Kilroy Was Here

KILROY WAS HERE Watch the mist like a blanket bleed on the town Muffling the streets, damp eiderdown Step down the gangway onto the pier Off the tramp steamer that took you all the way here A shot in a tavern, resurrect your cold bones Then out on the street in search of lost souls Approached by a lady of dubious charm She takes you by the arm Upstairs into a frozen room She undresses 'neath an alabaster moon Whispers, "Sweetheart, what would you like me to do? I'll do anything that you want me to" But I can't tell her 'cause someone might hear So I whisper politely, "Kilroy was here." Up on Christopher the shadows of sad young men New York Cowboys every one Lost innocents, some are even sweet But straight as crooked arrows Down the foggy winding street With looks so searching, penetrating and cruel Hot lasers piercing right down to the cockles of your soul One of them inquires silently "Hey Stranger, how 'bout a gift?" "No, I'm only here to see Montgomery Cliff." "But he's a long time gone You know what I'm talkin' about, my dear, And we all know what you're lookin' for down here The next time you see Monty You stick your tongue in his ear And tell him that Kilroy was here." Up on 57th, a street of bitter cheer A prophet is celebratin' the Jewish New Year And the ghosts of all those Christmases past Troop by like broken mirrors made of Presbyterian glass A broken hearted Jesus steps down off his cross Bolts out the door of St. Malachy's Church "I came to resurrect you, but no one gives a damn So I'm outa here, you go say your novenas To some other man" "Won't you consider your options?" Cry two ladies in trade "No, I'm sick of being mistaken for the Marquise de Sade" "We're so sorry we disappointed you." But he doesn't want to hear The cock crowin' in the distance, so I kiss away his tears Buy him thirty silver dollars worth of beer And reassure him that "Kilroy was here" Back on board the First Mate, he is fulminatin' "Don't you never get tired of you 'little boy' escapin' Why don't you take all of your memories Go store 'em in a locket Seal it with a kiss, then go drown' em in a bottle." On the quayside she waits, her face cold and ashen Shiverin' with fear, we used to call it passion The tide is rising but the fog has grown deeper First Mate says, "She can't come, but you can keep her Locked in a drawer next to the cross of your Redeemer That's the only place for love On this phantom tramp steamer." You reach out to hold her but she's startin' to disappear So you say "Wait for me, I am comin' my dear." But you've lost her forever 'cause now Jesus has her ear And he's whisperin', "Kilroy was here." "I came to resurrect you..." "Won't you consider your options?" "I came to resurrect you but no one gave a damn..." © Starry Plough Music (BMI)