Genesis The Battle Of Epping Forest Lyrics

Along the Forest Road, there's hundreds of cars - luxury cars.
Each has got its load of convertible bars, cutlery cars - super cars!
For today is the day when they sort it out, sort it out,
'Cos they disagree on a gangland boundary
They disagree on a gangland boundary.

There's w____ Wright and his boys - One helluva noise, that's Billy's boys!
With fully-fashioned mugs that's Little John's thugs,
The Barking Slugs - supersmugs!
For today is the day when they sort it out, sort it out,
Yes, these Christian soldiers fight to protect the poor.
East-End heroes got to score in...

The Battle of Epping Forest.
Yes it's the Battle of Epping Forest,
Right outside our door.
And you ain't seen nothing like it,
No, you ain't seen nothing like it,
Not since the Civil War.

Coming over the hill are the boys of Bill,
And Johnny's lads stand very still.
With the thumpire's shout, they all start to clout
There's no guns in this gentlemen's bout
Georgie moves in on the outside left
With a chain flying round his head
And Harold Demure, from Art Literature,
Nips up the nearest tree
(Here come the cavalry!)

Amidst the battle roar,
Accountants keep the score: 10-4,
They've never been alone, after getting a radiophone.
The bluebells are ringing for Sweetmeal Sam, real ham,
Handing out bread and jam just like any picnic,
Picnic, picnic, picnic.

It's 5 to 4 on William Wright; He made his pile on Derby night.
When Billy was a kid, walking the streets, the other kids hid - so they did!
And now, after working hard in security trade, he's got it made
The shops that need aid are those that haven't paid.

"I do my double-show quick!", said Mick the p____, fresh out the nick.
"I sell cheap holiday. The minute they leave, then a visit I pay - and does it pay!"
And his friend, Liquid Len by name, of Wine Women and Wandsworth fame,
Said: "I'm breaking the legs of the b______ that got me framed!"
"I'm breaking the legs of the b______ that got me framed, got me framed!"

They called me the Reverend when I entered the Church unstained;
My employers have changed but the name has remained.
It all began when I went on a tour,
Hoping to find some furniture
Followed a sign saying "Beautiful Chest",
Led to a lady who showed me her best,
She was taken by surprise when I quickly closed my eyes.
So she rang the bell, and quick as hell
Bob the Nob came out on his job
To see what the trouble was

"Louise, is the Reverend hard to please ?"
"You're telling me!"
"Perhaps, Sir, if it's not too late,
We could interest you in our old-fashioned Staffordshire plate?"
"Oh no, not me, I'm a man of repute."
But the Devil caught hold of my soul and a voice called out, "Shoot!"

To save my steeple, I visited people;
For this I had gone when I met Little John.
His name came, I understood,
When the judge said, "You are a robbing hood."
He told me of his strange foundation,
Conceived on sight of the Woodstock nation;
He'd had to hide his reputation.
When poor, 'twas salvation from door to door.
But now, with a pin-up guru every week,
It was Love, Peace & Truth Incorporated for all who seek.

He employed me as a karmamechanic, with overal charms.
His hands were then fit to receive, receive alms.

That's why we're in...
Battle of Epping Forest,
Yes, it's the Battle of Epping Forest,
Right outside your door.
We guard your souls for peanuts,
And we guard your shops and houses
For just a little more,
Just a little more.

In with a left hook is the Bethnal Green Butcher,
But he's countered on the right by Mick's chaingang fight,
And Liquid Len, with his smashed bottle men,
Is lobbing Bob the Nob across the gob,
With his kisser in a mess, Bob seems under stress,
But Jones the Jug hits Len right in the mug;
And Harold Demure, who's still not quite sure, fires acorns from out of his sling
(Here come the cavalry)

Up, up above the crowd,
Inside their Silver Cloud, done proud,
The bold and brazen brass, seen darkly through the glass,
The butler's got jam on his Rolls; Roy doles out the lot,
With tea from a silver pot just like any picnic,
Picnic, picnic, picnic.

Along the Forest Road, it's the end of the day and the clouds roll away.
Each has got its load - they'll come out for the count at the break-in of day.
When the limos return for their final review, it's all thru
- All they can see is the morning goo.
"There's no one left alive - it must be a draw."
So the Blackcap Barons toss a coin to settle the score.