I WISH THERE WAS NO PRISONS
(as sung by George Spicer 1973)

I wish there was no prisons. I do. Don't you?
For the old treadmill makes me feel ill.
I only steal my belly to fill
With my hands, with my mits [hands], with my maulers. [hands]

Oakum picking gives me a licking.
[Oakum (flax) picking was the work given to prisoners serving hard labour] Still I'm very fond of a little bit of nicking. [stealing]
I only steal my belly to fill
With my hands, with my mits, with my mauler.

I saw a girl with a perambulator
She got twins, and each had a tater [potato]
In its hands, in its fists, in its mauler.

I kissed one kid and collared t'other's tater
With my hands, with my mits, with my mauler.

I wish there was no prisons. I do. Don't you?
For the old treadmill makes me feel ill.
I only steal my belly to fill
With my hands, with my dukes [fists], with my mauler.

Jim Carroll