Lyrics:

This is the story of the Liberty Of Norton Folgate

Old Jack Norris, the musical shrimp and the cadging ramble


A little bit of this, would you like a bit of that
But in weather like this, you should wear a coat, a nice warm hat
A needle and thread, the hand stitches of time
Battling Levinsky versus Jackie Bird
Bobbing and weaving an invisible line

So step for step, and both light on our feet
Well travel many a long, dim, silent street

Would you like a bit of this, or a little bit of that? (Missus)
A little bit of what you like does you no harm, you know that
The perpetual steady echo of the passing beat
A continual dark river of people
In it's transience, and in its permanence

But, when the streetlamp fills the gutter with gold
So many priceless items bought and sold

So, step for step, and both light on our feet
Well travel many a long, dim, silent street (together)


Once round Arnold Circus, up through Petticoat Lane
Past the well of shadows, and once back round again
Arm in arm, with an abstracted air
To where the people stare
Out of the upstairs windows
Because we are living like kings
And these days will last forever

'Cos, sailors from Africa, China and the archipelago of Malay
Jump ship ragged and penniless into Shadwells Tiger Bay
The Welsh and Irish wagtails, mothers of midnight
The music hall carousal enspilling out into bonfire light

Sending half crazed shadows, giants dancing up the brick wall
Of Mr Truman's beer factory, waving bottles ten feet tall
Whether one calls it Spitalfields, Whitechapel Tower, Hamlets or Bangletown
Were all dancing in the moonlight, were all on borrowed ground

Oh, Im just walking down to, Im just floating down through
Wont you come with me to the Liberty of Norton Folgate
But wait!
Whats that?
Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem


Purposefully walking nowhere, oh Im happy just floating about
(Have a banana)
On a Sunday afternoon, the stallholders all call and shout
(To no-one in particular)
Avoiding people you know, you're just basking in your own company
The technicolour worlds going by, but you're the lead in your own movie

'Cos in the Liberty of Norton Folgate
Walking wild and free
In your second hand coat
Happy just to float
In this little taste of liberty
A part of everything you see

Theyre coming left and right
Trying to flog you stuff you dont need or want
And a smiling chap takes your hand
And drags you in his Uncles restaurant
(ee-yar, ee-yar, ee-yar)

Theres a Chinese man trying hard to flog you moody DVDs
You know, you've seen the film, its black and white, its got no sound
And a mans head pops up and down
Right across your widescreen TV
(Only a fiver)
('Ow much?)
(Alright, two for eight quid)
(Ee-yar, ee-yar, look, I'm givin' it away)
(Givin' it away!)

'Cos in the Liberty of Norton Folgate
Walking wild and free
In your second hand coat
Happy just to float
In this little piece of liberty
Youre a part of everything you see


Theres the sturdy old fellows, pickpockets, dandys
Extortioners and night wanderers
The feeble, the ghastly, upon whom death
Had placed a very sure hand
Some in shreds and patches
Reeling inarticulate full of noisy and inordinate vivacity
Which jars discordantly upon the ear
And gives an aching sensation to both pair of eyeballs
(Noisy and inordinate vivacity)


Ohhhhh ahhhhh ahhhhh etc.

In the beginning was the fear of the immigrant
In the beginning was the fear of the immigrant
He's made his way down to the dark riverside

In the beginning was the fear of the immigrant
In the beginning was the fear of the immigrant
He made his home there down by the dark riverside

Ohhhhh ahhhhh ahhhhh etc.

He made his home there down by the riverside
They made their homes there down by the riverside
The city sprang from the dark river Thames

They made their home there down by the riverside
They made their homes there down by the riverside
The city sprang up from the dark mud of the Thames
Ill say it again

(Ha ha ha, that's right)

'Cos in the Liberty of Norton Folgate
Walking wild and free
And in your second hand coat
Happy just to float
In this little taste of liberty
'Cos youre a part of everything you see
Yes, youre a part of everything you see

Ohhhhh ahhhhh ahhhh etc.

With a little bit of this
And a little bit of that
A little bit of what you like does you no harm
And you know that

Ohhhhh ahhhhh ahhhhh etc.