Lyrics Lively! - Lonnie Donegan

Now, "lively" is a funny word
It means a lot of things
But to the burglar people
An urgent call it brings

Cause' when they breakin' open safes
Or nailin' up mail vans
Lively! just means "Scarper boys"
To all the different gangs

Chorus:
Lively, lively, the night is going fast
Lively, lively, we both got murky pasts
Lively, lively, don't leave that bloke untied
Cause' if you did it's a penny to a quid that we both end up inside!

Solo 1

We broke into a spinster's house
While she was knelt in prayer
She was praying for a man
What sort she didn't care

We had to dive beneath the bed
The dust fair made us sneeze
"Cor, that was quick!" the old girl cried
And jumped up off her knees!

Repeat Chorus

Solo 2

Now we rehearsed for days and days
A smash an' grab to do
"You throw the brick" one bloke said
"And I'll leave the grab to you"

The brick went through the window
"Now grab! - they cried - "And quick!"

It wasn't till we got away I found I'd grabbed our brick!

[Spoken]
Oh lively, lively...
Here...
I sung this song once at a policemen's dance
But I was only singing for coppers
Oooo what a gagster

Whilst on the run once from the law I rushed into a church
I mixed with lots of people just to confuse the search
I've found meself right up the front, the best place I could hide
I had a fright when some bloke said "Got the ring? Here comes the bride!"
Whoops!

Chorus

Solo 3

The shop steward of our union was up before the judge
Who sentenced him to 18 months, our steward lodged a grudge
The maximum is twelve M'lud*, the judge replied "What rot!"
You always wanted time and half and that's just what you've got!"

*(M'lud = Abbreviation of My Lord)

Lively, lively, the night is going fast
Lively, lively, we both got murky pasts
Lively, lively, don't leave that bloke untied
Or if you did it's a penny to a quid
Oh Gawd Blimey, here comes Hymie
La, La, twopence* on your jar
(Different Voice) Rosin on the bow and here we go!
(Yet another voice) Good luck then snapper, here comes the coppers!
(Lonnie again) I've had some beer, if we run in here...
We both end up insiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide!

*Twopence... pronounced... tup'ence
The price you would get for taking clean Glass Jam Jars back to the shop... along with most types of glass bottles.