The Battle of Epping Forest

Lyrics

[Instrumental Intro] [Verse 1: Peter Gabriel] Along the Forest Road There's hundreds of cars, luxury cars Each has got its load Of convertible bars, cutlery cars, superscars For today is the day When they sort it out, sort it out 'Cause they disagree on a gangland boundary 'Cause they disagree on a gangland boundary [Verse 2: Peter Gabriel] There's Willy Wright and his boys One hell of a noise, that's Billy's boys With fully-fashioned bugs 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 [Refrain: Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel & Phil Collins] In the battle of Epping Forest Yes, it's the battle of Epping Forest Right outside your door And you ain't seen nothing like it No, you ain't seen nothing like it Not since the Civil War [Pre-Chorus: Peter Gabriel] Coming over the hill are the boys of Bill And Johnny's lads stand very still With the umpire's shout, they all start to clout There's no guns in this gentleman's bout And 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) [Chorus: Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel & Phil Collins] 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 [Verse 3: Peter Gabriel] 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 [Verse 4: Peter Gabriel] "I'll do my double-show quick" Said Mick the Prick, fresh out the nick "I sell cheap holiday The minute they leave and a visit I pay, does it pay" And his friend, Liquid Len by name Of wine, women, and Wandsworth fame Said "I'm breaking the legs of the bastard that got me framed I'm breaking the legs of the bastard that got me framed Got me framed" (Ooh, ah) [Bridge: Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel & Phil Collins] 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" (Ooh) But the Devil caught hold of my soul And a voice called out "Shoot!" (Ooh) To save my steeple, I visited people For this I'd 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 karma-ma-mechanic With overall charms His hands were then fit to receive Recieve alms [Refrain: Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel & Phil Collins] That's why we're in the Battle of Epping Forest Yes, it's the Battle of Epping Forest Right outside your door Hoo-la-la, na, na, na, na, na We guard your souls for peanuts And we guard your shops and houses For just a little more , just a little more [Pre-Chorus: Peter Gabriel] In with a left hook is the Bethnal Green Butcher But he's countered on the right by Mick's chain-gang 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) [Chorus: Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel & Phil Collins] 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 [Verse 5: Peter Gabriel] 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 [Outro: Peter Gabriel] When the limos return for their final review It's all through All they can see is the morning goo "There's no-one left alive, must be a draw" So the Blackcap Barons toss a coin to settle the score [Instrumental Outro]