While I was borning,Lizzie was dying.
Dad lost his sister and got me instead.
On that Wednesday when my life was dawning
He was nearly out of his head.
Joseph at nine had the measles bad.
James got lost at the Somme, poor lad.
They died and left their Mother sad.
But she clung more tightly onto their Dad.
Father died of Spanish flu.
Oh,Lord Yehoshua,what shall we do?
She took to the bottle to help her through.
Whilst she screamed with the cat in a piteous mew.
You still have Gilbert and young Willy
Be off said Mother,don’t be silly.
How about Lizzie and Nellie and Bert?
Oh,cried Mother,how I do hurt.
You still have Albert and Mary Alice.
Prince Albert built a Crystal Palace.
Go away,Mother said,with malice.
Turned away from Church and Chalice.
You’ve still got Agnes and Nellie the last.
But Mother’s childbearing days were her best
And at last in 41 she passed.
WW2 was too great a test.
Lizzie died in 45
Her daughter Annie an artist live
Ran away and no letter arrived.
I was born and still I thrive
Lizzie’s grandaughter ,called Kathleen
Now an artist in Harrogate Green.
My daddy painted his words in gold
Yehoshua died to save our souls.
Top young sign writer in Great Britain.
By his curls our Ma was smitten.
By his songs and what he’s written
She took him in and here I’m sitting
How my heart sings 