic sense but then again the whole song is based on surreal imagery. I have never heard or read the word 'spruce' being used associated with a ruse or trick so I think Ronnie must have the last word. Regards.